Chapter 10 takes you behind the scenes of IDEC SPORT’s 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans campaign. But what happened beyond the cameras? Which decisions shaped the team’s week? And what lessons does a team take away from one of the world’s toughest races?
In this exclusive interview, Nicolas Minassian reflects with honesty on the key moments of the 2026 edition, shares his analysis of the team’s collective performance and explains, from a Team Principal’s perspective, what truly makes the difference at the highest level of endurance racing.
🎬 Relive the week from the inside
Before discovering Nicolas Minassian’s analysis, immerse yourself once again in Chapter 10, our official documentary retracing IDEC SPORT’s 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans campaign.
Nicolas Minassian’s Three Key Takeaways
- Preparation is everything – A race like Le Mans is built throughout the entire year, so that when you arrive, you have answers rather than questions.
- Details make the difference – With identical chassis, engines and tyres, performance comes down to execution and the ability to make the right decisions at exactly the right time.
- Team spirit above all – A team’s greatest achievement isn’t measured solely by the final result, but by its ability to stay united through adversity.
Do the 24 Hours of Le Mans only become a priority a few weeks before the race?
Not at all. Preparing for Le Mans is a continuous process. As soon as one edition finishes, we immediately begin working on the next. As soon as the 2025 race ended, we were already preparing for 2026.
This year was particularly special as we were also celebrating our tenth participation at Le Mans. It’s rare for a team to return year after year with the same passion while continuing to improve.
Preparation isn’t just about the car. We work with the drivers, mechanics, logistics, communications and every procedure. A racing team is made up of many different departments, and our job is to ensure everything operates smoothly and efficiently.
How competitive is endurance racing today?
The level is incredibly high. We all race with the same chassis, the same engine and the same tyres, so the difference comes down to the smallest details.
Every team is trying to solve the same challenges, but each follows a different path. Some will find performance in one area, others somewhere else. It’s a constant search for optimisation.
The objective is to make quick decisions while keeping things as simple as possible.
How did the team arrive at Le Mans this year?
Very well prepared. After our podium finish at Circuit Paul Ricard, we immediately continued working with Le Mans-specific testing. We completed extensive simulations, both with the drivers and on the aerodynamic and mechanical aspects of the car.
When we arrive at Le Mans, we don’t want to still be preparing—we want to be executing. Everything we do throughout the year is designed so that we arrive with answers rather than questions.
Did the opening days confirm that preparation?
Yes. From Test Day onwards, the drivers immediately felt comfortable in the car and every indicator was positive.
We validated the tyres, fuel consumption, set-up, refuelling procedures and our overall organisation.
Throughout the week we remained competitive. I genuinely believe we were one of the benchmark teams in the category.
When you feel you’ve found the right balance, when the drivers work perfectly together and the team operates as one, it naturally creates positive momentum and fuels ambition.
Qualifying was also successful…
Yes, although qualifying is never the decisive factor at Le Mans. You can start further down the grid and still win the race.
That said, a strong qualifying performance is important for confidence. It validates the work carried out on the car, reassures the drivers and gives energy to the entire team.
“We were a great team. We were highly competitive.
Nicolas Minassian
This year, someone was simply stronger than us.“
How do you analyse the race itself?
The start was excellent. Job executed his role perfectly. His experience is invaluable, which is why we entrusted him with the opening stint.
Very quickly we realised our pace was exactly where it needed to be. But Le Mans will always be Le Mans. Even when everything has been meticulously prepared, there is always an element of unpredictability.
We experienced a few minor incidents, including two damaged wheel nuts that cost us valuable seconds. We also received a penalty following a yellow-flag infringement and, above all, we lost a huge amount of time when the Safety Car was deployed at the worst possible moment.
That was probably the single biggest factor that affected our race.
Do you feel frustrated after this edition?
I would describe it more as clarity than frustration.
The teams we compete against are outstanding. This year’s winners drove a superb race and fully deserved their victory.
On our side, we did everything possible to perform at our best. We were simply less fortunate during a few key moments.
Everyone gave absolutely everything, and that’s what matters most.
Is the IDEC SPORT spirit still your greatest strength?
Absolutely.
We are an incredibly close-knit team. There is a genuine culture of mutual support and solidarity. Of course, we’re professionals, but there are also real human relationships within the team.
Whenever someone faces a challenge, there is always somebody ready to help.
That team spirit is part of our DNA. Patrice has always embodied those values, and they continue to define the way we operate today.
We firmly believe that together we are stronger than the sum of our individual talents.
Despite the result, what makes you most proud after this edition?
I’m proud of the team’s mindset.
In motorsport, people naturally focus on the final result, but we should never forget the human commitment behind it. For me, if every team member can go home, look in the mirror and say, “I may not have achieved the result I hoped for, but I gave absolutely everything,” then there is already something very special in that.
Giving your very best is an achievement in itself. If that maximum wasn’t quite enough on the day, then our role is to analyse, understand and improve.
That’s how progress is made.
Our greatest strength is our unity. When a team is united, it becomes stronger than the sum of its individual members.
At the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, we were a very strong team. We were competitive. This year, someone was simply stronger than us.
How do you assess the performances of your three drivers?
Each of them brought something extremely valuable to the team.
Job Van Uitert once again demonstrated his experience and outright speed. He’s a driver we can always rely on when it matters most.
Paul Lafargue also deserves tremendous recognition. I always like to point out that racing is not his full-time profession. Considering the amount of time he can dedicate to motorsport, what he achieves is remarkable. His performance level, as well as his qualifying session this weekend, proved exactly that. It genuinely makes me happy to see him extracting so much from the car.
Finally, Valerio Rinicella made the most of the opportunity he was given. Paul strongly pushed for him to join the team, and Valerio certainly delivered. He showed impressive maturity, excellent pace and, perhaps most importantly, brought the car home without a scratch. People often say that young drivers sometimes lack race management or experience. He proved exactly the opposite.
Why does Le Mans remain a challenge unlike any other?
Because it is probably the greatest challenge in motorsport.
Le Mans is a profoundly human race. It tests people just as much as it tests machines. When you achieve the goals you’ve set yourself, the satisfaction is immense. And when you fall just short, your determination to come back even stronger is just as powerful.
That’s what makes this race so unique.
In one sentence, how would you sum up these 24 Hours of Le Mans?
We were a great team. We were highly competitive. This year, someone was simply stronger than us.
Watch again
🎬 Chapter 10 – The Official Documentary
Relive the highlights of IDEC SPORT’s 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans through our 9-minute documentary, now available on IDEC SPORT TV.
