WEC's first female victor Lilou Wadoux: 'I can win Le Mans'

“Not really!” when asked by Motor Sport whether she took satisfaction in becoming WEC’s first female winner.

“It was more an inside fulfilment, doing the right work to make it real. I was more thinking [about] when I started motor sport as a hobby few years ago only, about my grandparents and parents and the people around who helped me massively and without them for sure I would not be here talking about my first WEC victory.

“I’m talking about [sponsors] Amanda & Richard Mille, my manager Philippe Dumas, Ferrari Competizioni GT, [AF Corse team principal] Amato Ferrari.”

Wadoux felt herself and her team-mates were on the verge of victory already in Portugal, thus further colouring the emotion of winning: “Considering we have lost the previous race by few tenths in Portimao, it was a pretty nice feeling I have to say – the best was to see the happiness on the faces of the guys around.”

First place is clearly the target at La Sarthe once more, but Wadoux’s taste of even faster machinery than GT cars means she has one eye on the future too.

At the end of last season the young rookie was chosen to take part in a Toyota Hypercar test in Bahrain, and she immediately caught the eye with her performance.

“She did quite well, look at the lap time,” said Toyota team boss Pascal Vasselon. “Within the few rookies who have been testing today, she has been very impressive.

“Driving a Hypercar was fun and super interesting”

“She came very, very prepared. She was immediately at the same pace.”

Wadoux herself says she felt ready for the Hypercar task.

“It was fun and super interesting which is the point I kept the most in mind,” she says. “Very complex cars where you need a brain next to the speed. And I quite like that!

“Working a lot before to be comfortable, simulator, procedures… Not a massive difference in term of driving compare to an LMP2, just more complicated to deal with.

“For one of the first times I’m talking about women in motor sport, probably we have an advantage being able to do multiple things at the same time inside the cockpit compare to men!”

With limited LMP2 and Hypercar experience up to now, Wadoux believes now she just needs more seat time.

“Considering what I did before, it’s quite logical I’m more ‘at home’ with a GT, [because my previous experience is] close to zero go-kart, no formula cars.

“My young career is only Peugeot 208 club races, Alpine cup and straight away WEC LMP2 with very limited testing! So I just need laps in a prototype, I love it and I don’t see any issues to perform.”

Focusing on the here and now, Wadoux believes she’s found herself in the right place at the right time for her development.

“Alessio is our leader, he has the experience and he has won 2021 WEC GTE championship already with No83, Le Mans 24 Hours included!” she emphasises.

“We are working as a team, helping each other and listening to the huge experience of AF Corse race engineers.

“I have to say, it’s really nice for me to feel the kindness of everybody as well as considering me as a professional driver.”

“It will be my humble contribution to bring more diversity in our sport”

Post-La Sarthe, Wadoux says that the target is “definitely winning the championship”, but the Ferrari driver is not unaware of her place in history.

“I want to be seen like a racing driver and that’s it!” she says. “But true, I’m a woman so let’s work hard, perform and win races & championships. This will be my message for girls in motor sport!

“I deeply think women can do as good as men, especially in endurance, so I hope it will be my humble contribution to bring more diversity at the highest level in our sport.”