Can you tell us about your journey as a racing driver? How did you start and what were your main challenges to get to where you are today?
My passion for car racing began very early: at the age of 4, when my father guided me into the world of karting. At the age of 10, I had the immense honor of winning the championship of
France Karting, a pivotal moment that propelled my career towards new horizons. At only 14 years old, I took the step from karting to single-seater by joining F4, becoming the youngest driver at this level of competition.
I was then recruited by the management company Gravity, which opened the doors to prestigious championships such as Formula BMW Europe and the F3 Euro Series. Unfortunately, the acquisition of Renault F1 by Gravity's shareholders changed the financial situation, forcing me to readjust my career path.
I then chose to turn to the Porsche Carrera Cup, where I obtained good results in France and then in Germany. Since then, I have been fully committed to Akkodis ASP team on the Mercedes AMG GT3 and GT4 in the French and European championships. But since this year I have been driving for several brands and teams, starting with the French GT4 championship at Racetivity, where I drive a BMW. At the same time, I am participating in the GTWorld Challenge on an Audi R8 GT3 at Sainteloc racing and I am also involved in the GTOpen championship on a Mercedes AMG GT3 at SVC.
What was your best race so far and why? What made it special for you?
A race that really left a mark on me was the one in Pau, when I was 14. It was a city event, a bit like the French Monaco, and I loved the challenge of driving in an urban environment. I came in first, but on the last lap, when I had a good 6-second lead, I lost my concentration slightly, lost control of my car and hit the barrier.
I got out of the car unharmed, but another competitor, in a blind corner, didn't see me and hit me, which made me do a somersault. The race was interrupted with the red flag, and, according to the rules, the classification was established on the basis of the previous lap, which allowed me to keep my place of 1st and thus give me the victory.
This time, I was lucky, I didn't have any injuries.
Have you ever been involved in an accident on the track? If so, how did you react at the time and how did it influence your approach to racing afterwards?
I had an accident in the F3 series where I broke a shock absorber in a fast corner, which caused me to roll over and crash into the barriers. Fortunately, I was not seriously injured. Apart from that incident and the one in Pau, I have never had any serious problems in racing. Safety is now a top priority in our sport. In fact, the risks they can be when you find yourself in the middle of the track and you can be hit by another car, but as long as you stay isolated, the risks are much lower.
As a driver, what emotions do you feel when you are on the track at high speeds?
To be honest, it’s not so much the speed that gives me the thrill on the track. After all, that’s where you’re supposed to be fast, so it almost becomes natural. What really gets me going are the tight corners where you have to be ultra-precise and the late braking where you push your limits. That’s when the emotions are the most intense.
Outside of racing, what are your passions? How do you balance your professional life as a driver with your personal interests?
Outside of the circuits, I have several passions that help me find a balance in my life. When the season ends, so around November, it's ski season. It's a sport that I've loved since I was a child, especially in Switzerland where I started at the age of 4/5. In fact, there was a time when the Swiss ski team even approached me to join their team, but I preferred to stay true to my passion for car racing. Apart from skiing, I also like golf and padel. In fact, I'm quite versatile when it comes to sports, I like to try new things.
As for the balance between my professional life as a driver and my personal hobbies, it is not always easy, especially with the many trips related to the races. But I manage to find ways to adapt and enjoy each aspect of my life to the maximum.
What are your short and long term goals as a racing driver? Is there a specific race you dream of winning?
In the short term, I mainly aim to continue my progression as a driver, by accumulating experience and obtaining solid results in the championships in which I participate. In the long term, my objective would be to work for a manufacturer, it would be a recognition of my skills and it would bring me real stability. I would also like to participate in the 24 Hours of Le Mans . It is an emblematic race, which I love very much and participating in it would really be an unforgettable moment in my career.
What are some little-known or underestimated aspects of being a racing driver that you would like people to understand better?
I think people don't always realise how important driver performance is. We often talk about Formula 1, but there is a big difference: in this category, being in a top team can help you get good results, even if you are not the best driver. On the other hand, in other categories like mine, the car is the same for all drivers, so it is really your talent that makes the difference between victory and defeat.
What is your preparation ritual before an important race? Are there any habits or superstitions that you regularly follow to put yourself in the right mindset before getting behind the wheel?
A habit I have before each race is to always put on my gloves starting with my left hand, then my right hand, and the same for my shoes. If I start with my right hand, it disturbs me. It's a routine I've been following for a long time and it puts me in good shape for the race. As for preparation, I'm not very keen on rituals or superstitions. I prefer to focus on my knowledge of the car and my own driving technique.
As a driver, you have had the opportunity to drive different makes and models of racing cars. Is there a make or model that stands out for you in terms of performance and driving feel?
All racing cars are great to drive, but if I had to pick one, it would be the Mercedes . I like the front-mounted engine, it's a driving sensation that I love. I've been driving it for 7 years now and I still enjoy it as much as ever. Recently, I had the opportunity to drive an Audi for the first time and I also really enjoyed that experience.
As a driver, what is your involvement in the process of developing and setting up the car for each race? How do you collaborate with the engineers and technicians to optimize the car’s performance on the track?
In GT3 , there is no real development of the car during the season. Unlike what I experienced in F3, where every weekend you could have an engine evolution, an aerodynamic evolution, new shock absorbers etc… which allowed you to improve the car. In
GT3, everything is frozen to reduce costs. As a result, performance depends more on the talent of the drivers.
On the other hand, this year, I have a contract with Toyota as a developer driver. This allows me to participate in test days to improve the car. That's really cool because we try a lot of things to see what works best.
Why did you agree to become an ambassador for Morex Custom?
I accepted to become an ambassador for Morex because I really like the brand. Its universe that combines passion for cars, motorcycles, and surfing, suits me perfectly. I love the rider spirit and having a good time with my friends, that's what I also like.
In addition, I am also an ambassador for a watch brand, MW and Co, created by two people from Toulouse. The link with the automotive world is obvious, so I thought it fit well with my commitment to Morex. Everything complements each other and has a link, which makes this collaboration very coherent for me.
