Rene Binder is already really looking forward to the second round of the European Le Mans Series at the Red Bull Ring even though he knows his home race will be a solitary affair without any fans.

You last raced in Spielberg five years ago, so I guess you must be really looking forward to this event?

Rene Binder: “Yes indeed. It’s going to be mega, for sure, despite the fact that it will be a pretty lonely home race without any fans, friends or sponsors. I even get the feeling that things will be much stricter there than last time out in Barcelona.”

The Red Bull Ring is technically very demanding with its combination of slow corners and fast, flowing turns, so what does it take to be quick there?

Rene Binder: “Teams and drivers will face an even bigger challenge in the European Le Mans Series this time around, as there will be more than 40 cars out on a track that’s only 4.3 kilometres long and very narrow in places, so we’ll have plenty of traffic to deal with. Also, the field is normally very tightly bunched, which means you absolutely cannot afford to make mistakes.”

What role might the weather play? One or two showers of rain could fall down in the valley at the weekend…

Rene Binder: “Grip levels will definitely play a role in view of the very low track temperatures expected regardless of whether it rains or not, and it’s exactly for that reason that I have quite a bit of respect for the track. I was fastest in practice in the World Series and then suddenly found I had no grip at all in qualifying when it was much colder. Still, I’m pretty certain that Greg Wheeler (Team DUQUEINE Race Engineer) will have something up his sleeve.”

Which are your favourite passages at the Ring?

Rene Binder: “Well, Jochen Rindt turn is pretty cool and I like Niki Lauda corner a lot too but I discovered my favourite passage some years ago while out jogging in the area just behind the woods. It used to be part of the old circuit, a huge right-hander leading uphill to the straight at Schönberg. What a pity that we don’t race on this historic track anymore!”

You used the word historic. Speaking about history for just a moment, this race venue was originally called the Österreichring and then the A1 Ring. It’s closely associated with Austria’s motor racing history, but in point of fact, only Niki Lauda managed to win a grand prix there…

Rene Binder: “Well, you never really get any advantage from racing at home, you know. You need a car capable of winning and the necessary skill. Niki had both, but he also had another big strong point that makes him a role model for me. He won all of his races with his brains and not just with his right foot. That’s what gave him a crucial competitive advantage and enabled him to make history…”

Final question: How do you rate your chances of success here after finishing sixth in the season opener?

Rene Binder: “It’s not easy to make any predictions, as there are so many variable factors to consider, but I will say this much, we at DUQUEINE will continue to do everything possible to ensure that we draw level with the front‑runners. At any rate, I think the weekend is going to be very exciting and will end happily for us, I hope.”

Many thanks for the interview and good luck in your home race!