Rene Binder ended his first season in endurance racing in seventh place at the finale of the European Le Mans Series last weekend at Portimão. In interview, the 27-year-old Tyrolean reviews his action-packed year of racing in 2019.

After missing out on a podium at Petit Le Mans in the USA, you still managed to finish seventh in Portugal in the ELMS finale.

Rene Binder: “I’ve experienced a sharp increase in form just recently at Panis Barthez Compétition, but much more was possible at Portimão. In retrospect, there’s always an explanation for why something turned out the way it did, but I would prefer not to describe the way my stomach was churning during the pre-start. I was third on the grid, and then suddenly, at the very last moment, the brake discs and pads on my car had to be changed. In such a situation, you don’t know if you’ll be able to brake on the limit straightaway again with the new pads but somehow, you just have to try to keep the car running up front. I did that quite successfully in a couple of the turns but then almost spun while hemmed in by a group of cars, which dropped us back down into eleventh place.”

The basis for a top result was certainly there, but there was another incident with a slower LMP3 which quite simply did not see you coming in its rear-view mirror.

Rene Binder: “Yes, that’s right. That cost me another 20 seconds. It’s a real shame, because so much more was possible. We could have taken podiums at Road Atlanta and Portimão. We should have finished in the Top Three in both the IMSA series with Juncos Racing and in the ELMS with Panis Barthez Compétition. We were out of luck at key moments, but still, I’m very grateful to both teams. I’ve learned a great deal and will come back stronger in 2020.”

Your best finishes in Europe were P7 at Spa and Portimão and P8 at Le Mans while you were able to book P8 at both Daytona and Watkins Glen in the USA…

“Actually, those are solid results for a rookie but don’t change the fact that we expected more, especially in the ELMS, where we twice started from the top two rows at the end of the season.”

What positive experiences will stay with you from the 2019 season?

“The feeling that I immediately felt at home in endurance racing, plus the fact that I was able to get to know some of the world’s most amazing circuits in 2019 – Sebring, Road Atlanta, Daytona and the legendary Le Mans circuit – these are not just nice-sounding names but represent real challenges that you must first master.”

Do you already have a specific route in mind that you will take in 2020?

“The plan is to contest another season in the ELMS and to line up in the 24-Hours of Le Mans, but of course, I might even be tempted to tackle a classic race or two in America. We’re currently in negotiation, so let’s just wait and see what turns up!”