The 55-year-old driver from Brussels is currently 5th in the driver’s championship with a season best finish of 4th place at the Red Bull Ring in July.
We caught up with Eric de Doncker ahead of his home event at Spa-Francorchamps to talk to him about the 2017 season and racing at Spa in a Le Mans Prototype on the 7km circuit.
Q: How do you feel as a Belgian driver to race in a series that visits Spa-Francorchamps?
“It is always a pleasure to drive at Spa. I know the track by heart, I have been racing at Spa for such a long time. It is a fantastic track and I am looking forward to racing there for the first time in a P3. So, yes, I am excited.”
Q: Do you think Spa will suit the Ligier-Nissan LMP3 car?
“We did test there earlier this season and, yes, it was good. It was the first time I had driven the car there and the aero of the car is really special. The car is really good under braking and the speed in the corners is really good. Hopefully I will improve my times when we go back there. I drove Group C last year but this car is something really special and with Andy (Meyrick) with me, who is a really good driver and knows the prototype car, I know we can improve a lot.”
Q: What is your favourite part of the Spa-Francorchamps circuit?
“I love the double left at Pouhon, which you get a lot of ‘g’ with the prototype. I think that is my favourite part of the track. The whole of the Spa circuit is fantastic. I used to race there when there was no run off which made it more challenging, you couldn’t make a mistake, but now if you make a mistake at Blanchimont or Eau Rouge, you can run across the kerbs. But it is still a great track to race on.”
