Any mention of the Alméras name is a reminder that this is no ordinary team on the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup grid. In fact, the history of this French racing stable dates back to the late 1960s. Back then, Alméras racing cars would compete in a variety of national events such as endurance races, road races, hill climbs, rallies and sports car races. It all began with the brotherhood of Jean-Marie and Jacques Alméras, who set up a workshop and car dealership in Montpellier in the South of France. The next two decades were dominated by sports car racing, including several appearances at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As part of the next generation, Philippe Alméras grew up during the glory days of motorsport. He is renowned for introducing young talent to the Supercup. This year he continues that tradition with three new French Rookies, Mathys Jaubert, Victor Bernier and Louis Rousset. The latter is in the cockpit of Martinet / Forestier Racing – as is the experienced Spaniard Fernando Monje, who completes the Alméras driver team. We sat down with Philippe to discuss his ambitions for the upcoming season.

Hi Philippe – your French team has one of the most illustrious histories on the grid of the Porsche Supercup. What are you aiming to achieve this season?
I would like to highlight our extensive history with Porsche and the Supercup. Such a history can only be forged with a perfect blend of passion and performance, which guarantees regular success, even in series such as the French Carrera Cup. This year we will complete an ambitious program in which the Porsche Supercup is of outstanding importance. We also want to be among the front runners there.

 

You're once again relying on the next generation of racing drivers. Are there any milestones that Mathys, Victor and Louis need to achieve?
All of our youngsters are competing in the Rookie Classification, but only Mathys and Victor are also in the Rookie Programme. Louis has the least experience of all, as he only started motorsport three years ago. Despite being 25, while the others are around 19 years of age, they all share the same will to win. Louis finished third in the Rookie Classification in the Porsche Carrera Cup France. So we are continuing our tradition as a team with young talent. Our aim remains to offer the drivers opportunities that they wouldn’t have without us. This year, we have given preference to the youngsters. We will try out different strategies with the three of them, as each driver brings their own knowledge of the race car and the circuits.

 

How close is the cooperation in the Rookie Programme with the coach Marco Seefried and your drivers?
The program with Marco also aims to accelerate the development of the drivers and enhance their performance. Marco contributes by analysing data and providing advice to help drivers improve their performance. It's a comprehensive approach that complements our efforts. Additionally, it's the first step into professional activities outside the car. The Rookie Programme involves numerous meetings, media training, and physical activities. Drivers must quickly summarise events after races and will also be evaluated based on their reports. Essentially, it serves as a classroom to cultivate better professional drivers for the future.

What developments have you observed in the Porsche Supercup over the past years?
Especially concerning the Rookie Classification, I sensed that the performance level is increasing. At this stage, many drivers from national events are making their mark on the Rookie podium, which bodes well for their entry into the Supercup. While many contenders look promising on paper, the Supercup demands a unique set of skills due to its short races where performance must be delivered within a few laps. What worked in the French or German Carrera Cup might not translate directly to success in the Supercup. I eagerly anticipate seeing whether these prognostics hold true.

 

As one of two French teams in the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, how would you describe your team?
The spirit within our team is truly something unique. Performance is important, but achieving it without caring for the people you work with does not lead to sustainable success. That's why we prioritise taking care of everyone in the team, not just focusing on year-end results. We've seen drivers win in the Supercup, but have not become works drivers. Driving fast in a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup car is a skill to master, but being a professional driver entails much more than just race victories and trophies.

 

How will the roles be divided between Fernando Monje and your campus of three young drivers? What contribution can the seasoned Spaniard make to your team?
First of all, we're really happy because this year we'll have four drivers who will participate in both the Carrera Cup France and the Supercup. For Fernando, it's a return to motorsport after taking a break to finish his studies and work intensively with his father's company. He competed in the Sprint Challenge Southern Europe, which was highly competitive, with 20 drivers often within 1 or 2 seconds of each other. This prepared him well for the Supercup and provided excellent exposure to refine his skills. His experience and precise understanding of the car make him valuable for the development of our other three Rookie drivers. Fernando will be like an older brother to them. I can already feel a great atmosphere in the team. Targeting a top-10 finish in the Supercup would be a significant achievement for Fernando.

 

What common vision do you share with your team sponsor Pierre Martinet? What makes such a long partnership?
We share the joy of high performance and the promotion of young talent. For instance, in the factory of Pierre Martinet, there are images of both the racing cars and the worldwide team displayed. It's quite impressive, with famous public exposure featured in media campaigns alongside images of Ayhancan Güven with his race car on the wall. The factory is in Lyon. The technology there is cutting-edge; for instance, they've integrated data analysis from motorsports into their factory operations. This innovation attracts engineers who may not want to pursue a career in motorsports but are intrigued by the technical advancements at Martinet's factory. Our decade-long partnership has benefited both sides of this sponsorship agreement.

 

Thanks a lot for the talk, Philippe!