At the Le Mans World Championship preparation race — officially known as the FIA Karting Masters’ Super Cup, although in reality it has all the atmosphere of a World Championship event — the faces on the Master podium are always the same. And you can be sure that one particular 52-year-old will never be missing.
Davide Forè is ready for yet another World Championship — by now, there have been too many to count.

“The preparation race was a bit unusual because the weather conditions changed frequently over the two days, with constant alternation between wet and dry track conditions. That didn’t help us with the setup, which had to be adapted all the time. Also, running the harder tyre compound (the one used in KZ Master according to the regulations ed.) isn’t always straightforward. Most of our KZ racing is done on a softer compound, so when you switch to a harder tyre you have to work quite a lot to find a setup that allows you to get the maximum out of it. In any case, I’m very happy with the technical package I have at my disposal. This year, especially compared with last season, we’ve made a significant step forward in terms of performance.”

 

Some believe the level in KZ Master is perhaps too high, at least at the front of the field, considering the characteristics of a category originally conceived as an Over 35 class and intended to provide an opportunity for more amateur-oriented drivers. “Well, obviously, those with a lot of experience, or who have raced at a high level in the past, have something extra. Some of us train more often and do more races during the year, but that’s fairly normal in motorsport. In every category, all the way up to F1, the more experienced drivers are often the ones at the front. That said — and I think this should be pointed out — I’m 52, and the drivers I often find myself fighting with are 15 years younger than me. There’s a group of very strong drivers in our category, and I’m happy to be racing against them.”

Speaking of drivers with impressive longevity, Rubens Barrichello, born in 1972, will also be on the grid at Le Mans. “He had a very good pre-event in France and was fast. I have a lot of respect for what he’s still doing after everything he achieved in his career. We’ll all start from the same level on Sunday. I’ll give it everything, as always, and we’ll see how we measure up against him too.”

But surely you haven’t completely ruled out a return to KZ?
“I’d rather not say anything for now, but I have thought about how I would like to end my career one day. You know I like these kinds of challenges. I don’t want to give too much away, but let’s not rule anything out for the future…”