Two-time IndyCar champion Alex Palou will race the 24 Hours of Le Mando this year. Although "it was a last minute option", the Spaniard confesses he is very happy "to be able to be in one of the biggest races in the world". Speaking to Spanish newspaper Marca, the Spaniard said that "being able to aspire to the overall victory" is a great motivation for him. Why did he accept to drive Le Mans?

"That's the beauty of it: accepting difficult challenges that are not my main focus.

Palou derailed a possible F1 future with McLaren Racing, as he judged his chances of entering the category to be minimal, and did not want to be tied to a contract with the, so far uncompetitive, Arrow McLaren team in Indycar. Although his focus will be on IndyCar, the Spaniard admits that "that week Le Mans will be the only goal".

"I always put my hand up to race anything with four wheels. The team knows I'm a pain in the ass about this and when we knew Ganassi would have a second car, it was clear that we needed an extra driver. We have to thank them for choosing me because I won't be able to do the WEC and it would have been easier to put Bourdais, for example, and have him do all the races," says the Spaniard.

Despite the great challenge of running the historic race due to his unfamiliarity with the car, and his unfamiliarity with the Le Mans circuit, Palou recognises the opportunity that has been given to him, and takes the responsibility and the difficulty that comes with it with both hands: "It's a great opportunity that Ganassi, Cadillac and Honda are giving me and we will take it with strength and with the idea of taking it [the victory]. I like the responsibility. That there are big goals and they're not easy, it's good. I think I'm going to have 13 weekends in a row of racing by doing Le Mans. It was the only week off on the calendar... until now.