Double WSK Super Master Series Kart Champion and Formula 2 race winner Clement Novalak will embark on a new chapter in 2024 when the 23-year-old French driver makes his ELMS debut with Inter Europol Competition in Barcelona, competing for the overall title in LMP2 alongside Ollie Gray and Luca Ghiotto.
After clinching his second WSK Super Master Series title in 2017, Novalak moved up to single seaters winning the 2019 BRDC British Formula 3 title with Carlin and finishing third in the 2021 standings of the FIA Formula 3 Championship. A move to Formula 2 garnered another win with Trident Racing last season, but now Clement Novalak has his sights set on glory in the ELMS and beyond.
Novalak was due to make his endurance racing debut at the Daytona 24 in January, racing in LMP2 with his new team. However, a pit lane incident during the final practice session sidelined the French driver before he could compete in his first race. After suffering a fractured rib, Novalak has now recovered and is ready for the start of the ELMS season in April.
So what influenced Novalak to change from single seaters to prototypes? “I have always enjoyed the longer format of races; being able to get yourself into the zone at the wheel of the car for multiple hours,” he said. “The format is a real challenge, and enjoyable as we get to work with other drivers. I’ve always been interested in endurance racing from a young age when I watched the 24 Hours of Le Mans with my dad.
“In saying that, this is a new challenge for me, it’s very different from what I’m used to with the sprint races in Formula 2 and Formula 3, but I’m really looking forward to it,” Novalak continued.
“ELMS is good for me, with WEC not having the LMP2s on the calendar anymore, ELMS now has so much racing talent within the championship and this means, that it will be harder to perform well. Inter Europol Competition are a mega team, they have great experience at the highest level of sportscar competition, and I am delighted to be racing with them this year.”
The next obvious question is how the Oreca 07 compares to the single seaters Clement Novalak has raced up to now. “Surprisingly, the car is not too different to what I have been used to,” Novalak admitted. “While heavier, it still has a single-seater vibe! The tyres are more complaint than what we had in Formula 2, so overall, it feels similar, and I felt at home from the get-go.
“You can change your driving style and the car responds well, it does what you want so you can play around with it. It’s been extremely enjoyable getting to know the car and hopefully, we’ll be fast out of the box in Barcelona.”
Another new thing that Clement Novalak will have to learn and that is sharing a car. So how does he approach sharing a race car with two other drivers for the first time? “I’m looking forward to working alongside them both to try and extract as much performance as we car from the car and have some fun on the way!
“I don’t know either particularly well. Luca (Ghiotto)was someone I looked up to in Formula 3 in my formative years, as he raced against the likes of Callum Ilott and those guys. Ollie (Gray), I know of, he’s been in F3 and did a season with Carlin, as did I, so I expect we can share some stories and experiences.”
The competition in the ELMS is always fierce but with 22 LMP2s on the grid, 14 in LMP2, this season is likely to be tougher than ever for the overall title. So how is Clement Novalak approaching the start of the season and what is the goal for his debut year in Le Mans Prototypes? “For sure it’s going to be the toughest LMP2 grid in the history of ELMS. There are so many professional drivers joining the series, so it’s going to be a huge challenge,” he admitted. “From my side, I unfortunately fractured a rib in Daytona, so I have not been able to be in the gym as much as I would like, but I have been around the sport and will do as much as I can physically, use the simulator, talk to the engineers and test when I can.
“I’ll approach each race weekend as a standalone event, and not think too much about the championship. My job is to maximise everything in the car and the added benefits of having two teammates on the same car is, that we pool our knowledge and feedback to adapt and develop together.”
With six of the most challenging circuits in Europe the ELMS offers a good variety of challenges. So which circuit is Clement Novalak looking forward to the most? “I’ve had the pleasure of racing on all of the tracks, and to be honest, while there’s only six rounds, they are probably the best circuits in Europe.
“It’s difficult to pick and choose a favourite, but for me, Le Castellet is a home race and will therefore be special. The elevation changes make Spa-Francorchamps a favourite of many drivers, and for me Imola is one to look forward to with the flowing layout and great atmosphere.”
So what does Clement Novalak get up to when he is not racing? “For me, it is important to be able to switch off, outside of racing. I really enjoy playing tennis and watching football with friends. I’m starting a business at the moment – related to motorsport – so that is taking up quite a lot of my time away from the racetrack.
“I think once you’re an athlete, you always enjoy – and respect tremendously – others excelling in other sports. So apart from sitting on the couch watching F1, its football, tennis, and golf; plenty to do in the time I do have off!”
The opening round of the 2024 European Le Mans Series, the 4 Hours of Barcelona, will take place at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya in Spain on Sunday 14 April.
