‘I need to put everything together to get the result I deserve’ – Billard reacts after securing best-ever Qualifying at Silverstone

Lisa Billard was beaming following Qualifying at Silverstone, after the Gatorade driver secured her first-ever top-three result and is now looking to realise her potential with a maiden podium.

It was the French racer’s best Qualifying performance of the season and was two places higher than her previous best of P5 as last year’s Singapore Wild Card.

Billard is one of eight drivers who are racing at Silverstone for the first time, with in-season testing her only previous mileage at the British venue. Ninth in the early morning Practice session, she and her ART Grand Prix team had their work cut out to get the perfect feel behind the wheel.

Her best lap of a 2:02.180 was four tenths away from polesitter Chiara Bättig, and Billard believes that she had the potential to close the gap even further.

“I'm really happy because it's the first time for me here at Silverstone,” began Billard. “It's such a nice track to drive, it’s really fun. I think I could have done better if I lined everything on my lap but I was struggling a bit with the car this morning and it was definitely better for Qualifying.”

Highlighting the work done between the two sessions, Billard acknowledged the improvements made to the car set-up, giving her greater confidence to attack the notoriously difficult circuit. “I was struggling with oversteer a lot this morning,” she admitted. “We changed the car a bit and it was more stable on high-speed corners. I was more confident to push to the limit, so I think that was the difference.”

This marks a high in what has been a solid Qualifying run for Billard, who qualified P6 in Shanghai and achieved two top-10 times in Montreal. However, the speed hasn’t always been matched by aggression in the races, with the 16-year-old recording eighth, seventh and fifth and two 15th-place finishes across the two rounds.

READ MORE: QUALIFYING: Bättig makes history as she rockets to first Wild Card pole at Silverstone

Starting the Reverse Grid Race from the third row, Billard aims to utilise the chance to refine her racecraft ahead of Sunday’s main event. Convinced that she’s got the pace to challenge the leading duo of Bättig and Palmowski, the Gatorade driver says the focus is on delivering an overdue podium finish.

“Tomorrow will be to take experience and learn as much as possible, especially on my racecraft,” she said. “I know I have the pace but I need to take experience during races to be ready to get some trophies home on Sunday.

“It's a good opportunity and I will enjoy every lap to make the most of it. I have good pace and now I need to put everything together to get the result I deserve.”