Just last week Porsche announced the addition of a third 919 Hybrid for Le Mans in 2015. Now, less than a week later we’ve learned that Porsche has signed Nico Hülkenberg as one of the drivers for the third LMP1 entry. The 27-year-old German will be the first active Formula One driver since 2009 to take the start of Le Mans. As a prelude to Le Mans, Hülkenberg will get his first shot behind the wheel of the 919 in the six-hour race at Spa.
Fritz Enzinger, Vice President LMP1: “We are very much looking forward to taking Nico on board. We’ve got complete faith in his driving skills and for sure he will fit well in our works team. The ability to integrate is of extreme importance in endurance racing. For a Formula One driver it is an unusual situation to accept that his own results are the sum of three drivers’ performance.”
About Nico Hülkenberg
The 27-year-old was born on August 18, 1987 in Emmerich, Germany and started his racing career at the age of nine. Hülkenberg joined the FIA Formula One World Championship in 2010 after winning the 2009 GP2 championship. His best Grand Prix result was a fourth place in 2012 for Force India at the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa-Francorchamps – exactly the place where he will have his race debut with the Porsche 919 Hybrid in 2015. In 2014 he achieved his best overall championship position by finishing 9th. . His only F1 pole position during his debut season in 2010.
“Porsche and Le Mans – this combination probably attracts every race driver. I’ve been a Porsche fan for a long time and have been watching their return to the LMP1 class closely. The desire grew to drive that car at Le Mans. I am very pleased the 2015 Formula One calendar allows for it and I’m grateful to my Sahara Force India Formula One Team’s generosity to let me go for it. Now it’s up to me to work hard to satisfy both commitments.”
So, now we have our second F1 driver as part of the Porsche team. Who should be next?
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