UPDATE: We were finally able to get confirmation from Porsche that Wolf Henzler’s role has changed. He is no longer a factory driver. Instead, according to the email we received, “Wolf becomes the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland Junior Program Driver Coach in 2018. He will also be available to drive for Porsche customer teams, but not as a works driver.”
Like in past years, early December marks the time for Porsche’s annual Night of Champions Dinner. The dinner is a time for drivers, team members and executives to celebrate the past season’s success and announce plans for the upcoming motorsport season. One part of the announcements we always look forward to is the “official” naming of Porsche’s factory drivers and this year was no different.
2018 Porsche Factory Drivers
Earl Bamber (New Zealand)
Series: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship + 24 Hours of Le Mans + ADAC 24-hour Nürburgring
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @earlbamber
Website: www.earlbambermotorsport.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/earlbambermotorsport
Jörg Bergmeister (Germany)
Series: TBD
Car: TBD
Twitter: @JBergmeister
Website: N/A
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Joerg-Bergmeister-Porsche-Works-Driver
Timo Bernhard (Germany)
Series: 24 Hours of Le Mans + ADAC GT Masters
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT# R
Twitter: @Timo_Bernhard
Website: www.timo-bernhard.de
Facebook: www.facebook.com/timobernhard.de
Gianmaria Bruni (Italy)
Series: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Endurance Races + 24 Hours of Le Mans + FIA WEC LMGTE-Pro
Car: 911 RSR
Twitter: @GianmariaBruni
Website: www.gianmariabruni.it
Facebook: www.facebook.com/gianmariabruni81
Michael Christensen (Denmark)
Series: 24 Hours of Le Mans + FIA WEC LMGTE-Pro
Car: 911 RSR
Twitter: @ChristensenMK
Website: www.michaelkchristensen.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mcracedriver
Romain Dumas (France)
Series: 24 Hours of Le Mans + Intercontinental GT Challenge + ADAC 24-hour Nürburgring
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @RomainDumas
Website: www.romaindumas.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RomainDumasOfficiel
Kevin Estre (France)
Series: IMSA Weathertech SportsCar Championship + 24 Hours of Le Mans + FIA WEC LMGTE-Pro + ADAC GT Masters + ADAC 24-hour Nürburgring
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @kevinestre
Website: www.kevinestre.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kevin.estre
Brendon Hartley (New Zealand)
Series: TBD
Car: TBD
Twitter: @brendonhartley
Website: www.brendonhartley.co.nz
Facebook: www.facebook.com/BrendonHartleyMotorsport
Wolf Henzler (Germany)
Series: TBD
Car: TBD
Twitter: @wolf_henzler
Website: www.wolfhenzler.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/wolfhenzler.racebook
Neel Jani (Switzerland)
Series: TBD
Car: TBD
Twitter: @neeljani
Website: www.neel-jani.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NeelJaniRacing
Richard Lietz (Austria)
Series: 24 Hours of Le Mans + FIA WEC LMGTE-Pro + ADAC 24-hour Nürburgring
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @RichardLietz
Website: www.richard-lietz.at
Facebook: www.facebook.com/richard.lietz.9
Patrick Long (United States)
Series: Pirelli World Challenge
Car: 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @pLmotorsport
Website: www.patricklong.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Patrick-Long/
André Lotterer (France)
Series: TBD
Car: TBD
Twitter: @Andre_Lotterer
Website: N/A
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alotterer
Frédéric Makowiecki (France)
Series: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship + 24 Hours of Le Mans + Intercontinental GT Challenge + ADAC 24-hour Nürburgring
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @FredMako1
Website: www.fredmako.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/FredMako1
Sven Müller (Germany)
Series: 24 Hours of Le Mans
Car: 911 RSR
Twitter: @Sven_Mueller14
Website: www.sven-mueller-racing.de
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SvenMuellerOffical
Patrick Pilet (France)
Series: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship + 24 Hours of Le Mans + ADAC 24-hour Nürburgring
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @PatrickPilet
Website: www.patrick-pilet.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/patrick.piletracepage
Nick Tandy (UK)
Series: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championshi + 24 Hours of Le Mans + ADAC 24-hour Nürburgring
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @NickTandyR
Website: N/A
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NickTandyRacing
Laurens Vanthoor (Belgium)
Series: IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship + 24 Hours of Le Mans + ADAC 24-hour Nürburgring
Car: 911 RSR + 911 GT3 R
Twitter: @VanthoorLaurens
Website: www.laurensvanthoor.be
Facebook: www.facebook.com/laurensvanthoor.be
Dirk Werner (Germany)
Series: Intercontinental GT Challenge
Car: 911 GT3 R
Twitter: N/A
Website: www.dirk-werner.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/dirkwernerracing
Interestingly, there is no mention of Wolf Henzler in Porsche’s plans for 2018 so we’ll have to wait and see if there’s an official announcement.