Neel Jani is to join the already confirmed Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas in the Porsche LMP1 team for next year’s FIA WEC and is also set to test the new car this year at the start of a multi year contract which starts next week.
The 29 year old Swiss has long rumoured to have been signed for the new effort after showing excellent form for the Rebellion Racing team since joining the team 4 years ago. He will continue his racing commitments for Rebellion for the remainder of the 2013 season.
“To compete for Porsche in the sports car World Endurance Championship WEC and at the Le Mans 24 Hours is a dream come true,” said Jani.
“I’m looking forward to getting behind the wheel for the first time and contributing my test driving experience.
“Porsche is incomparable with any other marque in sportscar racing and I’m proud to now be a part of the Porsche works team.
“My goal is to win the Le Mans 24 Hours and secure the WEC World Championship title with Porsche. I don’t just want to build on Porsche’s successful history, I want to add a new chapter.”
“Neel fits very well into our Porsche motorsport family,” said Fritz Enzinger, head of Porsche’s LMP1 project.
“He is incredibly fast, he has a wealth of experience in international long distance racing as well as at the Le Mans 24 Hours and he’s a real team player.”
In 2003 and 2004, Jani was a Formula 1 test driver for Sauber and in 2005 he scored two GP2 victories.
During the winter season of 2005/2006, he secured second overall for Switzerland in the global A1GP series and in 2006 was signed on as test and reserve driver for the Scuderia Toro Rosso Formula 1 team.
In 2007, he switched to the American Champcar Series and clinched three podium places.
For the 2007/2008 season he returned to the A1GP, took home the title after four victories and went on to secure yet another runner-up title the following year.
In 2009, Jani contested the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time and finished twelfth in the LMP1 class for Speedy Garage/ Sebah. Since 2010, he has competed for the Rebellion Racing team.
