The lone Audi Sport LMP1 driver who has found a full-time ride in next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship, Andre Lotterer, has made his debut aboard his new car with his new team this week.
Lotterer joined several others of his Porsche Team drivers at a test at the Motorland Aragon circuit in Spain. Porsche LMP1 head Fritz Ensinger officially welcomed Lotterer to the team after the images were revealed.
He’ll be part of a new-look lineup in the No. 1 Porsche 919 Hybrid next year, with reigning World Champion Neel Jani and Porsche factory ace Nick Tandy, who’s now a full-time LMP1 driver after stepping up from the Porsche GT program. Brendon Hartley, Timo Bernhard and Earl Bamber, who replaces the retired Mark Webber, are in the No. 2 Porsche.
The three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and 2012 FIA WEC World Champion shifts to Porsche for the 2017 campaign, following Audi’s withdrawal from the championship announced late last year. He has competed in every FIA WEC race since the series’ inception at 2012 at the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring, one of only a handful of drivers to do so.
New work clothes for @Andre_Lotterer who already has collected first impressions at the wheel of #Porsche #919hybrid @AragonMotorLand pic.twitter.com/5cmCALhYAo
— TAG Heuer Porsche FE Team (@PorscheFormulaE) January 3, 2017
Happy new year 2017 to all of you and thanks for the support! Already liking my new @Porsche_Team outfit 👌🏻 #maxattack @24hoursoflemans pic.twitter.com/d8o5u6SdPX
— Andre Lotterer (@Andre_Lotterer) January 3, 2017
Welcome to @Porsche_Team 👍 https://t.co/O1k411fAsa
— Fritz Enzinger 🇦🇹 (@fritzenzinger) January 3, 2017
The remainder of Audi’s six factory drivers are yet to sort their FIA WEC plans. Loic Duval and Audi GT ace Rene Rast will join the manufacturer’s DTM program. Lucas di Grassi is set to focus on FIA Formula E with the Audi ABT Schaeffler squad, while Oliver Jarvis, Marcel Fassler and Benoit Treluyer’s full 2017 programs remain to be determined.
Fassler and Duval will race at the Rolex 24 at Daytona, Fassler in an encore with Corvette Racing while Duval will make a one-off run with Elton Julian’s DragonSpeed team.