Breaking news
Formula E
Porsche names Jani as first 2019/20 FE signing
Le Mans 24 Hours winner Neel Jani has been named as Porsche's first driver signing for its ABB FIA Formula E works team in 2019/20.
Jamie Klein
Edited: Dec 14, 2018, 2:39 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Jani, a Porsche works driver since 2013, will return to the all-electric series next year with the Weissach marque after making just two FE starts in Hong Kong at the start of season four for Dragon Racing.
He was replaced by Jose Maria Lopez for the rest of the season as a putative alliance between Dragon and Porsche fell apart.
But the 35-year-old, whose only racing programme this year has been with the Rebellion Racing LMP1 team in the FIA World Endurance Championship, remained a leading candidate for a season six Porsche FE seat.
Fritz Enzinger, vice-president of Porsche Motorsport, said: “Without doubt, Neel is the right man for our new technologically trendsetting programme.
"Not only does he contribute speed, but he has a huge amount of single seater experience. He has already driven in Formula E and is well established in Weissach as a development driver.”
Porsche's FE programme will be the second Jani has been involved in from the beginning, as the Swiss was part of the German marque's ultra-successful LMP1 project from its first season in 2014 until its cessation after 2017.
In that time he won Le Mans in 2016, as well as that year's WEC title, alongside teammates Marc Lieb and Romain Dumas in the Porsche 919 Hybrid.
Jani has also been involved in Porsche's 919 Evo 'Tribute Tour' this year, breaking Lewis Hamilton's Formula 1 lap record at Spa.
“I’m very much looking forward to the new task," said Jani. "Being part of an entirely new Porsche Motorsport programme for the second time, right from the beginning, means a lot to me.
"The technical and driving challenges are huge and our strong Formula E opponents have a significant advantage in experience. There is a lot of work ahead of us and I can’t wait for the roll-out.”
Porsche will commence track testing of its FE challenger in March next year as it prepares for its race debut in December 2019 at the start of season six.
It has yet to confirm who will drive its second car, but axed Toro Rosso F1 driver Brendon Hartley, who remained a Porsche factory driver during his time in F1, is a possible candidate.
Read Also:
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Mahindra cannot aim for anything but title - d’Ambrosio
Next article Agag becomes FE chairman, new CEO to be appointed
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Jamie Klein
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Ayumu Iwasa wins as Kakunoshin Ohta misses chance to seal title
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
Super Formula
Super Formula
Fuji II
Super Formula Fuji: Igor Fraga wins while Kakunoshin Ohta closes on title
More from
Neel Jani
Estre, Jani praise revisions to "fairer" Le Mans qualifying format
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Estre, Jani praise revisions to "fairer" Le Mans qualifying format
Jani explains fix for bizarre Porsche door problem while leading WEC Spa race
WEC
WEC
Spa
Jani explains fix for bizarre Porsche door problem while leading WEC Spa race
Daytona 24h: Derani unleashes track record to capture pole for Cadillac
IMSA
IMSA
Daytona 24 Hours
Daytona 24h: Derani unleashes track record to capture pole for Cadillac
More from
Porsche Team
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix II
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
Pascal Wehrlein: Jaguar wanted to "destroy my race” in controversial London finale
Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix II
Pascal Wehrlein: Jaguar wanted to "destroy my race” in controversial London finale
Pascal Wehrlein responds to Porsche’s team tactics after dominant London win
Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix I
Pascal Wehrlein responds to Porsche’s team tactics after dominant London win
Latest news
"Just undriveable" – Isack Hadjar looking for answers after "massive" struggles in Austin practice
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
20 min
"Just undriveable" – Isack Hadjar looking for answers after "massive" struggles in Austin practice
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
49 min
Maverick Vinales: “If I stay at home, I don’t get paid”
The unexpected problem Honda encountered despite its second F1 power unit upgrade
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
United States GP
1 h
The unexpected problem Honda encountered despite its second F1 power unit upgrade
MotoGP Australian GP: Full starting grid as four riders forced out of Phillip Island race
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
MotoGP Australian GP: Full starting grid as four riders forced out of Phillip Island race
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe