Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas have been confirmed as the first two drivers for Porsche’s 2014 LMP1 FIA World Endurance Championship campaign.
The two drivers, both previous winners of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, will commence testing of the new car later in the year.
“Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas are regarded as some of the fastest and most experienced sports car pilots in the world.” said Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG, Wolfgang Hatz, “I’m very pleased that we have these two men contesting the World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours for us from 2014.”
Bernhard has risen through the ranks from Porsche’s own junior development programme. He joined the Porsche Junior Team in 1999 at 18 years of age, before becoming a works Porsche driver in 2002, going on to win races and championships all over the world. In 2010 Bernhard was ‘Race Driver of the Year’ by the ADAC for his achievements.
Bernhard is the only driver to have overall victories at all four of the top sportscar classics, the Daytona 24 Hours (2003), 12 Hours of Sebring (2004), 24 Hours of Le Mans (2010) and a total record of five wins at the Nurburgring 24 Hours, a record in itself.
Romain Dumas joined Porsche’s list of drivers in 2004 having previously attracted attention in Formula 3, Formula 3000 and various international GT races, such as the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland. He also has a wealth of experience at Le Mans, competing the 24 Hour race a total of twelve times.
Dumas shared victory at the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans with Bernhard, as well as four of Bernhard’s five Nurburgring wins. The two also clinched the 2007 and 2008 American Le Mans Series championship titles.
