British driver Nick Tandy had been awarded a contract to become the tenth Porsche works driver for the 2013 season.
“A big dream has come true. I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Tandy. “Ever since I first drove a Porsche 911 GT3 Cup it was clear to me that there could be nothing better than to become a works pilot for Porsche. It’s great that Porsche recognised what I have achieved so far and that they included me in the factory pilot family. I’ll do everything to merit this trust.”
The announcement caps off a stellar 2012 season for Tandy, in which he won the Porsche Cup, awarded to the top privateer Porsche driver of the year. His season included five wins with Marco Holzer in the International GT Open and four partnering Christian Engelhart in the ADCA GT Masters series in Germany.
Tandy has been a regular fixture in the driving seat of a Porsche since 2010 when he finished as runner-up in both the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup and in the Carrera Cup Deutschland, going on to take the title in the German national series the following year.
“I’m delighted to welcome Nick as our tenth works driver,” said Hartmut Kristen, head of Porsche Motorsport. “His career is exemplary. He followed up his title victory in the Carrera Cup Deutschland with a convincing performance in the international Grand Touring scene. With his ability, he perfectly complements our driver line up which consists of the very best drivers from sports car racing.”
While Tandy’s schedule for his first year in the works stable has yet to be confirmed he will join several other Porsche works drivers in the GT class of the Rolex 24 at Daytona next month.
Meanwhile further details of some of the other works drivers’ billets for the 2013 have been confirmed. After previously racing for privateers Team Felbermayr-Proton Richard Lietz and Marc Lieb will join the Porsche factory team in next year’s FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) with Jorg Bergmeister and Patrick Pilet set to embark on their first full WEC campaigns in a second car of the Olaf Manthey run team. Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard – both Porsche works drivers returning after loan spells to Audi’s LMP1 programme.
The remaining three works men – Marco Holzer, Wolf Henzler and Patrick Long – will focus on campaigns in the American Le Mans Series, Holzer and Henzler confirmed for Paul Miller Racing and Team Falken Tire respectively.
