Jani replaces Christensen in Porsche’s 2021 WEC lineup | WEC News

Le Mans 24 Hours winner Neel Jani will join Porsche’s World Endurance Championship assault in 2021, taking the place of Michael Christensen.

The 2016 overall winner at Le Mans is moving across to the German manufacturer’s GTE Pro squad after being replaced in its Formula E World Championship line-up by Pascal Wehrlein.

He will drive alongside Kevin Estre in the two-car squad of Porsche 911 RSRs run by the factory Manthey team.

Jani, who was part of the Porsche LMP1 WEC campaigns in 2014-17, joins the GTE Pro line-up after making his debut in a 911 RSR at last month’s Sebring 12 Hours IMSA SportsCar Championship finale alongside Earl Bamber and Laurens Vanthoor.

He will remain a nominated reserve for the FE squad of Wehrlein and Andre Lotterer, along with test driver Simona da Silvestro.

Christensen, who won the GTE Pro WEC title in 2018/19 with Estre, is one of six drivers to depart Porsche’s factory roster for 2021.

The slimmed down squad reflects the marque’s decision not to contest IMSA’s GT Le Mans class in 2021.

In addition to Christensen and Nick Tandy, who is leaving Porsche to join the Corvette Racing IMSA squad, two-time Le Mans winner Bamber, 2015 IMSA GTLM champion Patrick Pilet, Sven Muller and Dirk Werner will no longer be factory drivers next season.

Christensen and Bamber will retain their links with the marque and have been designated drivers for its customer programmes with the 911 GT3-R in the GT World Challenge Europe along with factory drivers Laurens Vanthoor, Frederic Makowiecki.

Thomas Preining has been given a full-factory contract, having previously been what Porsche calls a “young professional”.

Porsche now has 14 full factory drivers, in addition to one young professional and one junior.

Gianmaria Bruni and Patrick Lietz will continue their partnership in the WEC for a third consecutive season.

Vanthoor and Patrick Long will race customer Porsches in the GT Daytona class of the IMSA series.

Detailed programmes for all 16 drivers have yet to be revealed, but Porsche stated that “almost all the drivers in the entire squad” will contest the Nurburbring 24 Hours next June in GT3 machinery.

Porsche’s statement made reference to the switch of the DTM to GT3 rules for 2021, but said that it had yet to determine whether customer teams will represent the marque in the series.

PORSCHE’S 2021 FACTORY LINE-UP

Gianmaria Bruni (I)
Matt Campbell (AUS)
Romain Dumas (F)
Kevin Estre (F)
Mathieu Jaminet (F)
Neel Jani (CH)
Richard Lietz (A)
Patrick Long (USA)
Andre Lotterer (D)
Frederic Makowiecki (F)
Thomas Preining (F)
Simona de Silvestro (CH)
Laurens Vanthoor (B)
Pascal Wehrlein (D)
Julien Andlauer – young professional (F)
Ayhancan Guven – junior driver (TR)

The Autosport 70 special, celebrating the best of motorsport, is no longer available to buy online, but is available to new magazine subscribers. To subscribe, please go to: autosportmedia.com