Porsche LMP1 ace Neel Jani to Faraday Dragon for 2017/18 Formula E
Porsche's World Endurance champion and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Neel Jani will make his Formula E debut in 2017/18 with Faraday Future Dragon Racing
Jani won the 2016 edition of Le Mans on his way to clinching the WEC title while sharing the Porsche 919 Hybrid LMP1 with Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb.
The 33-year-old, who has tested the Faraday-backed Dragon team's second powertrain already, replaces Audi's LMP1-turned-DTM driver Loic Duval alongside Jerome d'Ambrosio.
Jani's employer Porsche is due to enter FE with a works team in 2019/20.
He has driven for Porsche since its return to the top class of sportscar racing in 2014, and it is likely that the desire for one of its key assets to learn the electric single-seater series was behind Porsche giving him approval to join Faraday/Dragon.
Jani said he was "thrilled" to be joining the American team, which is looking to bounce back from an extremely disappointing 2016/17 season.
Dragon had been a leading team in FE but had a poor first campaign aligned with emerging American manufacturer Faraday Future.
After winning a race in each of the first two seasons it slumped to eighth in the teams' championship, with a best finish of fifth, last season.
Jay Penske, Dragon team owner, said: "As a team, we have set our target of winning races and competing for the championship in the coming season, and Neel was an essential component of that equation.
"When you look at the best drivers in the world, from both a racing and car development perspective, Neel is at the top of the list.
"He's an excellent fit within our programme."
Jani will make his FE race debut in Hong Kong on December 1-2.
It is unknown whether or not Duval, who claimed his maiden DTM podium last weekend at Zandvoort, will continue in FE.
The Frenchman had driven for Dragon since the fifth race of FE's inaugural season, but had been expected to leave the team after a tricky campaign.
Duval's relationship with Dragon was hurt when he endured severe speculation over whether ex-Formula 1 driver Esteban Gutierrez would take his seat - before the Mexican eventually joined Techeetah - and then had to miss the Paris round because of a DTM clash.
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
The driver who can wreck F1's "super exciting" 2020 silly season
Red Bull's Verstappen now has basis for first F1 title challenge
Ferrari: Mick Schumacher a good candidate for seat in Formula 1
Daytona 24h: Derani unleashes track record to capture pole for Cadillac
“Freak” belts issue denied Proton shot at beating Ferrari in Fuji WEC
Proton “can only surprise” in first WEC races with Porsche LMDh
Why Porsche doesn't expect another WEC domination at Imola
Porsche: “Not all teams treated equally” after da Costa Formula E Misano DSQ
How Porsche made the perfect start in WEC despite late drama in Qatar
F1 Chinese GP: Stroll leads FP1 as small fire causes early red flag
Live: F1 Chinese GP updates – FP1 & Sprint qualifying
How real-time scrutineering ensures fair and consistent competition in motorsport
How MotoGP brakes work: Secrets of stopping a 220mph bike
How Porsche won, lost and won in Misano Formula E mayhem
How Guenther’s patience provided his Tokyo Formula E triumph
How brilliant Bird survived the heat to end Formula E win drought in Sao Paulo
How Cassidy surprised himself to storm to Formula E's summit in Saudi
Subscribe and access Autosport.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.
Top Comments