Neel Jani to quit WEC to focus on Porsche Formula E campaign
Neel Jani has revealed he will bow out of the World Endurance Championship after the end of the current season in order to focus on his Porsche Formula E commitments
While Jani has recently tested Porsche's Gen2 car, he has endured a tough campaign with the Rebellion Racing LMP1 squad and his his best on-the-road result of the 2018/19 superseason so far was third place at Fuji.
In last weekend's Sebring 1000 Miles, the #1 car Jani shared with Bruno Senna and Mathias Beche dropped out of contention inside the first 15 minutes due to gear selection difficulties, before Beche crashed out at mid-distance trying to lap traffic.
Jani was named as Porsche's first season six signing in December and says this year's Le Mans 24 Hours will be his last WEC race for the foreseeable future.
"After Le Mans, I stop. My focus switches to Formula E," Jani told Autosport.
"I have to set my priorities. When a brand like Porsche gives you a chance to drive their cars, you have to give it full commitment.
"For me there was never a question."
The 2016 Le Mans winner also suggested that the privateers' inability to offer any kind of challenge to the dominant Toyotas in the LMP1 class played a part in his decision.
"Here we don't have a chance," said Jani. "We're just here so that the others [Toyota] don't win alone. That's not my aim for racing.
"I like the championship, I like the races, I like the paddock. It's not an easy decision in that way. But it is how it goes sometimes.
"It doesn't mean I'm never coming back. I'm not happy about it, but I'm also not unhappy.
"For sure it's not the same thrill as I had the last four years [driving for Porsche in LMP1]."
Jani said he "completely understood" Rebellion team-mate Andre Lotterer's decision to skip the Sebring race to focus on FE simulator work with the DS Techeetah team.
"Andre has to set priorities and looking at the long-term future, I agree with him," said Jani. "It was the correct decision for him.
"And he didn't miss anything because we had the gearshift issue after eight minutes."
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