Porsche wants Force India F1's Nico Hulkenberg for Le Mans again

LMP1 team principal Andreas Seidl confirmed that the German manufacturer will "definitely run three cars" in the top class at Le Mans again and that talks with Hulkenberg about rejoining factory Porsche GT drivers Tandy and Bamber were ongoing.

"Ideally we will have the same three guys back in the third car, but first we have to wait and see about Nico's Formula 1 situation," he said.

Force India driver Hulkenberg stated at the Nurburgring World Endurance Championship round last weekend - and ahead of Tuesday's announcement of his re-signing for Force India - that a return to Le Mans would depend on his F1 deal.

"I would like to and I want to [go back to Le Mans]," he said.

"It all depends where my Formula 1 career goes and where I end up racing."

Force India allowed him permission to race at Le Mans, as well as the Spa WEC round by way of preparation, this year and the same allowance is likely to have been part of his latest negotiations with the team.

Seidl said that it was "pretty much decided that Nick and Earl will race in P1 at Le Mans" in 2016, adding that it would "benefit the GT side as well".

He explained that Porsche's decision to run an additional car in addition to its two full-time WEC entries at Le Mans next year was an easy one.

"Le Mans proved the concept was right if you give each of the three cars the same chance to win by allowing all nine drivers roughly the same mileage before Le Mans," he said.

The crew that ran the winning car at Le Mans has now become Porsche's dedicated test team.

"Before the racing guys were doing all the testing, which was tough for everyone," Seidl said.