Hartley splits with Porsche
New Zealand motorsport star Brendon Hartley will split from glamour manufacturer Porsche as he gets set to make his debut in Formula E.
The breakup comes via mutual agreement and ends a sixyear relationship where Hartley won two world endurance championships and the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans race during his time as a factory driver with German outfit Porsche.
With Porsche set to be involved in the 2019-20 Formula E season that starts in Saudi Arabia this weekend and Hartley getting a deal with rival team GEOX Dragon of the United States, the split appeared inevitable. Hartley said there was ‘‘no animosity’’ involved.
‘‘I’d like to think I’ll always be somewhat a part of the [Porsche] family but contractually I won’t be involved next year,’’ Hartley confirmed to Austosport.com.
‘‘There’s no animosity from my side – they were incredibly fair to actually allow me to go and take on an opportunity in another race team. So I have to thank them for that and now I am really looking forward to this new project with Dragon.
‘‘[Porsche is] going to be competitive now but I’m sure it’ll be somewhat of a friendly rivalry and I’m sure I’m still welcome to go down and have a coffee and say g’day.’’
Hartley was involved in the testing of Porsche’s new Formula E car and would have liked to have been one of their two drivers but understood their preference for an experienced head behind the wheel to partner Neel Jani.
Porsche have been hugely accommodating to the 30-year-old
‘‘There’s no animosity from my side – they were incredibly fair to actually allow me to go and take on an opportunity in another race team.’’ Brendon Hartley
Kiwi, allowing him to pursue his Formula 1 dream that saw him race for just over a season at the sport’s pinnacle with Scuderia Toro Rosso in late 2017 and 2018.
Hartley has still had some F1 involvement this year, working as a simulator driver with Ferrari. But he has his hands full with real racing too – his Formula E campaign will be dovetailed with a new world endurance campaign with Toyota.
He believes he is a better qualified driver as he looks to make a mark in the electric series which also features highly-rated New Zealand driver Mitch Evans.
‘‘Formula One made me stronger,’’ Hartley told Spanish publication AS. ‘‘In the end, I have only a positive memory of the time spent there. Today I am better prepared for the first race of the championship than my F1 debut.
‘‘I will use all the experience accumulated in that year and in the endurance to give my best in Formula E; it will be a very difficult and fascinating challenge.’’
He has been impressed by the electric series which starts its sixth season this weekend.
‘‘There are at least 10 journalists asking me questions, people are watching the races, there are lots of manufacturers, I run along with some of the best drivers on the square. I think Formula E is an exciting place to be.’’
Hartley admits he faces a tough juggling act between endurance and electric racing but is up for the challenge despite the odd scheduling clash.
‘‘Contractually for me the WEC takes priority,’’ Hartley confirmed. ‘‘It’s not ideal. But I’m happy to still have the opportunity to take part in both championships.’’
The 14-race Formula E series is increasingly global with this edition taking in races in Saudi Arabia, Chile, Mexico, Morocco, China, Italy, South Korea, Indonesia, Germany, the United States and Great Britain.