Neel Jani revealed as first Porsche Formula E driver

Works former LMP1 driver to begin testing early this year ahead of Weissach’s Formula E debut in December

The long-time Porsche works driver, Neel Jani, has been unveiled by Weissach as the first official driver for its forthcoming debut campaign in Formula E. The Swiss will spearhead Porsche’s testing of its Formula E race car in the early part of this year as the manufacturer prepares to enter official competition of the fledgling all-electric motorsport discipline from December 2019.

A 2016 Le Mans winner and World Endurance Champion, Jani has been a mainstay in the official works roster since 2013, and is looked on favourably by Fritz Enzinger, head of Porsche Motorsport. Jani’s announcement will be followed by others throughout the year as Porsche whittles down its works driver lineup from the previous LMP1 effort ready for its attack on Formula E, which requires just one driver per car.

“I’m very much looking forward to the new task,” said Jani, who began his racing career in single seaters, rising up to the position of Formula One test driver. “Being part of an entirely new Porsche Motorsport programme for the second time, right from the beginning, means a lot to me. The technical and driving challenges are huge and our strong Formula E opponents have a significant advantage in experience. There is a lot of work ahead of us and I can’t wait for the roll-out.”

Porsche says it is eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first standardised Formula E chassis to install its in-house-developed drivetrain, which has already been on the test benches.

The timing of Porsche’s introduction to Formula E coincides with the release of its first all-electric sports car, the Taycan, as well as the transition to ‘Production 4.0’ at its Zuffenhausen factory, which is aiming to be friendlier to the environment and to be carbon neutral.