Porsche’s GT works drivers Michael Christensen and Frédéric Makowiecki will carry out a three-day test with the Porsche 919 Hybrid sports prototype since Tuesday in Magny-Cours, France. These tests will help the Porsche team prepare for the next round of the Sports Car World Endurance Championship WEC in Austin, Texas. This season, Christensen pilots a Porsche 911 RSR in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship in the United States, with Makowiecki as a regular driver in the 911 RSR fielded by Porsche Team Manthey in the WEC.
“Michael and Frédéric have earned themselves this chance with their performances in our works GT campaign,” says Porsche’s head of motorsport Hartmut Kristen. “I’m particularly pleased that Michael, as a graduate of our junior programme and now a works driver, has proven himself worthy for such a test. Once again, this underlines that our systematic and long-term youth development concept is working.”
Porsche AG selected Michael Christensen as a Porsche junior in 2012 from its young driver initiative after the Dane excelled at a tough selection process against fierce competition from many other hopeful young aspirants from around the world. After just one season in the Porsche Carrera Cup Deutschland with a victory in Hockenheim, he advanced into the international Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup where he clinched victory on the Nürburgring and won the rookie classification as the best Supercup new-comer. Prior to the 2014 season, the 24-year-old received a contract as a Porsche works driver and justified this trust by winning the Sebring 12 hour classic – only his second race in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship with the 911 RSR.
Frédéric Makowiecki was signed up as a Porsche works driver in 2014. This season the 33-year-old Frenchman, who has spent most of his professional racing career at the wheel of Porsche vehicles and won the Porsche Carrera Cup France in 2010, contests the Sports Car World Endurance Championship in the 911 RSR and will tackle his first race in the Tudor United SportsCar Championship on 20th September in Austin.