IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship

Bruni Confirmed As Porsche Works Driver (21.02.17)

Photo Above Credit: gianmariabruni.it

Porsche has confirmed that Gianmaria Bruni, one of the finest GT drivers of his generation, will join its works squad later in 2017.

Bruni will start testing from June and contest races in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the US from July onwards.

The 35-year old Italian has a long history in GTs, most notably driving Ferraris. He was part of the driving line-up of two teams who have won the GT class of 24 Hours of Le Mans three times in the iconic marque. In 2008, as part of the Risi Competizione squad alongside Mika Salo and Jaime Melo, he won the GT2 class in the team’s Ferrari F430. Four years later he returned to the top step of the LMGTE Pro podium in the AF Corse Ferrari F458 Italia alongside Giancarlo Fisichella and Toni Vilander. The trio repeated the victory in the 2014 running of the French classic.

Bruni won the GTE Pro championship in the 2013 and 2014 seasons of the FIA World Endurance Championship, again driving for AF Corse.

Porsche Motorsport is excited with its signing.

“We’re delighted to welcome Gianmaria Bruni, one of the world’s top GT pilots, into our squad,” said head of Porsche Motorsport, Dr. Frank-Steffen Walliser. “He fits perfectly into our strong circle of works drivers and will join us for the second half of the season.”

Bruni commented on social media that he “needed a new challenge” but that he will “never forget my past”.

Bruni will potentially be available to join his new team for the Sahlen’s Six Hours Of The Glen on June 29 to July 02, the sixth round of the 2017 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship.