2010 Porsche factory drivers

[FIRE]

From the Rolex 24 topic I understand Emmanual Collard, Sascha Maassen and Martin Ragginger are no longer factory drivers. So who do we still have?

It's a shame Jeroen Bleekemolen doesn't get a chance to prove himself as a factory driver.


With LMP1 rumors in mind is this a sign Porsche is looking to contract new drivers in the next 1 or 2 years?

[ger80]

Think there are just not enough Porsche cars around in 2010 to keep all the drivers. Also no point for the driver to have a Porsche contract and then not being able to drive. There are enough drivers remaining and Porsche is probably able to get some Audi (e.g. DTM) drivers too if needed.

[Robbe]

Bergmeister, Long, Pilet, Lieb, Lietz, Bernhard, Dumas should still be Porsche factory drivers then. Not sure about Holzer (who was junior driver last year).

Ragginger had a rather good season last year I thought. Collard wasn't too happy about Porsche's decision to split him and Westbrook in the last FIA GT race, maybe it's the reason for his departure.

Bleekemolen, but also Edwards or Rast and obviously Westbrook would deserve to be factory drivers but there is no reason for Porsche to have 10+ factory drivers.

Let's see what happens to Dumas and Bernhard, driving Porsche or Audi?

[AFC-911]

Originally Posted by Robbe

Bleekemolen, but also Edwards or Rast and obviously Westbrook would deserve to be factory drivers but there is no reason for Porsche to have 10+ factory drivers.

There are 2 types of Porsche factory drivers. There are also the UPS junior factory drivers (where most of the ones you listed got their start). I'm pretty sure that if you add them all up, Porsche keeps more than 10.

[NightStalk3r]

Originally Posted by AFC-911

There are 2 types of Porsche factory drivers. There are also the UPS junior factory drivers (where most of the ones you listed got their start). I'm pretty sure that if you add them all up, Porsche keeps more than 10.

There is only 1 Junior now and that is Holzer.

[cmk]

Originally Posted by Robbe

Ragginger had a rather good season last year I thought. Collard wasn't too happy about Porsche's decision to split him and Westbrook in the last FIA GT race, maybe it's the reason for his departure.

My understanding was that the people no longer factory drivers are those who had contracts which ended at the end of 2009. That would allow downsizing without needing to buy out contracts. It would not surprise me to see these gents, just like Westbrook, racing Porsches next year when they can.

[WMUCarGuy]

Originally Posted by FIRE

From the Rolex 24 topic I understand Emmanual Collard, Sascha Maassen and Martin Ragginger are no longer factory drivers. So who do we still have?

It's a shame Jeroen Bleekemolen doesn't get a chance to prove himself as a factory driver.


With LMP1 rumors in mind is this a sign Porsche is looking to contract new drivers in the next 1 or 2 years?

Ragginger was never a fully fledged factory driver as far as I know. Perhaps factory blessed, but I don't think he's on the payroll.

[997 brakedust]

What about Richard Westbrooke? He's still a works driver isn't he?

[Speed-King]

Nope, and IIRC he wasn't either in 09.

[cmk]

Correct, Westbrook was only under contract until the end of '08. Then he went and pulled a Bergmeister last year!

[997 brakedust]

Well, Posche might want to update their website - he's still listed as a "works driver".

[NightStalk3r]

Originally Posted by 997 brakedust

Well, Posche might want to update their website - he's still listed as a "works driver".

I don't see any mention of Westbrook on Porsche's works driver page.

[Robbe]

The Porsche USA website lists Westbrook, the Porsche Germany website lists Henzler, Porsche France lists both...

[NightStalk3r]

Well France and USA are wrong then.

The USA page hasn't been updated since 2008.

[JoeF]

What is odd is the press release from Porsche on the Daytona test indicates Collard and Maassen are still factory drivers.


"Other Porsche factory drivers who will participate in this year's Rolex 24 at Daytona include Wolf Henzler (in a TRG Porsche), and Richard Lietz (with new Porsche team owner John Potter, Porsche Supercup champion Jeroen Bleekemolen and veteran Craig Stanton),

Several Porsche factory drivers are on loan to non-Porsche teams, including Sascha Maassen and Emmanuel Collard, who will drive a BMW prototype. Former factory drivers Richard Westbrook, Lucas Luhr, and Mike Rockenfeller are also entered in the event. "

http://www.motorsport.com/news/artic...45&FS=GRANDAM*

[HORNDAWG]

Not odd at all, still listed as factory Porsche drivers for 2010 are:

Joerg Bergmeister
Timo Bernhard
Emmanuel Collard
Romain Dumas
Wolf Henzler
Marc Lieb
Richard Lietz
Patrick Long
Sascha Maassen
Patrick Pilet





L.P.

[NightStalk3r]

Porsche haven't announced there 2010 Factory drivers yet, the announcement will be made middle of this month or early next month.

But im pretty certain Maassen and Collard wont be on that list as 2 people from within Porsche Motorsport have told me there contracts are not being renewed for 2010.

[Porsche PR]

Porsche will send out a news release shortly announcing its 2010 factory drivers - this release typically comes out right before the Rolex 24. The confirmed drivers so far, from the factory's news release of December 11, include Marc Lieb, Patrick Pilet, Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, and Richard Lietz as factory drivers, and returning to their 2009 teams for the coming year.

No other announcements have been made, so many of these posts are either rumors, conjecture, or simply wrong.

--andy

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by Porsche PR

Porsche will send out a news release shortly announcing its 2010 factory drivers - this release typically comes out right before the Rolex 24. The confirmed drivers so far, from the factory's news release of December 11, include Marc Lieb, Patrick Pilet, Joerg Bergmeister, Patrick Long, and Richard Lietz as factory drivers, and returning to their 2009 teams for the coming year.

No other announcements have been made, so many of these posts are either rumors, conjecture, or simply wrong.

--andy

So you are saying that these drivers are not currently listed as works drivers on Porsche's own site? And is it not currently 2010?

Joerg Bergmeister
Timo Bernhard
Emmanuel Collard
Romain Dumas
Wolf Henzler
Marc Lieb
Richard Lietz
Patrick Long
Sascha Maassen
Patrick Pilet

So, at this time, the source info is simply wrong!



L.P.

[TWK]

HORNDAWG, there is a difference between being listed FOR 2010, and being on a legacy list for 2009, that has not yet been removed or revised on a web site. It's quite irrelevant that it is now 2010 and a list still exists there that was published in late 2008/early 2009.

[HORNDAWG]

Originally Posted by TWK

HORNDAWG, there is a difference between being listed FOR 2010, and being on a legacy list for 2009, that has not yet been removed or revised on a web site. It's quite irrelevant that it is now 2010 and a list still exists there that was published in late 2008/early 2009.

Then remove or revise it. Rather than as the Porsche PR coming and calling people out for Porsche's short sightedness then. In that instance, IMO, it becomes quite relevant!






L.P.

[Fogelhund]

Originally Posted by HORNDAWG

Then remove or revise it. Rather than as the Porsche PR coming and calling people out for Porsche's short sightedness then. In that instance, IMO, it becomes quite relevant!

When the time is appropriate, it will be revised. There is no short sightedness, their practise is consistant with prior years. Those that matter will know who these drivers are already anyway, and the only matter left is a few people arguing on the internet. Now, what of this is relevant in the grand scheme of things?

[catmanlux]

Originally Posted by Porsche PR

Porsche will send out a news release shortly announcing its 2010 factory drivers - their 2009 teams for the coming year.this release typically comes out right before the Rolex 24.

--andy

then Porsche confirms their 2 most succesful sportscar drivers Bernhard/Dumas and the new LMP1 Hybrid - Coupé .........

[Porsche PR]

A couple of items here in response to some of these posts:

--It is only the Porsche Junior team now - UPS is no longer involved.
--Although Porsche Board member in charge of R&D and motorsports stated in December of 2008 that Porsche would like to build a prototype that runs on alternative fuels, there is no active LMP1 hybrid project, and Timo and Romain are not scheduled to drive this non-existant race car.
--The web site lists the 2009 factory drivers simply as there is no 2010 list to replace it yet. Some years, it is February before we make such as announcement as every driver negotiates his own contract with Porsche Motorsport, and some get done quicker than others. In 2003, Alex Job's factory drivers didn't sign until the week of the Sebring race.
--Most of the conjecture I see here has some truth to it, but most of it has some wrong information as well - and things could change before the final list is compiled due to availability of customer cars and their sponsor situations, series rules which might determine who enter what and where, and budget.

--andy

[Marcel ten Caat]

I think I hear 10-11 years of Porsche Motorsport PR experience here? ;-)