De Silvestro, Preining land Porsche FE test roles

Porsche has named Simona de Silvestro and Thomas Preining as the test and development drivers for its Formula E team ahead of the 2019-20 season.

Porsche will join the Formula E grid for the championship's sixth season, starting in Saudi Arabia on November 22, with Andre Lotterer and Neel Jani as its full-time drivers.

De Silvestro and Preining will offer support to Lotterer and Jani in their roles, in which they will be "involved in the simulator work in Weissach and will be on-site at select Formula E races. The two drivers will also be available to the team for in-season testing."

De Silvestro, 31, raced in Formula E with Andretti in 2015 and 2016, and has since been racing in Supercars in Australia. She becomes the first female works driver in Porsche history.

"It is a great honour to work for this prestigious brand. I am really looking forward to my new role as test and development driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team," de Silvestro said.

"Over the last few years, I have gained a lot of experience from my previous involvements in Formula E. I will do my best to help Porsche on the road to success."

Preining, 21, has been part of Porsche's young driver programme for a number of years, racing in the Porsche Supercup and in the FIA World Endurance Championship with the Gulf Racing customer team in GTE-Am.

"I am very much looking forward to my new role in the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. I have followed Formula E closely from the word go," said Preining.

"I am very excited to see what it feels like to drive the Porsche 99X Electric on the track. It is great to be able to support Porsche in its debut season in Formula E, and to be a part of this future-oriented project from the outset."

Porsche Formula E chief Fritz Enzinger added: "In Simona and Thomas, we have acquired two proven talents for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team.

"Simona comes with a wealth of experience gained in various different race series and is also a familiar face in Formula E. We are looking forward to working with her and welcome her to the Porsche family.

"Thomas has been with us since 2017, during which time he has demonstrated his talent in GT racing on numerous occasions. With the Formula E programme, we are giving Simona and Thomas the opportunity to develop as drivers and to make a positive contribution to the Porsche Formula E project."