Ex-F1 star van der Garde secures WEC 2018-19 campaign
Former Caterham and Sauber F1 driver Giedo van der Garde has secured a full World Endurance Championship 2018-19 campaign with LMP2 challengers Racing Team Nederland.
The Dutch squad, who took on the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours finishing 13th overall and 11th in the LMP2 class with star driver Rubens Barrichello in its line-up, has been confirmed for the full WEC season running a Gibson-powered Dallara in the LMP2 class.
Former Caterham and Sauber F1 driver Giedo van der Garde has secured a full World Endurance Championship 2018-19 campaign with LMP2 challengers Racing Team Nederland.
The Dutch squad, who took on the 2017 Le Mans 24 Hours finishing 13th overall and 11th in the LMP2 class with star driver Rubens Barrichello in its line-up, has been confirmed for the full WEC season running a Gibson-powered Dallara in the LMP2 class.
Racing Team Nederlands, with title sponsor Jumbo re-signed for the upcoming season, has secured headline driver Giedo van der Garde for the full 2018-19 WEC campaign which includes two Spa 6 Hours and two Le Mans 24 Hours races.
After taking Sauber F1 to court for a breach of contract in 2015, having been initially signed as a full-time driver before the Swiss team confirmed Felipe Nasr and Marcus Ericsson as its line-up, van der Garde returned to racing in 2016 in the European Le Mans Series winning the drivers’ championship with G-Drive.
Having taken a year out of racing in 2017, except for a couple of Audi TT Cup appearances, the Dutch driver will return to action for his full WEC debut with Racing Team Nederland.
“I am very happy that Racing Team Nederland and Frits van Eerd have given me this great opportunity. I like the team's ambition and I want to be part of it,” van der Garde said. "The World Championship is super competitive and the 24 Hours of Le Mans is one of the most beautiful races in the world. I find it very special to be at the start again.
"The goal is that we, as a team, can make each other better and better, so that you can ultimately drive around the stage. I'm really looking forward to it. In my debut year in the long distance race I became champion, but in the 24 hours of Le Mans we fell out in the morning.
"My love for endurance racing, together with the history and romance of Le Mans, ensure that I can not wait to start racing for Racing Team Netherlands."
