Leimer Confirmed at Rebellion for LMP1 Campaign

Photo: Rebellion Racing

As revealed in a Sportscar365 exclusive last month, Rebellion Racing made it official Tuesday, confirming Fabio Leimer as the sixth and final full-season driver for its two-car LMP1-L program in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The reigning GP2 champion will make the switch to sports cars, joining the Anglo-Swiss squad for the eight-round championship, which includes the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“We had a number of options for high profile drivers to join our team for this season but as a Swiss team, we try to give Swiss drivers opportunities to develop their careers,” said team manager Bart Hayden. “Fabio Leimer was looking for a new challenge and he has shown that he is quick in single seaters.”

The 24-year-old got his first laps in a top-level prototype during last weekend’s The Prologue FIA WEC pre-season test at Paul Ricard, which saw Rebellion field both of its 2013-spec Lola B12/60 Toyotas.

“I’m open to learn everything that will help me to be at my best in endurance racing,” Leimer said. “The whole test at the WEC Prologue in Le Castellet was really positive. We improved a lot, I drove plenty of laps and I began to find my driving style with the car.

“I have more confidence and I can push much more. But I know that there is a lot of work to do before delivering my best driving in these cars. I’ll be able to say much more after the first race.”

Leimer joins the previously confirmed Nick Heidfeld, Nicolas Prost, Mathias Beche, Dominik Kraihamer and Andrea Belicchi in the squad, with the exact lineups yet to be announced.

The team will start the season with its grandfathered Lola-Toyotas before a planned debut of its new Rebellion R-One at the Six Hours of Spa in May.

John Dagys

John Dagys is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Sportscar365. Dagys spent eight years as a motorsports correspondent for FOXSports.com and SPEED Channel and has contributed to numerous other motorsports publications worldwide. Contact John