Niederhauser Named Lamborghini Factory Driver

Photo: Lamborghini

Reigning GT World Challenge Europe powered by AWS Endurance Cup champion Patric Niederhauser has been named a Lamborghini factory driver.

The 34-year-old Swiss driver, who was a longtime Audi works pilot after success with Lamborghini in the junior ranks, rejoins the Italian manufacturer after a two-year stint with Porsche that yielded success in various GT3 series.

This year, he teamed up with fellow Porsche-contracted drivers Alessio Picariello and Sven Mueller to win the GTWC Europe Endurance Cup title in a Rutronik Racing Porsche 911 GT3 R.

Niederhauser is expected to remain with the Klaus Graf-led Rutronik squad, which also announced a switch to Lamborghini for one of its cars in the SRO Motorsports Group-run series.

Lamborghini confirmed on Wednesday that Niederhauser will be at the wheel of a Temerario GT3 next year for an expected European program.

He was a former Lamborghini GT3 junior driver prior to his switch to Audi, having won the Lamborghini Super Trofeo World Finals in 2015.

“After my first steps in GT racing where I raced in the Lamborghini Super Trofeo, I got the chance to make my GT3 debut as a Lamborghini junior driver the year after which was exactly ten years ago,” reflected Niederhauser.

“Since then, I raced for different brands throughout my career but now, this feels like a homecoming.

“I’m utterly proud to represent such an amazing brand and I am very much looking forward to a bright future. To be racing for Automobili Lamborghini as an official factor driver is a dream come true.”

Lamborghini chief technical officer Rouven Mohr added: “We are delighted to welcome Patric to the Lamborghini Squadra Corse family and we are looking forward to working together.

“It is a full circle moment for Patric in a way as he started his GT journey with us racing in our one-make Super Trofeo championship back in 2015.

“His record in the years since then have confirmed his ability and talent and the fact that we will have two of the defending Spa 24 Hours winners and the reigning GTWC Endurance Cup champion among our factory driver roster stands as testament to the quality we have heading into the new season.”

Niederhauser joins long-term factory drivers Mirko Bortolotti, Andrea Caldarelli, Franck Perera, Marco Mapelli, Christian Engelhart and Sandy Mitchell, as well as more recent arrivals, Loris Spinelli, Edoardo Mortara, Luca Engstler and Daniil Kvyat.

It was recently announced that both Romain Grosjean and Jordan Pepper have departed the manufacturer, with Pepper landing a works contract with BMW.

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