Christensen Returns to Full-Time Porsche GTE-Pro Seat

Michael Christensen will return to Porsche’s GTE-Pro lineup next year as Kevin Estre’s co-driver for the 2022 FIA World Endurance Championship season.

Christensen replaces Neel Jani in the No. 92 Porsche 911 RSR-19 alongside Estre, marking a reversal of the decision to replace Christensen with Jani for this year.

Richard Lietz and Gianmaria Bruni will continue to share the sister No. 91 Porsche.

Christensen and Estre sealed the 2018-19 FIA World Endurance GT Championship together with a campaign that included winning the first of two 24 Hours of Le Mans editions held during a season that spanned two calendar years.

They then placed third behind two Aston Martin Racing crews in 2019-20, after which former Porsche LMP1 ace Jani was brought in for his first season of GTE racing.

Jani and Estre came to the brink of winning the 2021 championship but fell short late in the season finale when Christensen was inadvertently turned around by Ferrari’s Alessandro Pier Guidi, who went on to seal the title alongside James Calado.

Jani remains contracted to Porsche as one of its reserve drivers in Formula E.

Porsche has also confirmed its third drivers for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Frederic Makowiecki will once again join Lietz and Bruni the No. 91 machine, while Laurens Vanthoor has been named as Estre and Christensen’s partner in the No. 92.

The introduction of Vanthoor reunites the driving trio that won Le Mans in 2018 aboard a ‘Pink Pig’-liveried Porsche 911-RSR.

The trio last contested Le Mans together in 2020. Vanthoor was assigned to WeatherTech Racing this year, with Christensen nominated as the third driver in the No. 92 WEC entry next to Estre and Jani.