Estre Named New Porsche Factory Driver

Porsche has added another factory driver to its roster, with Kevin Estre joining the list of talents now competing for the German manufacturer.

Estre’s arrival was confirmed Saturday night at Porsche’s Night of Champions event in Weissach.

He’ll have a somewhat busy slate, confirmed immediately as an endurance driver in the No. 911 Porsche 911 RSR alongside Nick Tandy and Patrick Pilet in GT Le Mans for the Tequila Patron North American Endurance Cup rounds, and also joining the two at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in GTE-Pro.

Estre, who had been a McLaren factory driver, did have one cameo appearance in a Porsche 911 RSR this season.

On the weekend when Porsche had seven factory cars split between FIA World Endurance Championship and the IMSA TUDOR United SportsCar Championship, Estre made his WEC debut in a GTE-Pro Porsche at Spa while other drivers were split in Porsche’s third 919 Hybrid and racing Stateside in Monterey.

He also has past experience in IMSA in the Porsche 911 GT America, driving with Park Place Motorsports at times over the last couple years.

The move brings Porsche’s number of factory drivers to 16 pilots between LMP1 and GT.

Porsche also has four Junior drivers for 2016, in returnee Sven Mueller and newcomers Dennis Olsen, Mathieu Jaminet and Matteo Cairoli.