Reigning 24 Hours of Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Champion Timo Bernhard will shift his focus to GT3 racing, having been confirmed as a driver in his own Team 75 Bernhard operation in ADAC GT Masters next year.
The 36-year-old German, who notched his second WEC title this year in Porsche’s now-defunct LMP1 program, will share the wheel of a Porsche 911 GT3 R with fellow factory driver Kevin Estre in the highly competitive sprint race championship.
Bernhard revealed last month that he was likely to drive for his family-run team, which made its international debut in the Total 24 Hours of Spa this year.
While its believed a full-season Blancpain GT Series program had been under evaluation, the Klaus Graf-managed team will remain in GT Masters for another year, likely again entering multiple entries.
Bernhard will also contest the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and will rejoin longtime co-driver Romain Dumas in one of Porsche’s expanded four-car GTE-Pro lineup for the race, subject to entry confirmation.