Audi announced today that it has signed Lucas di Grassi, a 28-year-old Brazilian, for the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) on September 15 in Sao Paulo.
Di Grassi, 28 and a native of Sao Paulo, has Formula 1 experience. He began his career in kart racing before entering the Formula 3 Euro Series as part of the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) program. Having moved up to the GP2 Series, he finished as runner-up in 2007. He then became a Formula 1 test driver, testing an Audi R10 TDI for the Kolles private team in 2009; and testing two other cars last year.
In 2010, he became a Grand Prix race driver. He will be the first Brazilian to compete for Audi; and will drive Audi's R18 ultra number-two car. Sao Paulo represents the fifth race of the season. The team's current leaders, Tom Kristensen and Allan McNish, will have competed as a duo at Silverstone, Bahrain, Japan, and China.
"The WEC race is a nice opportunity to attract attention at home together with Audi," Di Grassi said in a statement released by his new bosses. "Endurance racing is a fascinating discipline of motorsport which I've only experienced in tests so far. That's why I'm particularly excited about my debut in the WEC for Audi alongside two big names like Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen."
Di Grassi tested an Audi R18 ultra at the Lausitzring for three days earlier this month. It was his performance that garnered him a place on Audi's team, according to Wolfgang Ullrich, head of Audi Motorsport.
"We're delighted to be able to provide the audience here, the media, our importer Audi Brazil and of course the FIA World Endurance Championship with a special link to this location," Dr Ullrich said. "We're giving Lucas di Grassi a chance to compete at home as an ambassador for endurance racing and to fight for overall victory in the Audi R18."
In another first, next month will be the first time an LMP sports car fielded by Audi under a factory commitment will be running at a race in Brazil.
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