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Ex-F1 man Van der Garde gets LMP2 drive for 2018/19 WEC superseason

Ex-Formula 1 driver Giedo van der Garde will drive for Racing Team Netherlands in the 2018/19 World Endurance Championship superseaon.

The 32-year-old, who raced for Caterham and was a Sauber test driver in F1, will drive a Dallara-Gibson P217 for the Dutch team as it steps up to a full WEC programme after a maiden prototype campaign in 2017 that encompassed the European Le Mans Series and the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Van der Garde won the ELMS title with the British Jota team in 2016.

He will share the car with team boss Frits van Eerd and a third driver to be announced at a late date.

Van der Garde said: "I am very happy that Racing Team Netherlands and Frits give me this great opportunity.

"The ambitions of the team appeal to me enormously and I want to be part of it.

"The goal is that we, as a team, can make each other better and better, so that you can finally drive around the stage.

"I'm really looking forward to it!"

Van Eerd added: "I am very pleased that Giedo will drive for us: he is fast, experienced and very motivated.

"Our debut in the world championship is a fantastic challenge, so it's great to embark on it with a driver of this calibre."

Van Eerd, 50, raced with sportscar veteran Jan Lammers in the ELMS last season, with 11-time grand prix winner Rubens Barrichello joining them for Le Mans.

Zdroj: autosport.com