Autosportfoto

Five-time Le Mans winner races the Porsche 911 GT3 Cup in Monza

In the Autodromo Nazionale in Monza, Emanuele Pirro celebrates his Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup debut as a guest driver on 8 September. After his Formula 1 career, the 51-year-old Italian went on to become one of the world's top sports car pilots, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans five times. Pirro now competes in the 460 hp Porsche 911 GT3 Cup on his home turf against Supercup specialists from 13 countries. He drives the Porsche AG-fielded VIP-car decked out in the legendary Martini Racing Design.

"The Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup is an interesting challenge for any race driver. I've always been keen to race in one of the world's top brand trophy series, and I'm particularly thrilled that it now works out in Monza where many of my fans will be watching," says Emanuele Pirro. The racer from Rome, who between 1989 (France) and 1991 (Australia) contested a total of 37 Grands Prix for the Benetton and Scuderia Italia teams, is the 32nd Formula 1 pilot to tackle the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup. In addition to his compatriots Arturo Merzario, Ivan Capelli and Nicola Larini, other Grand Prix aces like Thierry Boutsen, Eddie Irvine, Ralf Schumacher and Nick Heidfeld also drove the Cup-Porsche as VIP drivers - and Mika Häkkinen, as the most successful guest starter, scored two victories during the inaugural Supercup season of 1993 at Budapest and Monaco. Emanuele Pirro says: "I've never driven a Porsche but I've always dreamed of it. I'm very much looking forward to the race in Monza - it'll surely be a lot of fun."

With support from Martini, partnering the VIP-campaigns of Porsche Motorsport this season, Emanuele Pirro had already contested the World Endurance Championship and the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1981. With the revival of their legendary partnership, Porsche and Martini continue to write racing history together.

At the Supercup races in Barcelona and Monaco this season, nine-time World Rally Champion Sébastien Loeb (France) already competed as a VIP driver. "We are delighted," said Jonas Krauss, Head of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup, "that with Emanuele Pirro another world-renowned race driver has chosen to contest our series as a guest."