Motorsport: Bamber and Porsche prove fast friends

New Zealand's Earl Bamber will team up with two other Porsche drivers to pilot this new LMP1 919 Hybrid in the World Endurance Championship, starting in May.

New Zealand driver Earl Bamber is really going places with German giant

Young New Zealand race car driver Earl Bamber's year just gets better and better.

He was recently announced as a factory driver for the Porsche's GT sports car programme, and had his first hitout in the Daytona 24-hour race held in January.

A few weeks later the Kiwi was secretly testing the German manufacturer's hi-tech LMP1 919 Hybrid and earlier this month Bamber was announced as one of the three drivers for the team's third World Endurance Championship entry. He'll join forces with Brit Nick Tandy and Formula One's Nico Hulkenberg for Spa Francorchamps and the Le Mans 24 Hours race in the No19 car.

"If I could jump in the air I would, but I'm in pain after having done a heap of training," Bamber said. "I knew I had to make the most of the chance to test in the car and the test went okay. Getting the drive was a little unexpected I'd have to say. I don't think anyone, including me, would have guessed I would get the seat.

"I can't really put it into words other than it's a dream come true. I'd have to say that outside Formula One, which is not looking that flash at the moment, this is the car everyone wants to drive.

"It should make Le Mans interesting for the Kiwis with Brendon [Hartley] in the same team and class."

Porsche's head of motorsport, Dr Frank-Steffen Walliser, said in a statement that their youth development concept was effective in bringing talent to the fore. "I'm thrilled for Earl and Nick. They've earned this chance with their impressive performances," he said.

Bamber has grabbed every opportunity he's been presented with since his move from open wheelers into sports car racing. After winning the first of his two Porsche Carrera Cup Asia championships, he was packed off to the Porsche Motorsport International Cup scholarship shootout, which he promptly won.

The prize was 200,000 ($307,000) to go towards a full season of the Porsche Supercup - which he duly won, along with a second PCCA title. On top of that the Kiwi won two rounds of the German Porsche championship and a second at Petit Le Mans at Road Atlanta last year.

"The good thing about driving for Porsche is that they want drivers who are fast and if you are they will promote from inside. It's no bullshit; they just want the quickest guy in the car. They're one of the best manufacturers for that and they don't care where you come from. It's a magical car to drive and Porsche's systems are the most advanced you can get ... You just get in and drive the car."

Bamber's first race is at Spa, May 2.