Former DTM champion and Porsche works driver Thomas Preining will be behind the wheel of a Formula E car next week: what’s behind it and why he’s useful for the team
Former DTM champion Thomas Preining will be behind the wheel of a Porsche Formula E car at the upcoming Formula E weekend in Jeddah. The 26-year-old Porsche works driver was nominated by the championship-winning squad for February 13: an additional 40-minute free practice session for rookies only will take place on that Thursday in the run-up to the race weekend in Saudi Arabia.
Preining, who has already been confirmed by Manthey for the 2025 DTM season, is not breaking completely new ground with Formula E: the Austrian was already a test and development driver for Porsche’s Formula E team alongside Simona de Silvestro in the 2019/2020 season.
He also took part in the rookie test in Marrakesh in 2020. However, his wish to obtain the Formula E license, which entitles him to participate in the racing series, has not yet been fulfilled. To do so, you need 20 Super License points. Even the DTM title only comes with 15 points.
In 2024, Preining was back in the Porsche racing car after a long break from Formula E, taking part in the rookie test in Berlin. Half a year later, he is now making a comeback in an electric racing car in Saudi Arabia. To participate in the test, drivers must not have any Formula E racing experience.
However, since Preining has testing experience with the Formula E cars and has repeatedly completed simulator tests, he is certainly useful for Porsche in the rookie training.
The Czech Gabriela Jilkova is currently the official simulator and development driver for the Porsche works team.
By contrast, Preining’s test outings in Porsche’s LMDh prototype have become less frequent of late: as a reward for his DTM title, he was allowed to test the Porsche car at the WEC rookie test in Bahrain at the end of 2023.
Another test followed in Austin in the same year, before he came to Sebring again in February 2024 for a test in the 963. Since then, no further assignments are known. However, the Austrian also had a busy GT3 program.
