Christian Engelhart leaves Porsche and returns to Lamborghini in 2024: What role the Grasser start in Hockenheim played and how the decision was made
Christian Engelhart will race for Lamborghini next season after leaving Porsche and become a works driver for the Italian sports car brand. The 37-year-old, who already sat in the Grasser-Lamborghini as a substitute driver at the DTM season finale thanks to a Porsche release, has
“In a way, the DTM race at Hockenheim got the ball rolling,” says Engelhart about the background. “Nevertheless, the decision was not easy in the end: I had a few options for 2024 and opted for Lamborghini – it was a gut decision that just felt right for me.”
Engelhart is returning to his old home for good after four years as a Porsche contract driver, as the GT3 veteran drove successfully for the Grasser team in the ADAC GT Masters and other series from 2016 to 2019, including as a works driver during this time.
Engelhart and Lamborghini: “Always had us on the radar “
Porsche, meanwhile, is seeing a loss of teams after the 2023 season, as not only is the Bernhard team withdrawing from GT3 racing, but Dinamic and the top IMSA team Pfaff are also leaving the sports car brand, making it difficult for Porsche to accommodate all its drivers.
But how did Engelhart’s switch come about? “I have a lot in common with Lamborghini, we have already made history together with numerous successes such as the 2017 Blancpain GT title and the 2019 Daytona victory,” says the Bavarian, not without pride. “Accordingly, I think we always had each other on our radar and there was regular, loose contact.”
When Grasser was looking for a DTM replacement for Andrea Caldarelli after Spielberg and Engelhart, who had left the Porsche team Toksport WRT in the middle of the season, was available, the Lamborghini relaunch took place. And Engelhart immediately surprised everyone with a strong third place in Saturday’s race
“That never let go of me “
“Gottfried has always remained a good friend to me during my Porsche years and contacted me immediately after the surprising end of the 2023 DTM season,” said Engelhart about his connection to team boss Gottfried Grasser “When he asked me specifically whether I would drive the Lamborghini for GRT in the season finale, I couldn’t let it go.”
Engelhart asked Porsche for permission, which was highly controversial due to the title fight between Porsche and Lamborghini. “Despite the championship situation, they didn’t think twice in Weissach and gave me the go-ahead, which was super fair!” said Engelhart, who immediately got up to speed after the car change despite the new Huracan Evo package.
“I immediately felt very comfortable in the Lamborghini,” he says. “And although we hardly had any preparation time, it worked really well, as you could see.” After the successful new edition, Engelhart agreed with Lamborghini’s Head of Motorsport Giorgio Sanna that it would not remain a one-off start
Is Engelhart staying with the Grasser team?
But which programs will Engelhart contest in 2024? Registration for the upcoming DTM season, in which the teams have to name the drivers as well as the car, runs until midnight tonight. After his strong performance at Hockenheim, Engelhart would be a logical candidate for Grasser.
“There are already plans for 2024, but I’m not allowed to reveal them, but I don’t think we’ll have to wait much longer,” smiles Engelhart, who would also have a connection to SSR Performance because he won the ADAC GT Masters title there in 2020 together with Michael Ammermüller.
“Competing as a Lamborghini Squadra Corse works driver next year is definitely very emotional and fills me with great pride,” he says. “I can hardly wait to finally get started!”
