Following a successful period of negotiations, Irish racing driver Damien Faulkner has renewed his contract with Austrian sports car team Team SAS Lechner.
The Moville man has taken a salaried position with the team to compete in the Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup series, which runs alongside the FIA Formula One World Championship.
Team SAS Lechner first signed Faulkner to compete in the Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup in 2007 and he rewarded their faith by taking second place in this year’s championship, with two wins, two pole positions, six podiums and two fastest laps over 11 races. Faulkner will continue his tenure with the team in the 2008 series, which will begin in Bahrain in April.
Before racing in the Porsche Supercup, Faulkner will kick off his 2008 season by competing for Team SAS Lechner in the third annual Toyo Tyres 24 Hour Dubai Endurance Race which will take place between 10 and 12 January 2008. The 5.39km Grand Prix Circuit of Dubai Autodrome will play host to this adrenalin pumping event which will see over 80 teams from 20 countries on the grid.
Following this, between 26 and 27 January, Faulkner will take secondment from Team SAS Lechner and will race for the US Synergy Racing team in North America’s most prestigious sports car race, the 2008 Rolex 24 At Daytona, Florida.
Commenting on the announcement, Faulkner admitted: 'I am absolutely thrilled to have again signed for Team SAS Lechner to race in the Mobil 1 Porsche Supercup series next year. Many drivers face significant financial challenges when racing at a competitive level, in that they are required to personally fund their place in professional teams. I am delighted to have signed a contract that will enable me to compete full-time, without the added pressure of personally funding my drive.'
He added: I would like to thank everyone who has supported me to date, including the Team SAS Lechner and the JG Kelly Group, and greatly look forward to a very successful year of racing in 2008.'
Highlights of the 31-year-old’s racing career include taking first place in the Porsche Carrera Cup Great Britain competition in 2005 and 2006 with Team Parker SAS. Faulkner also won the European Formula Palmer Audi Championship in 2000, came third in the Indy Lights championship in the USA in 2001 and has won an Irish Formula Ford Championship.
On New Year’s Eve 2007, at 7.00pm, RTÉ Two will broadcast a special 30 minute documentary, 'Motor Sport: A Long And Winding Road', which will look at Faulkner’s successes in the Porsche Supercup Series.
