WEC: Leimer secures Rebellion LMP1 seat

Reigning GP2 champion Fabio Leimer will drive for the Rebellion Racing LMP1 squad in this year's World Endurance Championship after a successful tryout with the team last week.

The 24-year-old has been confirmed with the Anglo-Swiss team in the wake of the official WEC test at Paul Ricard on Friday and Saturday, during which he drove one of its old Lola-Toyota B12/60s.

"We wanted to test him with the Lola-Toyota LMP1 to evaluate his ability in driving a prototype," explained Rebellion team manager Bart Hayden. "The test was very positive on the driving side and the feedback with the engineers, so I'm happy to say that we have agreed a contract for the season."

Leimer said he was able to adapt to a P1 car over the course of the test.

"I drove plenty of laps and I began to find my driving style with the car," he said. "I have more confidence and I can push much more, but I know that there is a lot of work to do before delivering my best driving in these cars."

Leimer shared a car at Ricard with Andrea Belicchi and Dominik Kraihamer, who are likely to be his team-mates in the WEC this year. The team was running its old Lolas because its new ORECA-built Rebellion R-One has yet to be completed.

The new car is set for a shakedown next week and it is looking increasingly unlikely that Rebellion will be in a position to race the car at the opening round of the WEC at Silverstone on April 20. That means Rebellion would have to fall back on the Lolas for the British race.