'I'll be racing again next season' - Bernhard

Porsche LMP Team driver Timo Bernhard has confirmed to RACER that he is set to continue racing with Porsche next year, despite the manufacturer's LMP1 program coming to an end at the end of the current FIA WEC season.

"I will definitely continue driving, there's no question about it," said Bernhard. "I will remain with Porsche as a factory driver. Which program? I don't know."

"The thing is, we're really busy with the final five races, but I need to plan ahead. By the end of the year I should know. I'm going through the first talks now. The important signal for me that I'm going to stay with Porsche as a factory driver."

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The 36-year-old German, who has won Le Mans twice, also pointed out that more of his time will be dedicated to working with his GT team, Team75 Bernhard. The team currently competes in the ADAC GT Masters GT3 series with Porsche and made its debut at the Spa 24 Hours earlier this year, finishing fourth overall.

"My team will play a role in this; it has good potential," he said. "It will be interesting for me in the future. The news coming out about LMP1 gives me the chance to be more involved with my team.

"I will plan what we will do next year in small steps. We are looking to continue to go GT Masters – it's one of the best national GT championships. And then, the addition is 24-hour races – we'd like to do more like Spa."

While Bernhard is keeping his options open for Team75 going forward, he was quick to rule out a jump into GTE racing with it in 2018, when Porsche is set to make its new 911 RSR available to customers.

"GTE? It's too early for that. It's step by step. We started in Carrera Cup Germany, and we're moving up. You have to be careful how you use your resources. After Spa we've had a lot of offers and opportunities from drivers and other programs to do other championships. But the thing is, it's all about experience. I don't want to over-stress the team."

Looking ahead to the current season, Bernhard also revealed to RACER that he was told in advance about Porsche's LMP1 exit, but, he said, it still hasn't sunk in yet.

"I think the job hasn't changed, and the goals haven't either," he explained. "For me this program is alive – I'm in the middle of it, and we're still trying to get the best out of the package, the car. It will be more emotional at the end of the year when it's coming to the end. At the moment we still have five more races and a lot more laps to do.

"We were pre-informed – the information side from Porsche was fine, it was very well handled. We knew as far in advance as possible. The thing is, I wasn't thinking about how far it was going to go [so] I'm not sure how much of a surprise it was."