Photo : Frederic GAUDIN - ACO/NIKON

 

Rockenfeller was champion of the DTM (German Touringcar masters) in 2013 and is about to embark on his ninth DTM season. He was offered the chance to be a full-time member of the WEC squad when nine-time Le Mans winner Kristensen retired, but turned it down, preferring instead to concentrate on the DTM. However, he did accept to be reserve driver for this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours on 13 and 14 June. Rockenfeller won the 2010 race with Audi teammates Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas. When the German last raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours he came third, with Marco Bonanomi and Oliver Jarvis, who will be replacing Tom Kristensen in one of the two Audi’s taking part in the full FIA WEC season.

There is no chance of seeing Rockenfeller in the third Audi R18 e-tron quattro at the Le Mans test day or at the Spa WEC as both clash with DTM races, but he will definitely be in the paddock for the Le Mans 24 Hours. He will also be racing at the 12 Hours of Sebring in VisitFlorida.com’s Corvette DP. He came fourth overall in the same car at the Rolex 24 at Daytona this year.

Cécile Bonardel / ACO Translated by Emma Paulay

PHOTO: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, TUESDAY 12 JUNE 2012, AUTOGRAPH SESSION. Mike Rockenfeller, right, with Marco Bonanomi and Oliver Jarvis during an autograph session at the 24 Hours of Le Mans 2012.