Following a successful end of season, Panis-Barthez Compétition is now working on its drivers line-up for the next ELMS season while waiting for the invitation for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The Austrian Rene Binder will join the team in one of the two registered Ligier. The silver driver -aged 26- who just ended his IndyCars Series season, has a solid GP2 Series and Formula V8 3.5 (2 pole positions, 4 wins) careers under his belt and is now jumping in the European Le Mans Series adventure with a lot of determination.
Hi will be joined by two teammates who will be announced in the coming weeks as the three other drivers for the sister car.
Olivier Panis – Team Principal : “Sarah, Simon and I are delighted to welcome Rene at Panis Barthez Compétition. I have witnessed Rene’s skills to fight on track and his speed during the FR3.5 meeting (when I was with my son). Rene already has a strong background in different series and we are ready to write a new page of our history with him. Thanks to the hard work of the team and our 2018 drivers, we are in a good position to fight at the front. Welcome in the family Rene ! »
Rene Binder – #23 Ligier JS P217 driver : “It’s a huge pleasure and honour for me to race for Panis Barthez Competition in the 2019 season and I want to thank Olivier Panis, Fabien Barthez, Sarah et Simon Abadie and the entire team for their faith in me. It’s going to be really special to go into the European Le Mans Series and 24 Hours at Le Mans with the team of a former Monaco Grand Prix winner and I can’t wait to take the Ligier LMP2 out for our first test. As said before it will be a very important and special experience for me to compete in the most important endurance events next year combining IMSA with ELMS. I can only say thanks again to our sponsors, partners, family and to everyone who believes in our success.“
