Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport has confirmed Andre Heimgartner will join the Melbourne based Holden team in this year’s V8 Supercars Championship.
Heimgartner completes a strong team line-up at LDM joining Nick Percat, who enters his second season with the team.
The 20-year-old showed promise last year in his first full–time season while with Super Black Racing, but qualifying third at Queensland Raceway and a seventh-place finish at Sydney Motorsport Park were not enough to keep the New Zealander in the Prodrive-run SBR Falcon, and he was replaced for the last two rounds by Chris Pither.
Heimgartner had been set to contest the 2016 Australian GT Championship and drive in the Bathurst 12 Hours, but withdrew from both as the deal with LDM took shape.
“V8 Supercars has always remained the goal for me, so to join Lucas Dumbrell Motorsport and be on the 2016 Supercar grid is a great feeling,” said Heimgartner.
“I’m looking forward to showing what I am capable of and working hard toward success with the LDM team.
“I’m confident we can punch above our weight throughout the season.”
Heimgartner will take charge of the #3 VF Holden Commodore previously used by Tim Blanchard, which is currently in the final stages of build ahead of the team’s first test day at Winton on February 22.
After steering a Ford Falcon FG X in 2015 season, Heimgartner acknowledged he will have to adapt to the Triple Eight-built Holden.
“It’s been a white since I’ve driven a Triple Eight chassis so I’m looking forward to the test day where I’ll get to learn the different driving technique,” said Heimgartner.
Heimgartner brings strong form into the team for the upcoming season, following wins in the past two rounds of the NZ V8 Touring Car Championship and team owner, Lucas Dumbrell believes he will fit in well at LDM.
“Andre is a talented, professional operator and I know he will fit in well here with us at LDM. We’ve worked very hard in the off – season to put together a strong team and I can’t wait until the season begins,” said Dumbrell.
