Brendon Hartley will maintain his links with Porsche, despite his contract to race with Toro Rosso in Formula 1 in 2018.
Hartley has spent the latter part of 2017 competing in both the World Endurance Championship with Porsche and driving for Toro Rosso in F1, but with Porsche bringing to an end their LMP1 campaign, the Kiwi will be able to focus on his F1 career.
Despite being dropped by Red Bull after testing with Toro Rosso in 2009, Hartley was given a second chance after a mid-season reshuffle in 2017.
Hartley and new team-mate Pierre Gasly replaced Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat, who moved to Renault and lost their F1 seat respectively.
Hartley has previously won two LMP1 driver titles for Porsche in the WEC, as well as winning the illustrious Le Mans 24 hour race for the team.
Hartley, like his former team-mates Andre Lotterer and Neel Jani, will remain under contract with Porsche whilst racing elsewhere.
When asked if Hartley’s F1 career would affect his relationship with Porsche, team principal Andreas Seidl commented to Autosport: “Not really. Obviously we will put some limitations in terms of what he can do for us, because he will have quite a busy schedule.
“But with the history we have built together, we definitely want to continue.
“The programme within Porsche motorsport is huge, and there will be plenty of opportunities also for Brendon within the Porsche family also in the next years.”
It is thought that Hartley could race GTs for Porsche, as well as make appearances in tributes to his championship-winning 919 Hybrid.
