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Ben Barker gets Gulf Porsche FIA World Endurance seat

Ben Barker, the British Porsche Supercup racer will contest the full 2016 FIA World Endurance Championship at the wheel of a Porsche 991 RSR after being confirmed as a driver for the Gulf Racing squad.

The 24-year-old, who for the past three seasons has been Total 911’s ‘one to watch’, will be joined in the GTE-Am class Porsche 911 RSR by team owner, Mike Wainwright and former GP2 winner, Adam Carroll for the nine-race WEC.

The move will see Barker – who has finished in the top ten of the Porsche Mobil 1 Supercup for the past three seasons – back at Gulf Racing, the team he raced with in the 2014 European Le Mans Series (during which he first got behind the wheel of the 991 RSR).

Gulf Racing 991 RSR

As well as the eight six-hour races, the deal also means the up-and-coming Porsche ace will contest his first 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking his return to the scene of his 2014 Carrera Cup victory, where he beat current factory drivers, Earl Bamber and Kévin Estre in the Le Mans support race.

Gulf Racing’s FIA WEC entry was confirmed two weeks ago in Paris and marks the return of the famous blue and orange livery on a Le Mans-bound Porsche for the first time since the legendary John Wyer Automotive Porsche 917s competed at La Sarthe in 1971.

Barker will begin his season at the official WEC ‘Prologue’ test at Paul Ricard on 25-26 March before the opening race of the year – the Six Hours of Silverstone – sees British racer compete in his home event on 15-17 April. 

For all the latest Porsche 911 race news, check out our dedicated motorsport section now. 

Gulf Porsche 917

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