Gianmaria Bruni (above, left) was a key part of Ferrari and AF Corse’s WEC success story until his departure from the team and the manufacturer at the end of 2017. That led to some contract fuelled down-time for the Italian who, by then, had 13 WEC class wins and a trio of Le Mans class wins under his belt for the Italian marque.

His comeback in summer 2017 in the IMSA series saw him back in the saddle, but still learning about a very different car, and a very different team set-up.

For 2018/19 though he’s making a return to the WEC, as part of a two-car effort with the 911 RSR that is determined to wrench the manufacturers title from Ferrari. Bruni too, will hope to add a Drivers World Championship to add to his two previous drivers titles, both won (in 2013 and 2014), before the GTE Pro class attracted true World Championship status.

“For the first six or seven months I couldn’t drive, I couldn’t really do anything, that was hard, it wasn’t easy and I couldn’t get in touch with anyone from Porsche but I knew, of course that I would start with Porsche in July last year,” he said.

“From that moment I had a few days testing and from there on it was just a learning curve about the car, the people, how they work, how they are together, how they operate because it is completely different from what I was used to in the last ten years.

“Now I have got to grips with those changes we are all going forward in one direction, that’s really cool, a really nice place to be right now. I really am enjoying it, particularly working with the Manthey group here in the WEC.

“It has meant a big adaptation and learning process but now, for me, the way it works here is better in terms of preparation, and how they are operating for the longer term, I really like this structure.”

It is completely different from what I was used to in the last ten years

Better still, despite his move, Bruni and his former colleagues at AF Corse still remain friends, the relationship not terminally damaged by the nature of the switch.

“The people I was working with, from the chief mechanic, to the pitstop guys, to Amato (Ferrari), the Michelotto guys, all still on very good terms,” he explained. “Everyone I was operating with full time, very week there is no change, it is like before. They are all happy with me and for me. That’s what matters to me.”

There are some rumours that despite the pull-out from the 919 project, that there may very well be a plan for Porsche beyond GTE in the coming years. Bruni though, stressed that he had no knowledge of any potential Porsche projects besides GTE.

“I know nothing about that and, remember, I am getting older now, I am 36 and first of all I want to stay on my target which is to win the World Championship with Porsche (in GTE) soon! After that we’ll see.”

Nevertheless, despite being conscious of “Father Time”, he’s motivated more than ever to earn another title. Winning a World Championship Porsche, he said, would mean the world.

“It’s what I am here for! Everything I did up to here with Porsche was like practice.

“Getting to race was good but there I really didn’t care quite as much personally. I was doing my job for Porsche but my aim, my focus was always over here and the WEC.”

Featured image courtesy of Porsche