Joel Eriksson drives Porsche at the Nürburgring with Falken Motorsports
Joel Eriksson's racing program in 2023 will be centered around the fabled Nürburgring Nordschleife, with a focus on the world-famous 24-hour race in May.
Eriksson has signed a contract with the German team Falken Motorsports, where he will drive a Porsche 911 GT3 R in both the 24-hour race and the Nürburgring Endurance Series (also known as the NLS – Nürburgring Langstrecken Series).
The steering is a result of a successful guest stint with the team at the end of last season, when 24-year-old Eriksson jumped into two NLS races and promptly won both paired with German Sven Müller.
Müller and Eriksson will continue to share a car, the Falken Motorsports Porsche with starting number #3, this year as well.
- I'm really looking forward to this season together with Falken Motorsports, says Joel Eriksson. We started working together a little last year and it worked very well. I managed to win on my debut at the Nordschleife, and then we got another win, so it couldn't have started better. This year we are fully committed to the championship, but above all to the 24-hour race, which is the big goal.
The Nürburgring's infamous North Loop - Nordschleife - is one of the world's most notorious race tracks. The gigantic facility, located in the German Eifel Mountains, was completed in 1927 and has since achieved legendary status. With 170 curves and a length of over 20 km, it is still considered today the world's most demanding course, aptly called "the green hell".
Joel Eriksson heads to the Nürburgring already this weekend for the first tests of the season. The NLS premiere then takes place on March 18.
The Nürburgring 24 Hours, one of the most prestigious long-distance races for GT cars, will be held on May 18-21. Before that, the field qualifies over two days, April 22-23. The competition annually attracts close to 150 cars. Eriksson and Falken Motorsports drive in the biggest and fastest class, in search of the overall victory.
Joel Eriksson is also a test and reserve driver for Jaguar TCS Racing in Formula E.
NEW TEST AND RESERVE DRIVER FOR JAGUAR TCS RACING IN FORMULA E
Joel Eriksson has signed as a test and reserve driver for Jaguar TCS Racing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (Formula E) – the world championship for electric formula car racing – for the 2023 season.
Eriksson joins the British stable at the same time that Formula E is phasing in the new technical platform Gen3, with faster, lighter and more powerful cars than ever before.
The agreement means a return to the Formula E pit for 24-year-old Eriksson, who drove eight races for the American team Dragon Penske Autosport in the 2021 season.
Eriksson will share the test and reserve driver role with Frenchman Tom Dillmann. Together, the duo will support Jaguar's regular racing drivers Mitch Evans and Sam Bird during the race weekends, as well as help with the development work of the team's brand new Jaguar I-TYPE 6 racing car both on the track and in the simulator.
– Jag ser verkligen fram emot att jobba med Jaguar TCS Racing i den här rollen som test- och reservförare, säger Joel Eriksson. Jag har kört Jaguar I-TYPE 6 i simulatorn och det märks direkt hur stor skillnad det är mellan Gen2 och Gen3. Det är verkligen ett rejält steg framåt både teknologiskt och prestandamässigt. Teamet har gjort väldigt bra resultat de senaste två åren och jag hoppas att jag kan hjälpa Mitch, Sam och ingenjörerna till nya höjder den här säsongen.
Jaguar TCS Racing finished fourth in the Formula E teams' championship last year, while Evans was second in the drivers' championship.
– Alla på Jaguar TCS Racing är glada att få välkomna Joel till teamet som en av våra test- och reservförare, säger James Barclay, teamchef Jaguar TCS Racing. Han har verkligen imponerat på oss så här långt med det jobb han gjort i simulatorn. Joel har dessutom flera stora framgångar på sitt CV och en stark juniorkarriär i ryggen, så det är fantastiskt att knyta honom till oss. Vi ser fram emot att jobba tätt tillsammans.
The 2023 Formula E season comprises a total of 16 races spread over 11 race weekends around the world, starting this Saturday (January 14) in Mexico City. The calendar includes four brand new races in Hyderabad (India), Cape Town (South Africa), São Paulo (Brazil) and Portland (USA).
Joel Eriksson will be present at all races within the framework of his new mission.