Christian Klien Signs with Aston Martin Racing

Following Hispania Racing F1 Team’s decision earlier this month to let Christian Klien go and keep Vitantonio Liuzzi as their second driver for the 2011 F1 season, the Austrian went on looking for a new job. Luckily for him it didn’t take long until another important name in motorsport saw the potential lying in the experienced Formula One competitor.

Specifically, Aston Martin Racing recently confirmed Klien as the sixth factory driver to join the team’s existing line-up of Adrian Fernandez, Andy Meyrick, Stefan Mucke, Harold Primat and Darren Turner.

Klien will join Mucke and Turner in the new 007 AMR-One LMP1 race car at the 24 hours of Le Mans in June, and at selected other races.

“Having competed in three F1 races in 2010, I wanted to continue to race with a team that gave me consistency, at the top level of motorsport. I decided that the best opportunity to give me a focus and to retain my independence was to compete in the 24 hours of Le Mans with Aston Martin Racing and at selected other races in the LMP1 category as a full factory works driver,” Klien stated.

“During my very first visit to Aston Martin Racing, I was immediately impressed, feeling the spirit and passion of their long association with Le Mans as former GT1 winners of the 24 Hour Race,” he added. “Due to the timing of my inclusion with the AMR team I will commence my involvement with the development of the new AMR-One after the opening race of the Le Mans Series at Paul Ricard.”

The AMR-One will make its on track debut at Paul Ricard at the opening round of the Le Mans Series on April 3 with drivers Stefan Mucke, Harold Primat and Darren Turner. Klien’s debut race with Aston Martin will be at Spa on May 7.