FIA GT: Hirschi joins Hexis for GT1 World Championship

Hexis AMR has completed its driver line-up for the FIA GT1 World Championship with the signing of Jonathan Hirschi.

The 24-year-old Swiss driver makes the full-time switch to GT racing in a Hexis Aston Martin DBR9 after making one-off appearances in the FIA GT and GT3 championships for Matech Competition last year. He was also runner-up in the Megane Trophy in 2009 and has single-seater experience in Formula Renault.

“I have experience in GT1, but only a small amount as I only did one race,” said Hirschi after completing a deal with the French squad. “GT1s are very different from the cars I’ve been driving until now, be it brakes, chassis etc. For me GT1 is the F1 of Grand Touring Cars.”

Hirschi will join single-seater convert Clivio Piccione, who was announced by the team last week, in one DBR9, while Jean-Denis Deletraz and Frederic Makiowiecki will team up in the second car.

“I’m happy to run with Clivio,” said Hirschi. “He has more experience than me in single-seaters, and I am more experienced than him in Touring and GT cars: we are really complementary.

“I’m also glad to be part of Hexis AMR, they’re serious, they never have doubts and always charge in. Nowadays, a team like this is worth gold!


Andy Wilkinson