Former Formula 1 pilot Christian Klien will drive the second of the Erebus Motorsport Mercedes-Benz entries in the second round of the Australian GT Championship at the Clipsal 500.
The 30-year-old Austrian joins Craig Baird in the rejuvenated SLS line-up following the departure of Peter Hackett from the squad this week.
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Klien tested with the Erebus GT team at Phillip Island in the lead-up to the recent Liqui-Moly Bathurst 12 Hour and says he’s looking forward to tackling the Adelaide street course.
“When I was growing up, I remember watching the Adelaide Grand Prix on television and it was a very challenging track, it has a lot of history in the sport with many of the great drivers having raced there,” said Klien, who visited the Clipsal event last year while scouting for V8 Supercars endurance drives.
“Watching Grands Prix when I was growing up inspired me to become a racing car driver and I was fortunate enough to race at the absolute highest level.
“Last year, I saw the Clipsal 500 first hand as a spectator and it is one of the best races I have been to anywhere in the world. It has great atmosphere, lots of spectators and everyone is having a good time.”
Klien is understood to have had talks with Erebus over a full-time V8 Supercars drive for this season before the signing of German Maro Engel, and is currently in the mix for an endurance seat with the squad.
Although Klien has driven a variety machinery since his seven year stint as a Formula 1 race and test driver came to an end at the conclusion of the 2010 season, the Adelaide event will mark the first time he has raced a GT3 specification vehicle.
