HEXIS AMR Reveal Final Member of 2010 Driver Squad

A few weeks before the 2010 season starts, HEXIS AMR have revealed the identity of their fourth and last GT1 driver, namely Jonathan Hirschi.

This young Swiss will pair up with Clivio Piccione in the second crew of drivers, at the wheel of the Aston Martin DBR9 #10. Detailed below are some career highlights and a quick interview with this new member of HEXIS AMR follows below:

Jonathan Hirschi - Career highlights
Born February 2nd, 1986 in St Imier (Switzerland)
2009 :        Eurocup Megane Trophy Vice-Champion (9 podium finishes including 4 race wins)
                   1 race in FIA GT1
                   1 race in FIA GT3
2008:        Eurocup Megane Trophy (6th, 2 podium finishes)
2007:         Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 and Formula 3 ATS Cup (15th)
2006:         Formula Renault 2.0 Swiss Champion (8 podium finishes including 4 race wins)
2005:         FR 2.0 Swiss Championship (6th, 3 podium finishes including 1 race win)
2004:        FR 2.0 Swiss Championship (9th)
2002/2003:    Karting ICA Swiss Championship

Q&A with Jonathan Hirschi
How did the chance to sign for HEXIS AMR come about?
I met Philippe Dumas (co-owner and team manager of HEXIS AMR) for the first time on the Paul Ricard circuit. It was last year, for the occasion of the FIA GT3 European Championship. We kind of met by chance. The signature just happened like that, naturally, although it took time! And I also know Jean-Denis Delétraz a bit (driver of HEXIS AMR’s DBR9 #9)…

Although GT is not part of your original field, you have already driven a GT1 car. How did it feel?
Yes, I have an experience in GT1, but a small one as I solely ran one race! GT1s are very different from the cars I’ve been driving until now, be it for brakes, chassis, etc. For me, GT1 is the F1 of Grand Touring cars!

What kind of look do you have on this new FIA GT1 World Championship?
As it deals with a World Championship, people think it’s fantastic but they don’t really know how it will evolve, seeing that this year is the first edition. Personally, I think it’s going to be very interesting. I’m sure that from two or three races it will get itself talked about and will go past both the World Rally Championship and World Touring Car Championship.

Any closing words?
I thank my sponsor, Hifi Filter (filtration specialist), who has been supporting me since my debut. I’m happy to run with Clivio (Piccione). He has more experience than me in single-seater, 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!