Max Chilton will race in the World Endurance Championship for Nissan this season, with his LMP1 move ending chances of an F1 return.

The former Marussia driver has been without a drive since the team went in to administration following last year's Russian Grand Prix. While the team is attempting to be on the grid in Melbourne this year under the name of Manor Marussia - and has one seat still available - Chilton has been announced as a Nissan LMP1 driver who will race at Le Mans.

“I'm honoured to have been asked to join a manufacturer as prestigious as Nissan in a championship that is growing year on year,” Chilton said.  “Le Mans has always had an amazing following and to be racing there as a works driver is a dream come true.

"My aim has always been to race at the highest level and the technology that has gone into the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is as impressive as a Formula 1 car.  Having met with the team and seen first-hand the dedication and desire to win that exists within this project I can't wait to get on track."

Chilton will race for Nissan from the start of the season, with the opening race taking place at Silverstone on April 12.

Click here for the gallery from day four of the final test

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.

Recent Posts

Perez reveals how he became Force India's unlikely saviour

Sergio Perez has revisited one of the most extraordinary off-track stories of his Formula 1…

10 hours ago

FIA expands straight-line mode at Spa – as Alonso sounds warning

Formula 1’s return to Spa-Francorchamps this weekend will introduce a striking new element to the…

12 hours ago

McLaren set for Mercedes engine upgrade at Spa and rear-wing trial

McLaren will arrive at the Belgian Grand Prix with a fresh opportunity to reset its…

13 hours ago

Michael bows to Mika on British GP podium

On this day in 2001 at the British GP at Silverstone, Formula 1 fans were…

15 hours ago

Bearman moved to tears after driving Senna’s iconic Lotus

The Silverstone pitlane has borne witness to countless moments of motorsport history, but recently, it…

16 hours ago

Steiner: Time for McLaren to ‘grow up’ and build its own engine

McLaren’s search for answers in Formula 1 has once again turned the spotlight onto its…

17 hours ago