Leading World GT1 driver Frederic Makowiecki will switch to the Marc VDS Ford team for the 2011 season.
Makowiecki won three races and finished third in the standings for the Hexis Aston Martin team last season, in what was his first full year of top-level international racing. The 30-year-old Frenchman will be paired with Maxime Martin in Marc VDS' No. 41 Ford, while Martin's 2010 teammate Bas Leinders will share the No. 40 car with Marc Hennerici, who moves across to Marc VDS after taking fifth in the standings with Phoenix Corvette last year.
"Obviously, we are very pleased to have signed a driver of Frederic's caliber for the coming season," said Marc VDS general manager Jean-Michel Delporte. "For me, the two revelations of the 2010 GT1 series were Maxime Martin and Frederic Makowiecki, so to have them driving together in our Ford GT is truly an exciting prospect, both for the team and for the championship.
"With Frederic, Maxime, Marc and Bas I think we now have a perfect combination of youth and experience that will see the Marc VDS Racing Team more competitive in this, the second season of the GT1 World Championship."