Porsche has named Simona de Silvestro and Thomas Preining as the test and development drivers for its Formula E team ahead of the 20🌠19-20 season.

Porsche will join the Formula E grid for the championshi😼p's sixth season, starting in Saudi Arabia on November 22, with Andre Lotterer and Neelܫ Jani as its full-time drivers.

De Silvestro and Preining will offer support🌸 to Lotterer and Jani in their roles, in which they will be "involved in the simulator work in Weissach and will be on-site at select Formula E races. The two drivers will also be available to the team for in-season testing."

De Silvestro, 31, raced in Formula E with Andretti in 2015 and 2016, and has since been racing in Supercars in Australia. She becomes the first ꦏfemale works driver in Porsche history.

"It is a great honour to work for this prestigious brand. I am really looking forward to my new role as test and d꧑evelopment driver for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team," de Silvestro said.

"Over the last few years, I have gained a lot oඣf experience from my previous involvements ꦇin Formula E. I will do my best to help Porsche on the road to success."

Preining, 21, has been part of Porsche's young drive🅺r programme for a number of years, racing in the Porsche Supercup and in the FIA World Endurance🌄 Championship with the Gulf Racing customer team in GTE-Am.

"I am very much looking forward to my new role in the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. I have followed Formula E closely from the word go✱," said Preining.

"I am very excited to see wh🤡at it feels like to drive the Porsche 99X Electric on the track. It is great to be able to support Porsche in its debut season in Formula E, and൩ to be a part of this future-oriented project from the outset."

Porsche For꧟mu🔴la E chief Fritz Enzinger added: "In Simona and Thomas, we have acquired two proven talents for the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team.

"Simona comes with a we♓alth of experience gained in various different race series and is also a familiar face in Formula E. We are l൲ooking forward to working with her and welcome her to the Porsche family.

"Thomas has been with us since 2017, during which time he has demonstrated his talent in G🤡T racing on numerous occasions. With the Formula E🌟 programme, we are giving Simona and Thomas the opportunity to develop as drivers and to make a positive contribution to the Porsche Formula E project."