![Alexander Hitzinger helped Porsche, owned by Volkswagen, return to endurance racing and to develop the 919 hybrid sports ...](/content/dam/images/g/t/d/v/m/4/image.related.afrArticleLead.620x350.gtds01.png/1482103653402.jpg)
Apple poached the technical director of Porsche's race car programme this year, a company source said on Friday, hiring a project manager who helped engineer the sports car company's victorious return to the Le Mans endurance race.
Alexander Hitzinger is the latest car specialist to be recruited by technology giant Apple as it explores building its own car.
This month, Apple urged regulators not to impose too many restrictions on developers of self-driving cars.
Hitzinger could not be reached for comment. The move was first reported by Germany's Manager Magazin.
![Porsche's 919 won Le Mans and the endurance racing world championship last year and this year using largely unproven ...](/content/dam/images/g/t/d/v/m/h/image.imgtype.afrArticleInline.620x0.png/1482103130207.jpg)
Officially, Porsche only confirmed Hitzinger had left the luxury car maker in the northern spring. Apple was not immediately available for comment.
Hitzinger helped Porsche, owned by Volkswagen, return to endurance racing and to develop the 919 hybrid sports car from scratch, much in the same way Apple is now looking into building its own vehicle.
Porsche's new race car won Le Mans and the endurance racing world championship last year and this year using largely unproven technology, which beat far more established rivals.
Hitzinger helped hire and build a development team and organisational structure at Porsche, expanding from 10 staff to more than 150 employees.
Hitzinger's LinkedIn profile says he left Porsche in March and joined a "Technology Company" located in the San Francisco Bay Area as an engineering executive in April.
![The Porsche 919 team celebrate with champagne after winning the 84th 24-hour Le Mans endurance race this year.](/content/dam/images/g/t/d/v/o/c/image.imgtype.afrArticleInline.620x0.png/1482103300489.jpg)
Hitzinger is quoted by Manager Magazin as saying he wanted to do something "which has a significant and direct impact on society", but did not confirm he now worked at Apple.
Reuters