Credit: Formula E Media Bank / Sam Bloxam
The Formula E rookie test returns after three years of break, with the last appointment in the 2019/2020 season that had featured drivers who have since been granted a full time seat in the championship like Norman Nato and Nick Cassidy.
The first test with the Gen 3 cars for drivers new to the series was reintroduced as a compromise between the FIA and Formula E and the teams, with the formers trying to introduce a rule for the new generation that a rookie driver should have been taking part in at least two free practise session during the year.
Teams will have to feature two drivers each in the one day test, set to take place in Berlin on the 24th of April. Many teams have already announced their drivers for the day, with interesting names from Formula 1 feeder series, the Endurance championship and even former Formula 1 drivers.
Championship leaders TAG Heuer Porsche has signed the 2021 ELMS championship winner Yifei Ye for the test. The Chinese driver is also competing for Jota Hertz in the WEC, running the Porsche 963 Hypercar.
He will line up with Test and Reserve Driver David Beckmann, who is a Reserve Driver for Avalanche Andretti as well and will make his Eprix debut in the Jakarta round in June with the American team, replacing Andre Lotterer who will be racing in the WEC for Porsche.
On the Rookie test, however, Andretti will run Red Bull Academy and Formula 2 driver Zane Maloney and reigning Indy Light champion Linus Lundqvist.
Winner of the 2023 12 Hours of Sebring Jack Aitken and Formula 3 driver for MP Jonny Edgar will be behind the wheel for Envision Racing, whereas McLaren will feature GB3 reigning champion and Formula 3 driver Luke Browning alongside ELMS driver Charlie Eastwood.
Reigning Formula 3 champion and Alpine Academy driver Victor Martins will have his first approach with Fomrula E running for Nissan in the rookie tests, partnering with newly announced Simulator Driver Luca Ghiotto.
Former Fomula 1 driver Daniil Kvyat, now competing in the LMP2 class with Prema, is heavily rumoured to make his return to single seaters with NIO, with the Russian driver having done a seat fit already and having taken up simulator duties as well.
Ferrari’s Reserve Driver Robert Shwartzmann will split his rookie test duties for DS PENSKE with former Formula 1 driver Will Stevens, whereas former colleague who became the reigning Formula 2 champion and Reserve Driver for Aston Martin Formula 1 Team Felipe Drugovich will debut for Maserati.
A number of other teams are yet to announce young drivers for the sessions, including Jaguar, ABT Cupra, and Mahindra. The Banbury based team might be interested in calling up its Reserve driver Jehan Daruvala, who is also competing in Formula 2 for MP.
