Former Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire will join Maserati MSG Racing for the FE rookie practice session at the upcoming Jeddah E-Prix.
Formula E will debut a rookie practice session at the Jeddah E-Prix, with multiple rookie drivers already confirmed for various teams. The drivers will participate in a 30-minute session, called FP0. The test session will stage a day – on 13 February – before the action starts on the weekend.
First time in an FE car at Jeddah E-Prix
Pourchaire said ahead of his FE debut: “I’m really proud to have this opportunity with Maserati MSG Racing. Maserati is an iconic car brand and I’m very happy to be working with Maserati MSG Racing – the team has done fantastic work in the past. I also really like working with new people, everyone has made me feel very welcome so far.
”This will be the first time for me driving a Formula E car during a race weekend and I can’t wait to get out on the Jeddah track, to be in the car and to be working with the team on the ground. I’ve done some work with the team in the simulator to prepare myself as well as possible, but nothing compares with the real thing.”
Pourchaire knows Jeddah track from F2 time
In 2023, Pourchaire finally won the Formula 2 title after three years in the championship. Since 2021, Formula 1’s feeder series drove at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit. In all three years, the Frenchman participated in the race weekends. His time in F2 can be a slight advantage for him, even though the track layout is slightly different.
”I know the Jeddah track from F2, I’ve raced there three times in the past but on a slightly different configuration and in a very different car but I do think knowing the track a little helps especially when I will be in a new car with a new team,” he said. “Overall, I’m excited to get on track, show what I can do, help the team and hopefully have fun!”
Formula E returns to action mid-February at the Jeddah E-Prix for Round 3 and 4. Porsche’s António Félix Da Costa leads the championship by 12 points over second place Oliver Rowland. The Nissan driver won last round at the Mexico City E-Prix with an impressive strategy.
