Four new drivers have been named for the forthcoming FIA WEC rookie test in Bahrain next month, which will be held the day after the eight-hour season finale.
Peugeot will run a pair of former Formula 2 drivers — 21-year-old Théo Pourchaire (pictured above), who won the 2023 F2 title with ART Grand Prix and showed well in several IndyCar races this season with Arrow McLaren, along with 23-year-old Clément Novalak, who currently drives for Inter Europol Competition in the ELMS. Both Frenchmen will get behind the wheel of the 2024 9X8 during the day’s running.
“For Team Peugeot TotalEnergies, these rookie tests in Bahrain bring a fresh perspective, even though reconditioning the cars after the race requires a lot of work from the entire team,” said Olivier Jansonnie, the technical director of Peugeot Sport. “It is always very motivating and rewarding to see young drivers arrive with wide eyes, discovering the team, the car, etc.”
“We selected two different profiles. Théo is single-seater oriented with an already impressive track record. Clément has more endurance experience with notable results in ELMS, particularly a second place in LMP2 at the 2024 24 Hours of Le Mans. His statistics in this discipline impressed us.
“I think it’s an interesting combination. They will be guided by Paul di Resta and Malthe Jakobsen, who also went through this process before being appointed full-time next season. It is always very interesting for us to get technical feedback from fresh perspectives.”
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At Alpine, F2 and Alpine Academy driver Victor Martins will get behind the wheel of an A424 for the first time.
“I am super happy with this opportunity, and I am very grateful to Alpine Endurance Team for allowing me to continue learning in the world of motorsport,” he said. “It is an opportunity for me to continue to build my experience with new engineers and a new car, as well as an opportunity to show my potential.
“Although I am very focused on my single-seater journey, it is a challenge that I accept with pleasure and I hope that we will maximize the rookie test day, both on my side for learning, but also to allow the team to have good data as part of their development.”
Philippe Sinault, team principal of the Alpine Endurance team, feels Martins will bring a new dynamic to the team for the test.
“He is an excellent driver we know well, an Alpine Academy member and who has worked a lot with the Formula 1 team in the simulator,” he said. “We want to give him a new experience behind the wheel of an endurance prototype.”
Lamborghini factory driver Franck Perera also has been confirmed to test the SC63.
“I am really looking forward to stepping in the car and going back to Bahrain for the first time since 2004 in F3 with Prema,” he said.
This foursome of drivers join standout European Le Mans Series youngsters Reshad de Gerus and Gillian Henrion, who became the first two drivers confirmed for the test earlier this month.
De Gerus, a current LMP2 driver with IDEC Sport, is set to drive a car provided by the title-winning Hypercar manufacturer, while Henrion, an LMP3 driver, will steer Manthey PureRxcing’s LMGT3 championship-winning Porsche 911 GT3 R (992).
Both drivers were nominated to drive in the test by the WEC as a reward for their efforts while competing in the ELMS this season.
- This story has been updated following confirmation of Perera’s participation in the test.