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Formula E Rookie tests: Are these drivers the FE future?
- GPblog.com
After more than three years, Formula E will host another Rookie Test this month. On Monday 24 April, the GEN3 Era FE cars will be tested by 22 drivers who have not driven Formula E before. These drivers are worth keeping an eye on.
Formula E Rookie Tests return
Following the seventh and eighth rounds of the Formula E championship, an all-day test day for drivers with no Formula E experience will be held at the circuit at the former Tempelhof airport in Berlin. The previous time this test took place was in 2020 in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The tests three years ago indicate that a possible permanent place in Formula E beckons for the rookies taking part in the event. Nick Cassidy, Sacha Fenestraz, Norman Nato, Jake Hughes and Sérgio Sette Câmara all took part in the previous test and then had a permanent seat in the FE.
Championship co-founder Alberto Longo said in a press statement ahead of the test day: "The roster of drivers set to take part is a ‘who’s who’ list of the most exciting and ambitious talent in all of motorsport with some huge accomplishments among them. We cannot wait to see what they will do behind the wheel of the GEN3, a race car at the leading edge of performance and innovation."
Drivers to keep an eye on
Daniil Kvyat is competing with the NIO 333 Racing team. The former Red Bull Racing driver drove a total of six seasons in Formula 1 and will now make his debut in Formula E. He is currently competing in the FIA WEC, where he drives in the LMP2 class. Another familiar from Formula 1 making his FE debut is Jack Aitken. Aitken replaced George Russell at Williams before the 2020 Sakhir F1 GP. He is currently active in IMSA SportsCars and the DTM championship and will drive the FE test for Envision Racing.
Felipe Drugovich is having a busy year and will show his best side in 2023. The Brazilian became F2 champion in 2022 and is now a reserve driver for Aston Martin F1 and McLaren. In his role as reserve driver, he was already behind the wheel of an F1 car during this year's winter tests, as Lance Stroll had not yet been declared fit enough after a cycling accident. Drugovich will drive the FE tests in Maserati MSG Racing's car.
Three other drivers to keep an eye on are Victor Martins driving for Nissan Formula E Team, Jehan Daruvala of Mahindra Racing and Linus Lundqvist for Avalanche Andretti Fomule E. Martins is reigning champion in Formula 3 and Lundqvist is champion in Indy Lights. Daravula was part of the Red Bull junior programme from 2020 to 2022.