Photo: Jaguar Racing
Formula E’s rookie practice session at next weekend’s Jeddah E-Prix has attracted more young drivers.
Already announced as getting call-ups were Mahindra’s reserve driver Kush Maini and Super Formula-bound Zak O’Sullivan at Envision Racing, and three more names have now been confirmed.
Jamie Chadwick will drive for Jaguar, Gabriele Mini will get in Nissan’s car and Theo Pourchaire will be at the wheel for Maserati.
It marks the continuation of a long partnership for Chadwick, since she drove for Jaguar in FE’s rookie test in 2020 and then again in pre-season testing last November.
The three-time W Series champion had aimed to race at single-seaters’ top level this year, but was unable to find a seat in IndyCar after a race-winning sophomore Indy Nxt campaign in 2024, left Formula 1 team Williams’ driver development programme after six years and is instead is switching to sportscars in the European Le Mans Series.
2023 Formula 2 champion Pourchaire did development work on FE’s Gen3 car back in 2022, and is now Peugeot’s test and development driver in the World Endurance Championship where it competes in the top Hypercar class.
He had previously been on Formula 1 team Sauber’s books for six years, first as a junior and then as reserve driver for two seasons. Although he never raced in F1, he did contest the 2024 Super Formula season opener and claimed a top-10 finish from six races with McLaren in IndyCar.
Alpine junior Mini drove for Nissan, a sister brand, in FE’s rookie test last year in the middle of an FIA Formula 3 Championship campaign in which he missed out on the title in the final race.
The Nicolas Todt protege will be stepping up to F2 this year with Prema, having already made his debut with the team in Baku last season. His cameo appearance began with him qualifying eighth, and he made the podium in the sprint race.