Photo: Nissan
Formula E has mandated that all teams run a ‘rookie’ in pre-season testing this month, and has revealed which young drivers have got the call-up to take part.
The eligibility criteria was not actually based around being a newcomer to FE, only ruling out drivers who raced in it last season but counting former FE drivers as ‘rookies’. That is because the third-generation car the series currently uses was only introduced this year.
“We are excited to give the very best emerging racing talent the chance to show why they deserve a seat in the championship in the future – by going up against the elite drivers and world champions in FE today,” said FE’s chief championship officer Alberto Longo.
Pre-season testing takes place at Valencia’s Ricardo Tormo circuit on Monday to Friday next week, with a rest day splitting the test.
Already announced as taking part were Red Bull junior and Formula 2 racer Zane Maloney, who will drive for Andretti Global after previously testing for them, and FIA Formula 3 race-winner Taylor Barnard who has been chosen by McLaren.
Both will participate in the test’s Tuesday morning session, then Barnard will also drive in the afternoon while Maloney returns to Andretti’s car for the Wednesday afternoon session.
Ferrari’s Formula 1 reserve driver Robert Shwartzman, who was 2021 F2 runner-up and came eighth in this year’s GT World Challenge Europe Endurance Cup, will drive for DS Penske on Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon. He also drove for the team in FE’s official rookie test in Berlin this April.
Alpine junior Victor Martins, who is in contention to be championship runner-up in F2 this year, will join Nissan for the Tuesday morning session and Red Bull’s recently signed junior Tim Tramnitz – a winner in Formula Regional Europe – will drive for Abt Cupra on Wednesday afternoon.