Photo: Formula Motorsport Ltd
Reigning Formula 2 champion Theo Pourchaire and his former team-mate Victor Martins have got call-ups to drive in the World Endurance Championship’s rookie test.
The French pair are Formula 1 juniors for Sauber and Alpine respectively, and their combined efforts won ART Grand Prix the teams’ title in F2 last year. Martins was fifth in the standings that season, and is currently eighth in his sophomore campaign.
WEC’s rookie test takes place at Bahrain on November 3, and is split into two sessions. The top-tier Le Mans Hypercar protototypes that Martins and Pourchaire will get a taste of will be shared with other drivers.
Martins will pilot the Alpine A424, a car which is developed and run independently of the F1 team within Alpine’s motorsport portfolio.
“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,” said the 23-year-old. “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. I can’t wait to discover this Hypercar, which looks very fast!”
The 21-year-old Pourchaire, who has raced in Super Formula and IndyCar part-time this year, will also get behind the wheel of a French machine since he has been chosen by Peugeot to drive its 9X8.
He will share driving duties with Clement Novalak, who won once from 58 starts in F2 before switching over to the European Le Mans Series this year to drive second-tier LMP2 prototype sportscars.