Since 2015, a Rookie Test has been organized the day after the final round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.
The two French drivers will discover Team Peugeot TotalEnergies and the 2024 PEUGEOT 9X8 Hypercar on the Bahrain International Circuit.
Former Formula 2 drivers, Théo Pourchaire (21 years old) and Clément Novalak (23 years old), have also showcased their potential in other series.
The day after the FIA WEC 2024 championship finale, teams will have the opportunity to run young talents during a Rookie Test held on the Bahrain International Circuit (5.412 km).
In 2022 and 2023, Danish driver Malthe Jakobsen, who will be a full-time driver for Team Peugeot TotalEnergies next year, had the chance to drive the PEUGEOT 9X8 during these Rookie Tests. On November 3, Théo Pourchaire and Clément Novalak will take the wheel of the 2024 PEUGEOT 9X8.
Théo Pourchaire (21), a member of the FFSA Academy in 2018 after notable karting debuts, achieved ten podiums and clinched the FIA Formula 2 Championship title last year. This season, he gained experience in Super Formula (Japan) and IndyCar (USA). Théo has also been a Formula 1 reserve driver for the past three seasons.
Clément Novalak (23), the 2019 British Formula 3 Champion, has also competed in the Formula 2 World Championship, securing a victory last year. This season, he has shifted toward endurance racing, competing in the European Le Mans Series and finishing on the podium in the LMP2 category in his first 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Olivier Jansonnie, Technical Director of Peugeot Sport, said: “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. 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 and is recognized as one of the single-seater hopefuls. Clément has more endurance experience with notable results in ELMS, particularly a 2nd 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.”
The Rookie Test will take place on Sunday, November 3, at the Bahrain International Circuit, with two test sessions of several hours each.
Clément Novalak:
- 23 years old
- French
- Participated in ELMS & Le Mans in 2024
“I am extremely happy to join Team Peugeot TotalEnergies for the Bahrain Rookie Test. It’s an important step in my transition from single-seaters to endurance racing. I couldn’t dream of a better team, given its incredible history in the discipline, to make my debut in the Hypercar category. I’m really looking forward to learning as much as possible from such an experienced team during what promises to be a very formative and enriching day for me.”
Théo Pourchaire:
- 21 years old
- French
- Youngest winner in Formula 2 historTop of Formy
“I am very happy to be able to drive the 9X8 with Team Peugeot TotalEnergies in Bahrain. It will be a new experience for me as it will be the first time I drive an endurance car, a Hypercar. It’s almost a different sport for me, completely different from what I was used to in Formula 2, as a reserve F1 driver, or in Indycar. I’m excited to discover the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship. I think it’s a dream for every driver to be able to race in this championship one day, especially with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is the greatest race in the world. Having this first experience in endurance racing is fantastic, and I’m looking forward to returning to Bahrain, a circuit I particularly love. It’s a great track with a very powerful car, and it’s an amazing opportunity.”Bottom of Form
