New Zealander Simon Evans is among 23 drivers confirmed for a Formula E rookie test in Berlin next week.
Evans will take to the wheel for Jaguar TCS Racing, the same team his brother Mitch Evans races for full-time in this year’s championship. He’s joined at the same outfit by 2022 DTM champion Sheldon van der Linde.
The test will take place next Monday in Rome following the Berlin E-Prix doubleheader at the Tempelhof Airport Circuit. It will run in two three-hour sessions.
To be eligible for the test, drivers must hold an International Grade B license, and must not have taken part in any Formula E activity during a race weekend. They must also hold 20 license points obtained from FIA championships over the last three years or previously held an F1 Super License.
They’ll also be required to partake in a training session on electrical safety to ensure the dangers of the fully-electric Formula E Gen3 car.
Simon Evans meets that criterion, having experienced solid track time over the past years in series such as the short-lived Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy, which he won in 2019-20.
Some big names are set to join the series for the test, including former F1 driver Daniel Kvyat, and a host of current or past Formula 2 drivers, such as Robert Shwartzman, Zane Maloney, Jehan Daruvala, Felipe Drugovich, Victor Martins and David Beckmann.
Defending Indy Lights champion Linus Lundqvist will also line up for the test.
The last rookie test, at Marrakesh in 2020, saw a number of now-current Formula E drivers take to the wheel for the first time, including New Zealander Nick Cassidy, Sacha Fenestraz, Norman Nato, Jake Hughes and Sergio Sette Camara.