2019 official Rookie Test underway in Bahrain
The official FIA World Endurance Championship Bahrain Rookie test got underway on Sunday, the morning after the Bapco 8 Hours of Bahrain, round 4 of Season 8.
Some of the best young endurance talents in the world gathered to spend time with leading WEC teams with four specially selected rookies getting a minimum of 30 laps in cars throughout the four classes.
Despite a heavy rain shower midway through the two-hour morning session, Nyck de Vries [Toyota Gazoo Racing], Mikkel Jensen [Signatech Alpine Elf], Job Van Uitert [Porsche GT Team] and Vincent Abril [Team Project 1] all got seat time.
In addition to the four official rookie drivers, several other well-known international motorsport young guns are also taking part in the test.
FIA Formula 2 driver Louis Deletraz is scheduled to get laps in the Rebellion Racing LMP1 car, Asian Le Mans race winner Harrison Newey is with Racing Team Nederland, and His Highness Sheikh Isa bin Abdullah Al Khalifa will also get laps in the Jackie Chan DC Racing car at his home circuit. After showing promise and gaining strong results in Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Middle East recently, the member of the Bahraini royal family is relishing the opportunity to sample LMP2 power.
Several talents are being given factory tests as well today. Gulf Racing driver Andrew Watson is with the Aston Martin Racing LMGTE Pro team, as is Aston Martin Academy driver Tom Canning, while Nicklas Nielsen is running with AF Corse in the Ferrari 488 GTE EVO.
Also among the entries today is Jan Magnussen who joins the High Class Racing LMP2 squad. It will mark the great Dane’s first foray in a prototype cockpit since he raced for the factory Panoz team 17 years ago!
A three-hour session will be held this afternoon between 1-4 pm local time, and all timings can be found HERE.
