Thomas Laurent to test Toyota in 2017 Bahrain Rookie Test

One of the four drivers who will take part in the FIA World Endurance Championship’s third, official ‘Rookie Test’ at Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday 19 November has been announced today.  However, the identity of the remaining three drivers won’t be known until less than 24 hours before the start of the test.

The young driver chosen to test the Toyota TS050 HYBRID will be Frenchman Thomas Laurent (19), who was selected as having shown exemplary performance, determination and race skills during 2017.  

The Jackie Chan DC Racing team member, who made his LMP2 debut at the 6 Hours of Silverstone in April of this year, has so far won three times including a memorable result at the 24 Hours of Le Mans when he and his team mates finished second overall. He has been leading the LMP2 drivers’ championship since the start of the season.

The other three drivers who will be officially part of the WEC Rookie Test in Bahrain all come from World Series Formula V8 3.5 but, with the drivers’ championship not due to be settled until the final race of the season in Bahrain, their identity won’t be confirmed until less than 24 hours before the test begins.  

The eventual winner of the World Series Formula V8 3.5 championship will test the Porsche 919 Hybrid, the driver finishing second in the classification will test and ORECA 07 Gibson with the winner of the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMP2 Teams, and the driver finishing third in the classification will test with the team which has won the FIA Endurance Trophy for LMGTE Pro Teams.

Pietro Fittipaldi (BRA, 21), Matevos Isaakyan (RUS, 19), Egor Orudzhev (RUS, 23) and Alfonso Celis Jr (MEX, 21) are the current top four in the World Series Formula V8 3.5 championship standings and the three lucky participants in the WEC Rookie Test will come from within this group.

Each of the four “Rookie” drivers will be awarded a minimum of 30 laps during the test day, and the five hours of track time is also available to other WEC competitors should they wish to profit from the opportunity to evaluate potential drivers for the 2018/2019 Super Season.  

Pierre Fillon, President of the Automobile Club de l’Ouest: “This test in the Toyota TS050 HYBRID, a prototype from the top category of endurance racing, is a great reward for the brilliant progress Thomas Laurent has made in his career.  After beginning in karting in 2005, at 19 years of age Thomas Laurent – who finished second overall at this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, winning the LMP2 category – is climbing up the stairway of endurance racing put in place by the ACO and demonstrating its effectiveness. Well done to Thomas for having been awarded this rookie test!”

Gérard Neveu, CEO of the World Endurance Championship, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for these up-and-coming drivers to show their talents to teams representing some of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers.  Just look at Porsche’s Brendon Hartley now in F1 thanks to what he has learned in LMP1, and Mike Conway moving up from LMP2 to Toyota as perfect examples.  This Rookie Test will give Thomas and the World Series Formula V8 3.5 drivers an added bonus to their season, and potentially set them on a very positive career path within the endurance family.”

An initial list of those due to attend the test will be released shortly, with the final entry list being available prior to the 6 Hours of Bahrain.  Running times on the circuit on Sunday 19 November will be from 10am to Midday and 1pm to 4pm.