Lots of Drivers announced for Formula E's Rookie Test in Berlin
The Monday after the weekend of the Berlin ePrix will see the return of the Formula E Rookie Test as young and experienced drivers get their first taste of Gen3 action. So who’s taking part and what have they accomplished in their careers? Let’s find out...
TAG Heuer Porsche
TAG Heuer Porsche currently lead both championships and for the rookie test, they have chosen Ye Yifei and David Beckmann. Ye Yifei is a 22-year-old Chinese driver who has previously won the 2016 French F4 Championship and the 2020 Euroformula Open Championship. Yifei then transitioned into Sportscar racing and he managed to win both the 2021 European and Asian Le Mans Series titles in the LMP2 class. As for his teammate in this test, David Beckmann is a 22-year-old German racing driver who’s currently the reserve driver for Porsche in Formula E. Beckmann has driven in lots of different championships and his best year was probably in the 2018 GP3 Series where he managed to finish 5th in the championship after winning 3 races. Beckmann has also finished on the Formula 2 podium twice and this test happens to be taking place on his birthday which is quite nice.
Envision Racing
Envision is fielding an all-British lineup for the test as Jack Aitken and Jonny Edgar join forces. Jack Aitken is a 27-year-old British-South Korean racing driver who is going to compete in DTM in 2023. Jack is a former Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0, Formula Renault 2.0 Alps and Pro Mazda Winterfest Champion (all in 2015). Aitken has also won four Formula 2 races (his best championship finish was 5th in 2019) and he also drove for Williams in the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, replacing George Russell (who’d taken Lewis Hamilton’s spot at Mercedes). As for his teammate in this test, Jonny Edgar is a 19-year-old British racing driver who’s currently driving for MP Motorsport in FIA Formula 3. Jonny’s biggest accomplishment came when he won the ADAC Formula 4 Championship back in 2020 and he’s currently in his third season in Formula 3 (his highest championship finish was 12th last year).
Nissan Formula E Team
Both Luca Ghiotto and Victor Martins are about to drive a Formula E car for the very first time. Luca Ghiotto is a 28-year-old Italian racing driver who previously finished second in the 2015 GP3 Series, just 8 points behind series winner Esteban Ocon. Luca achieved 6 victories in GP3 and he also managed to achieve 6 victories in FIA Formula 2 (Ghiotto’s highest championship finish was third in 2019). As for his teammate in this test, Victor Martins is a 21-year-old French-Portuguese racing driver who is currently a part of the Alpine Academy. Victor won the Formula Renault Eurocup Championship in 2020, a year after he lost out on the title by 7 and a half points to a guy named Oscar Piastri (I think you’ve probably heard of him). Victor also won last year’s FIA Formula 3 Championship and so far in 2023, Martins has achieved 1 Pole position and 2 podiums in FIA Formula 2 (he currently sits 12th in the championship).
Avalanche Andretti
Avalanche Andretti have chosen two very exciting drivers for this test in the form of Zane Maloney and Linus Lundqvist. Zane Maloney is a 19-year-old Barbadian racing driver who currently races in F2 and he’s also a member of the Red Bull Junior Programme. Zane is a former F4 British Champion (2019) and he also finished second in last year’s FIA Formula 3 Championship (just 5 points behind winner Victor Martins). So far in 2023, Maloney has achieved 1 podium in FIA Formula 2 and he currently sits 8th in the championship. As for his teammate in this test, Linus Lundqvist is a 24-year-old Swedish racing driver who’s won lots of championships over the course of his career. Linus won both the Formula STCC Nordic Championship and Formula STCC NEZ Championship in 2016, the BRDC British Formula 3 Championship in 2018 and most impressively, last year's Indy Lights Championship (now named Indy NXT). Lundqvist also has the best name in motorsport so that certainly helps him!
