Ex-F1 driver Sergey Sirotkin will get the chance to drive a FIA Formula E Championship car in the rookie test post the Marrakesh ePrix.
Sirotkin will drive the Mahindra Racing’s Gen2 car in the test on January 13 as the Russian mulls the option of joining Formula E in the future, following his departure from Formula 1 at the end of a difficult debut 2018 season with Williams.
Post the final race of the F1 season, Sirotkin tested for Audi in DTM’s rookie test – even though he wasn’t in frame for a drive with the German manufacturer opting for the same six drivers who contested for the team in 2018.
With the backing of SMP Racing, it is likely that Sirotkin drives for them in the FIA World Endurance Championship but it seems like he is keeping Formula E as his option as well in the future – the series already has Stoffel Vandoorne racing this year.
“Formula E is now one of the most rapidly developing championships,” said Sirotkin. “The competition here is at very high level. More manufacturers are entering the series as they are confident that electric cars have strong future potential.
“More technical solutions appear in these cars and they are progressing rapidly. I drove a Formula E car in 2016 but now the car generation has changed it will be interesting to try the difference.”
Team principal Dilbagh Gill added: “I am delighted to announce that Sergey and Sam will be testing for us in Marrakesh in the rookie test. Sergey has shown from a very young age that he is extremely talented and we are very happy that he is available to contribute to our Season 5 testing programme.
“I’m sure his involvement is going to prove valuable given his experience. I’m also very happy to be able to provide Sam with the opportunity of taking part in an all teams test for the second time.
“He has been working very hard with our engineering team for over a year on our development programme and is a valuable part of our team.” As Gill mentioned, Sirotkin will be joined by Mahindra’s simulator driver Sam Dejonghe in the test.
Rookie test line-up so far:
Mahindra: Sergey Sirotkin & Sam Dejonghe
Audi: Jamie Green
Venturi: Norman Nato