FIA WEC

Entry List Confirmed for WEC Rookie Test

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A total of 28 drivers have been confirmed for the World Endurance Championship rookie test at the end of the season.

All three LMP1 hybrid manufacturers – Porsche, Toyota and Audi – will be present at Bahrain International Circuit on November 22, the day after the final round of the 2015 championship.

They will be joined by eight other entries, including the Team ByKolles LMP1 effort, three LMP2 cars and four GTE machines provided by Porsche and Aston Martin Racing.

Juan Pablo Montoya leads the list of big names, with the two-time Indianapolis 500 champion and Formula 1 race winner joining 2012 GP3 Series champion Mitch Evans, who was handpicked by the FIA WECin a Porsche 919 Hybrid.

Current LMP2 star and former GP2 Series runner up Sam Bird – another of the WEC-chosen drivers – will sample a Toyota TS040 Hybrid, and will be joined by last year’s GP3 champion and fellow Briton Alex Lynn during the test. Both drivers will be guided through the day by Toyota LMP1 driver Mike Conway, who will carry out the initial setup before handing the car over to the LMP1 rookies.

Audi Sport Team Joest will bring one of its R18 e-tron quattros to the test, with current Aston Martin GTE driver Richie Stanaway selected by the FIA WEC to participate. 23 year old Stanaway, who also won two GP2 races this year with Status Grand Prix, will benefit from the wisdom of experienced LMP1 competitor Benoit Treluyer.

2015 IndyCar runner up Montoya is one of Porsche’s picks (Credit: John Cote/IndyCar)

In LMP2, Formula 3 race winner Matt Rao is set to test a Signatech Alpine entered A450b Nissan, while GP3 driver Lewis Williamson has been chosen by Strakka Racing to get behind the wheel of the British team’s Gibson 015S Nissan. Strakka Racing Formula Renault 3.5 regular Tio Ellinas will also take part in the test alongside Williamson.

Aston Martin’s junior development programme will be on full display at the rookie test, as eight drivers including five from the team’s Evolution Academy are set to test the #99 Vantage GTE, all under the watchful eye of FIA WEC stalwart Darren Turner.

The list includes British GT4 champions Jamie Chadwick and Ross Gunn; British GT3 drivers Daniel Lloyd and Jody Fannin; 24H Series competitor Devon Modell; Bathurst 12 Hour podium finisher Matt Bell; Fabian Hamprecht from Germany’s ADAC GT Masters, and Archie Hamilton who has recently competed in the World Endurance Championship with Team SARD Morand.

A second Aston Martin for current FIA WEC drivers Turner, Jonny Adam and Marco Sorensen is also confirmed.

Porsche Team Manthey concludes the entry list with two 911 RSRs – one for Dutch GT3 star Nicky Catsburg and the other for recently crowned Porsche Supercup champion Philipp Eng.

Teams will receive five hours of track time on November 22, starting with a two hour session at 10:00 local time. The afternoon session will begin at 13:00 and will last three hours.

Full FIA WEC Rookie Test Entry List:

Credit: FIA WEC

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