2023 Formula 2 Champion Theo Pourchaire has been signed by Maserati MSG Racing for next week’s Formula E rookie test in Jeddah.
Pourchaire, whose most recent racing came in the IndyCar series with Arrow McLaren, will be the Italian marque’s choice for the FP0 session, scheduled to take place on February 13, one day before race one of the inaugural double-header weekend at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit.
As well as graduating from the Sauber Academy along with Lola-Yamaha-ABT’s Zane Maloney upon the conclusion of last year, the Frenchman is also a new test driver for the Peugeot TotalEnergies team in the World Endurance Championship, which fields FE stalwarts Jean-Éric Vergne and Stoffel Vandoorne, as well as Cupra Kiro’s choice for the test, Mikkel Jansen.
Pourchaire has previous experience with an FE car, having tested the then-new GEN3 model in May 2022, and may use the test as a potential inroad into the series in the future, with no race seats currently in the offing in any other category.
In a statement, Pourchaire said: I’m really proud to have this opportunity with Maserati MSG Racing. Maserati is an iconic car brand and I’m very happy to be working with Maserati MSG Racing – the team has done fantastic work in the past.
“I also really like working with new people, everyone has made me feel very welcome so far. This will be the first time for me driving a Formula E car during a race weekend and I can’t wait to get out on the Jeddah track, to be in the car and to be working with the team on the ground.
“I’ve done some work with the team in the simulator to prepare myself as well as possible, but nothing compares with the real thing.
“I know the Jeddah track from F2, I’ve raced there three times in the past but on a slightly different configuration and in a very different car but I do think knowing the track a little helps especially when I will be in a new car with a new team.
“Overall, I’m excited to get on track, show what I can do, help the team and hopefully have fun!”
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