Pourchaire, Novalak Eyeing Peugeot Reserve Role

Theo Pourchaire and Clement Novalak have both declared their interest in Peugeot’s vacant reserve driver role for the FIA World Endurance Championship after making their first outings for the French marque in the Bahrain rookie test.

The two French drivers were both chosen by Peugeot to sample the 9X8 in last Sunday’s test, with Pourchaire completing 19 laps behind the wheel and Novalak 24 laps.

It was Novalak who ended up with the faster lap of the pair with a best of 1:51.670 in the afternoon, a little over a tenth down on the benchmark laid down by Malthe Jakobsen, while Pourchaire set a best lap of 1:51.926.

Speaking ahead of the Bahrain weekend, Peugeot Sport technical boss Olivier Jansonnie clarified that the Satory manufacturer will name a new reserve driver to replace Jakobsen, who steps up to replace Nico Mueller in the race lineup next year.

Pourchaire told reporters he had enjoyed his first experience with Peugeot as he returned to the cockpit of a racing car for the first time since July’s Toronto round of the NTT IndyCar Series, which he contested with the Arrow McLaren team.

“We called a lot of people to find an opportunity,” said Pourchaire. “We made contact with Peugeot and the atmosphere was pretty good. They told me they wanted to test me at the rookie test, and after one meeting we set up everything for Bahrain.

“I did a little bit of simulator and seat fitting with Peugeot at [the factory in] Satory, so I could prepare myself a little bit and arrive ready. Everyone helped me a lot to understand Hypercar, just to learn the basics, because it’s quite different to what I am used to.

“You can see the level is high. There are a lot of manufacturers, proper big teams with a lot of people inside them. For me it’s almost like a different sport, because of the way you have to share the car and work as a team to go quicker.

“The car itself is heavy and powerful. It’s the first time for me to drive a car with a closed cockpit as well, which is something you notice with the visibility and the driving position.”

For last year’s Formula 2 champion Pourchaire, a first experience of the WEC with Peugeot came at the end of a turbulent year in which programs with both Japan’s Super Formula series and IndyCar were both cut short.

He added that his first priority is to find a way to return to full-time competition in 2025, but believes a reserve role with Peugeot could put in the frame for future opportunities to race with the French brand.

“It’s been a tough year, not being able to do a full season, trying to find solutions and opportunities,” reflected Pourchaire. “The WEC is the championship where there are the most opportunities.

“I am for sure looking to drive in a series [full-time] next year, and actually race. As a racing driver you need to feel that pressure, to improve and to stay at a high level.

“Let’s see, but a reserve driver role would be good. It could help me get a full-time seat.”

Novalak’s opportunity with Peugeot follows a first season in sports cars driving for the Inter Europol Competition LMP2 team in the European Le Mans Series and in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, in which he finished second in class.

The one-time F2 race winner described his transition from LMP2 to Hypercar as “seamless” as he set the eighth-quickest lap of the afternoon session.

“It’s a complicated car, quite a steep learning curve in terms of the number of things to remember compared to a P2 car,” said Novalak. “On the whole I think the day has gone well and it has been eye-opening to work with such a big team.

“I don’t come from a background of working with a F1 team and seeing all the different departments and the complexity of a car like this. It’s been a fun day.”

On whether he would find a reserve role with Peugeot appealing, Novalak added: “My main target for next year is to continue racing in LMP2, but on top of that a reserve seat is something you want to keep in touch with the teams here.

“It’s something that pretty much every driver racing in LMP2 looking to go pro is looking for. For myself, if I could dream of anything, it would be a reserve role [in Hypercar] and doing ELMS and IMSA in LMP2.”