Pourchaire, Novalak Join Peugeot for Rookie Test

Peugeot has announced that Theo Pourchaire and Clement Novalak will sample its 9X8 Le Mans Hypercar in next month’s FIA World Endurance Championship rookie test.

The two French youngsters have been chosen by Peugeot to join Paul di Resta and Malthe Jakobsen, who steps up to a race drive with the manufacturer in 2025, for the one-day test on Nov. 3 in Bahrain immediately following the season finale.

Pourchaire, the 2023 Formula 2 champion, will sample a top-level sports car for the first time after a tumultuous season that included short-lived stints in both Japan’s Super Formula series and the NTT IndyCar Series.

“I am very happy to be able to drive the 9X8 with Team Peugeot TotalEnergies in Bahrain,” commented the 23-year-old. “It will be a new experience for me as it will be the first time I drive an endurance car, a Hypercar.

“It’s almost a different sport for me, completely different from what I was used to in Formula 2, as a reserve F1 driver, or in IndyCar.

“I’m excited to discover the FIA WEC World Endurance Championship. I think it’s a dream for every driver to be able to race in this championship one day, especially with the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is the greatest race in the world.

“Having this first experience in endurance racing is fantastic, and I’m looking forward to returning to Bahrain, a circuit I particularly love. It’s a great track with a very powerful car, and it’s an amazing opportunity.”

Unlike his former F2 rival Pourchaire, Novalak already has some endurance racing experience as he made the switch from single-seaters to the European Le Mans Series with the Inter Europol Competition team in the LMP2 class.

He also contested the 24 Hours of Le Mans for the first time with the Polish team, finishing second in class alongside Jakub Smiechowski and Vlad Lomko.

“I am extremely happy to join Team Peugeot TotalEnergies for the Bahrain rookie test,” said Novalak. “It’s an important step in my transition from single-seaters to endurance racing.

“I couldn’t dream of a better team, given its incredible history in the discipline, to make my debut in the Hypercar category.

“I’m really looking forward to learning as much as possible from such an experienced team during what promises to be a very formative and enriching day for me.”

Peugeot’s announcement follows hot on the heels of fellow French marque Alpine announcing that Victor Martins will be part of its line-up for the rookie test.