Get ready, racing fans! The World Endurance Championship (WEC) is gearing up for its annual rookie test at the Bahrain International Circuit on Sunday, November 9th – just a day after the thrilling 2025 season finale in Bahrain. This test is a golden opportunity for teams to scout fresh talent and for newly signed drivers to get acquainted with their cars. But who's taking the wheel? Let's dive in!
This isn't just any test; it's a chance for the future stars of endurance racing to shine. Remember the names Fernando Alonso, Sebastien Ogier, and Valentino Rossi? They've all used this very test to get a taste of top-tier prototype racing. It's a proving ground, a launchpad, and a chance to see the next generation of racing legends in action.
So, who's on the roster? Peugeot's 2026 recruit, Nick Cassidy, will be making his official debut with the Stellantis marque, sharing the 9X8 LMH with Alex Quinn and Mathias Beche. Cassidy, a Formula E frontrunner, already has some WEC experience under his belt, having raced a Ferrari 488 back in 2022. He's even had a private test in the 9X8 since announcing his move to Peugeot.
And this is where it gets interesting... Sacha Fenestraz is back with Toyota, taking his first laps in the GR010 Hybrid as part of a dual Super Formula/Super GT program. Ben Barnicoat will also be driving for Toyota in Bahrain, following a test two years ago. The excitement doesn't stop there!
Here's a sneak peek at some of the confirmed drivers:
- AF Corse Ferrari #83: Robert Kubica, Yifei Ye, Philip Hanson
- Aston Martin Thor Team Aston Martin Valkyrie #007: Harry Tincknell, Tom Gamble
- Porsche Penske Motorsport Porsche 963 #6: Kevin Estre, Laurens Vanthoor, Matt Campbell
Factory BMW drivers Charles Weerts and Kelvin van der Linde will get a shot at the M Hybrid V8 at the Sakhir track. Both are primarily from GT racing, so this is a great chance for them to expand their skills. Former Porsche Formula E star Antonio Felix da Costa will also be back in the WEC paddock, driving the Alpine A424 ahead of his 2026 campaign with the Renault-owned brand. Ferrari has nominated Alessio Rovera and Lilou Wadoux for the rookie test as well. Rovera will drive the customer #83 AF Corse entry, while Wadoux will pilot the factory #51 499P.
But here's a detail that might surprise you... Another LMGT3 regular, Mattia Drudi from Heart of Racing, will be stepping up to Hypercar machinery in the Aston Martin Valkyrie. Cadillac has also enlisted its IMSA drivers, Jack Aitken and Ricky Taylor, for the test. The WEC organization has also selected Oliver Gray and Thomas Fleming to participate in the Bahrain test. Gray, who won the ELMS title, will drive the Hypercar title-winning car, and Fleming will get behind the wheel of the LMGT3 title-winning machine.
Controversy Alert: Noticeably absent from the Bahrain rookie test entry list is Porsche, who is leaving the Hypercar class after this year. However, they've given 2024 IMSA GTD Pro champion Laurin Heinrich his first Hypercar outing in the season-ending Bahrain 8 Hours, replacing Michael Christensen in the #5 963 LMDh.
LMGT3 teams will also be in action during the Bahrain test. The full entry list will be revealed in the coming days. Here's a glimpse of the confirmed Hypercar and LMGT3 drivers:
Confirmed Hypercar Drivers:
- Peugeot #93: Nick Cassidy, Alexander Quinn, Mathias Becche
- Peugeot #94: Nick Cassidy, Malthe Jakobsen
- Toyota #7: Sacha Fenestraz, Ben Barnicoat
- Toyota #8: Brendon Hartley, Mike Conway
- BMW #20: Charles Weerts, Kelvin van der Linde
- Cadillac #12: Ricky Taylor, Jack Aitken
- AF Corse Ferrari #83: Alessio Rovera
- Ferrari #50: Lilou Wadoux
- Aston Martin #009: Mattia Drudi
- Alpine #36: Antonio Felix da Costa
- Proton Porsche #99: Dorian Boccolacci
- WEC-nominated: Ollie Gray (Title-winning Hypercar)
Confirmed LMGT3 Drivers:
- AF Corse Ferrari #21: Matias Zagazeta
- Heart of Racing Aston Martin #27: Grey Newell
- WRT BMW #31: TBA
- TF Sport Corvette #33: Salih Yoluc, Charlie Eastwood
- AF Corse Ferrari #54: Nicola Lacorte
- United Autosports McLaren #59: Alexander West
- Iron Lynx Mercedes #60: TBA
- Iron Lynx Mercedes #61: TBA
- WRT BMW #69: Anthony McIntosh
- Proton Ford #77: TBA
- ASP Lexus #78: Martin Berry, Tom van Rompuy, Hadrien David
- ASP Lexus #87: Martin Berry, Tom van Rompuy, Hadrien David
- Proton Ford #88: TBA
- Manthey Porsche #92: Francois Heriau, Richard Lietz
- WEC-nominated: Tom Fleming (Title-winning LMGT3)
What do you think of these driver selections? Are there any surprises? Who are you most excited to see in action? Share your thoughts in the comments below! And don't forget to take the Motorsport.com survey to help shape the future of motorsports coverage!
