FE | Berlin test: Shwartzman on the DS, Ugochukwu makes his debut with McLaren

Formula E is approaching the Berlin stage, one of the historic events of the championship, given that it has been present in the calendar since the first season. As in Misano and in the remaining rounds of the world championship, also in the German capital the riders will be involved in a double header, therefore having to face each other in two different races between Saturday and Sunday.

However, after the ePrix, there will also be another event to follow, namely the test dedicated to rookies only. In fact, Formula E wants to give rookies the opportunity to approach the series from other championships and, over the years, has repeatedly organized a test session in which drivers can try their hand at driving a fully electric car.

At times these tests were useful not only to give the reserves or simulator staff the opportunity to accumulate kilometers with the real car, but on other occasions they also proved important for evaluating young drivers from other categories.

A few days ago, Nissan announced the presence of Gabriele Mini and Caio Collet, who join other interesting names, with Tim Tramnitz and Ricardo Feller with Abt Cupra, Jack Crawford and Zane Maloney with Andretti, Frederick Vesti and Kush Maini with Mahindra, or Dennis Hauger with Porsche. Furthermore, ERT recently chose Marta Garcia from the F1 Academy (and soon also Formula Regional with Iron Dames) as one of its two drivers involved in the test.

Today other announcements arrived, including some confirmations and various news. Robert Shwartzman will once again be at the wheel of the DS Penske together with Jonny Edgar, a young driver who races in the European Le Mans Series after having won the German F4 title in 2020. Shwartzman, reserve for Ferrari in Formula 1 and currently involved in the WEC with the 499P Hypercar of AF Corse will return to the cockpit of the DS single-seater after having already taken part in several test sessions, both last season and during this championship, including the FP0 at Misano dedicated to rookies three weeks ago . In the case of DS, therefore, a new driver like Edgar is joined by a driver who, despite being a rookie, has already accumulated several kilometers on board a Gen 3.

Equally interesting is the McLaren line-up, which features two welcome new entries. The Woking team has in fact announced that Ugo Ugochukwu and Grégoire Saucy will drive during the rookie tests in Berlin on May 13th.

Ugochukwu, originally from New York, United States, is part of McLaren’s young driver program and is currently attempting to climb the ladder to F1 after achieving good results. In his short career, he has already won the FIA ​​OK-Junior European Karting Championship title, as well as other successes in karting before switching to single-seaters. In his first year he achieved a third place in British F4, subsequently improving with a second place in the Italian F4 standings in 2023 and the Euro 4 title.

Ugo Ugochukwu

Photo credit: McLaren

This season, Ugochukwu will compete in Formula Regional, alongside the GB3 Championship programme. His role in the Driver Development program allowed him to spend time in the simulator at the McLaren Technology Center where he was able to test, for now only in the virtual world, the Formula E car. In Berlin, however, he will have the chance to drive that real for the first time.

“I can’t wait to participate in the Rookie Test in Berlin in May with the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. It is an amazing opportunity to take the 04 Nissan e-4ORCE to the track and I am grateful to have had this opportunity thanks to the McLaren Driver Development programme. I am excited to learn and further develop my riding in a different category. I will be working closely with the Bicester team [dove ha sede il team di Formula E] and TCM, to ensure I am as prepared as possible.”

Joining him in McLaren will be Grégoire Saucy. After a few seasons completed in the preparatory categories for Formula 1, Saucy currently participates in the WEC championship with United Autosports, in collaboration with McLaren Motorsport. It will also be his first time behind the wheel of a Formula E car.