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Autosport

Sport

Mercedes F1 reserve Vesti joins FE Berlin rookie test with Mahindra

Mercedes Mahindra Berlin F2 (Organization) Prema Gabriele Mini the European Le Mans Series

The Danish driver, who finished runner-up in the F2 standings last season with Prema, has most recently competed in the European Le Mans Series as well as conducting a simulator programme for Mercedes.

The 22-year-old will drive for Mahindra on 13 May for a full day of rookie running following the Berlin E-Prix double-header at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit.

“First of all, I’d like to say a big thank you to Fred [Bertrand, team principal] for giving me this opportunity. It’s a great chance to test, and to prove myself as a rookie in a new championship,” said Vesti.

“It’s an amazing opportunity to learn, which is only going to help me grow as a driver. It’s what motivates me, I’m really looking forward to trying the Gen3 Formula E car, which I understand is quite a challenge.

“That’s probably what I like most about Formula E, it is challenging and the fact it’s a competitive world championship that attracts some of the best drivers – and teams – is a great platform for me.”

Vesti will be joined by Indian driver Kush Maini during the test, with the current F2 driver and Alpine F1 Academy member also Mahindra’s reserve driver but yet to sample the Gen3 machine.

The pair join a growing list of drivers set to take part in the rookie test, with Nissan also announcing its drive line-up on Tuesday.

Alice Powell, Envision Racing (Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images)

W Series race-winner Alice Powell will take part in the test for Envision having acted as the team’s test and development driver for several seasons, which has included running aboard the Gen2 machine in Marrakesh and Valencia.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity to take part in the rookie test day in Berlin,” said the 31-year-old, who has previously only done shakedowns in the Gen3 car.

“I’ve been working with the team for a long-time and have completed a lot of simulator work over the past few seasons, so to get the chance to have a full day in the Gen3 on track is going to be really useful for me, and hopefully also for the team.”

Joining Powell will be World Endurance Championship driver Dries Vanthoor, who is competing with BMW M Team WRT this season and will sample Formula E machinery for the first time in Berlin.

Indy NXT driver Caio Collet, who took part in the Misano rookie session with the Japanese manufacturer earlier this month, will return and be joined by current F3 driver Gabriele Mini.

Inaugural and reigning F1 Academy champion Marta Garcia will also sample Formula E machinery for the first time during the test with ERT, having joined up with the team last weekend in Monaco.

Andretti will run current F2 championship leader Zane Maloney and Jak Crawford, while Tim Tramnitz will continue to test for the Abt Cupra team.

Porsche, meanwhile, has confirmed that F2 race winner Dennis Hauger and reigning DTM champion Thomas Preining will run for the German manufacturer in the test.

Further driver announcements for the Berlin rookie test line-up are expected later this week.