The rookies wasted no time in getting onto the 3.38km Misano circuit for their dedicated 30 minute session. Nine drivers were quick to set a time, but for Nissan’s Caio Collet and Mahindra Racing’s Jordan King it was a slower start as they didn’t set a time until the first 15 minutes had passed.
WATCH: How to watch or stream Formula E's Misano E-Prix weekend where you are
NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard looked rapid, with the 19-year-old getting his first taste of Formula E racing in October last year during the official pre-season testing in Valencia. Barnard was the quickest rookie over the Valencia test, and that pace looked to continue into Misano. Duly, the Brit fired to the top of the times with a 1m18.762s.
Robert Shwartzman of DS PENSKE was quick too, with the Israeli driver having lots of experience around this track – previously living in Misano for some eight years, and considering it somewhat of a home event. He’s driven the Formula E cars before, but this was a successful session as he finished in second with a time 0.154s off Barnard's best.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about all 11 rookies
FIA Formula 2 race winner and current standings leader Zane Maloney was next up in the Andretti ahead of Tim Tranmitz (ABT CUPRA) and Porsche's Matt Campbell. Campbell has more than impressed so far in 2024, with wins at the famed Daytona 24 Hours and Bathurst 12 Hours for Porsche, while he took pole and third position in the FIA World Endurance Championship season-opener in Qatar in March - fifth in Rookie Free Practice here is nothing to sniff at.
It wasn’t an ideal end to the session for the returning Sheldon van der Linde of Jaguar TCS Racing as the South African driver reported a critical error on the team radio. “Yeah, so I just got a warning,” he said. “I slowed down, exited the chicane, had like half the power, so we'll investigate.” He finished the session in 11th as a result of the error with a time of 1m21.791s.
For Jordan King, who will also be replacing Nyck de Vries in the upcoming Berlin E-Prix next month, the Mahindra driver struggled with brakes issues when he finally got himself on track. The Brit will be wanting all the track time he could get for his big Formula E debut in Germany, but the Reserve, Test and Development Driver for the team didn’t get a chance to get many miles in.
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2024 Misano E-Prix Rounds 6 & 7
The Misano E-Prix Round 6 gets underway on Friday 12 April with Free Practice 1 at 17:00 local time.
WATCH: How to watch or stream Formula E's Misano E-Prix weekend where you are
Then it's on to race day on Saturday 13 April as Free Practice 2 kicks off the day at 08:00 local, qualifying follows at 10:20 local with lights out on Round 6 at 15:00 local.
Round 7 gets underway with FP3 on Sunday morning at 08:00 local, with qualifying next at 10:20 and Round 7 itself at 15:00.
View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.