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The young Brazilian, who topped the timesheets during the Berlin Rookie Test earlier this year, will now get a second chance to impress during Rome’s Rookie Free Practice session. The opportunity, which is exclusively for rookie drivers, will see some of motorsport’s brightest talents navigate the iconic Italian street circuit and find their feet in the electric machinery.
Drugovich already has a great track record as the reigning FIA Formula 2 champion. Over the 2022 season, the Maserati MSG Racing man achieved five wins and 11 podiums to win the feeder series by 101 points to his nearest rival. His skill and talent caught the eyes of teams within F1 too, as he currently holds the role of Reserve Driver at Aston Martin and McLaren.
During his day of testing in Berlin for the Monegasque team in April, Drugovich locked in 99 laps and finished the day with a time that was over a tenth quicker than the rest of the field. The squad have also said his test helped the team collect vital data, which has since seen them win Round 11 in Jakarta.
“My first experience of Formula E in Berlin was very positive, and I found the Maserati Tipo Folgore very fun and rewarding to drive,” Drugovich shared.
“The series is unique in comparison to any other single-seater category, and after discovering the nuances of the GEN3 car earlier this year, I’m excited to continue my own development as a driver in Rome. Representing such an iconic Italian brand in the heart of its capital city will be a very special experience, and I would like to thank the team for their continued support. I can’t wait.”
What classifies as a rookie?
Teams can field someone who's sampled Formula E machinery before, but they must not be drivers included on the Season 9 Entry List, and they must not have competed in a Formula E race in their career before. The idea is to give the best young talent a pathway to race at the very top of the motorsport ladder with a taste of Formula E and the opportunity to impress prospective teams in the world's leading electric race series.
READ MORE: Rookies set for Rome outing
The choices the teams have put forward to Formula E and the FIA will be revealed in the lead up to Rome.