Copyright RACER
The provisional entry list for Sunday’s FIA WEC post-season Rookie Test in Bahrain has been revealed. 26 cars across the two classes will take part as the teams in Hypercar and LMGT3 look to assess talent ahead of the 2026 season and/or gather valuable data for the off-season. Among the names revealed today are full-season Cadillac IMSA GTP drivers Jack Aitken and Ricky Taylor, who will test with Hertz Team JOTA in a V-Series.R across the five hours of track time along with Alex Lynn. “I am looking forward to being a part of it and to get the experience of driving the JOTA Cadillac. My focus is to learn from the team and from GM about the Cadillac that races in WEC with JOTA and how they do things differently to us in the States with WTR,” Taylor said of Cadillac Racing’s “one team” approach. Aitken added: “I think this is going to be another good opportunity for cross-pollination across the Cadillac Racing programs, and I’m keen to again work with Cadillac Hertz Team JOTA after seeing them in action at Le Mans earlier this year.” One driver who was pencilled in to drive with JOTA but is no longer set to travel to the Middle East this week is Connor Zilisch. RACER revealed earlier on Tuesday that the young NASCAR prodigy is unable to test due to missing out on the Xfinity title last weekend in Phoenix. He is, however, understood to be in line to test a V-Series R at Daytona later this month ahead of a potential Rolex 24 start in January. Elsewhere, Aston Martin factory driver Mattia Drudi will gain experience in a Valkyrie and Alessio Rovera has been confirmed at AF Corse to sample the Le Mans-winning No. 83 Ferrari 499P. It will be his first official outing in Hypercar Italian, who recently had his factory contract with Ferrari extended and played a role in the car’s development program. “I’m happy to have the opportunity to put more miles on the 499P, for the first time in an official context such as the FIA WEC Rookie Test,” he said. “I’m happy to be working with the guys at AF Corse, and I’m sure we’ll do a good job, gathering useful data and information.” Lilou Wadoux has also been selected by Ferrari to run in the No. 50 for her second Rookie Test appearance in a Hypercar. At Alpine, Antonio Felix Da Costa will turn laps in an A424 as he builds up to his 2026 race programme with the French manufacturer. And at Proton Competition, Dorian Boccolacci is confirmed to test the team’s No. 99 privately-run Porsche 963. It is the only 963 listed to hit the track the day after Porsche Penske Motorsport’s final Hypercar race outing as the German brand’s factory outfit. Elsewhere, amongst the 14 cars in LMGT3, French Bronze driver François Hériau will test Manthey 1st Phorm’s Porsche ahead of his Asian Le Mans campaign over the winter with the team. Turkish racer Salih Yoluc is also using the chance to prepare for his effort in Asia, he will pair up with Corvette factory driver Charlie Eastwood in TF Sports No. 33 Z06 GT3.R. AKKODIS ASP’s Lexus RC F LMGT3s will be driven by current Iron Lynx driver Martin Berry, TF Sport title contender Tom van Rompuy and Le Mans Cup champion Hadrien David. Garage 59 co-owner Alex West is named in the No. 59 United Autosports McLaren as his team builds up for its WEC debut in 2026. Gray Newell, son of Gabe, will run with Heart of Racing in an Aston Martin and Anthony McIntosh, who has stood out in a part-time programme with Racing Spirit of Leman this year, will test with WRT in a BMW M4 LMGT3. A handful of cars have no drivers listed yet, including the No. 31 Bend WRT BMW, both Iron Lynx Mercedes-AMGs, and the two Proton Competition Mustangs. Additional drivers are set to be confirmed in the coming days.
