Via Twitter this afternoon, team principal Andreas Seidl announced that Kevin Magnussen will be taking part in a test on the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona on 10 and 11 November. The Danish driver was part of the McLaren Racing F1 team last season. His father Jan, a Corvette Racing works driver, has raced in the Le Mans 24 Hours 16 times. Magnussen junior had a successful 2014 season with McLaren, including a podium in Australia, but this year he gave up his seat to double world champion Fernando Alonso. He has spent this year as test driver for McLaren but has had no luck in finding a seat in competition. Hence the move from McLaren to Porsche, if only for the forthcoming test.

He won’t be the only hopeful in Barcelona. Oliver Turvey, who is currently racing on the Super GT500 tour in Japan and in Formula E, has been invited too. The British driver already has three Le Mans 24 Hours under his belt, including a class win in LM P2 with Jota Sport in 2014. The third newcomer announced in Barcelona is New Zealander Mitch Evans, who will already have taken the wheel of the 919 Hybrid in Bahrain.

“We decided to give three young drivers the chance to test the 919 Hybrid. The seat fit and simulator preparation is already done. We are looking forward to the test and will see what the future brings,” said Seidl.

As the season draws to an end, a number of teams will be putting new drivers through their paces, a sign that endurance racing is attracting young talent.

Audi and Toyota will join Porsche at the rookie test in Bahrain. Richie Stanaway will be trying the Audi R18 e-tron quattro for size, Sam Bird will be at the wheel of the TS040 Hybrid with Juan Pablo Montoya and Mitch Evans in the Porsche. Team Bykolles will also be giving new drivers a chance in their CLMP1/01-AER.

In LM P2, five teams will be trying drivers for next season. At Signatech Alpine, all eyes will be on Matthew Rao as he takes the wheel of the A450b Nissan while at Strakka Racing, Scotsman Lewis Williamson and Tio Ellinas (from Formule Renault 3.5 with the same team) will be in the hot seat. Team SARD-Morand and KCMG have also announced their presence as have AF Racing who will be making their World Endurance Championship debut at the 6 Hours of Bahrain.

Porsche Team Manthey has confirmed two 911 RSRs and Aston Martin will be running three Vantage V8s in LM GTE but as yet there are no clues as to the drivers. The Bahrain rookie test is scheduled on Sunday 22 November (10:00–12:00 and 13:00–16:00). The final list of participants will be published on Thursday 10 November.

Ticket sales for the 2016 24 Hours of Le Mans will open on Tuesday 3 November for ACO members and Friday 6 November for non-members.

David Bristol / ACO

Translated from French by Emma Paulay

Photo: LE MANS (SARTHE, FRANCE), CIRCUIT DES 24 HEURES, LE MANS 24 HOURS, SATURDAY 13 JUNE 2014, RACE. Talented young driver Oliver Turvey will be eager to return to endurance racing having won the LM P2 class in 2014.