Media report: Red Bull junior driver Zane Maloney ahead of Formula E test event in Berlin

Formula 2 driver Zane Maloney could take part in a first Formula E test next month. 'The Race' reports that the Barbadian youngster will get an opportunity in a team's electric racer at the official rookie test day after the Berlin E-Prix. Former Formula 1 starter Jack Aitken and Simon Evans, the older brother of Jaguar driver Mitch Evans, could also take part in the test.

Maloney was runner-up in the FIA Formula 3 championship last season and is racing for Carlin in FIA Formula 2 this year, having previously contested several seasons in Formula 4, the Euroformula Open and the Formula Regional European series. In December 2022, Red Bull included him in its development program and its reserve driver squad for the Formula 1 team. Now, a first outing for an as-yet-unknown Formula E team could follow at the rookie test in Berlin-Tempelhof on April 24.

Interest from several Formula 2 drivers - is ETCR champion Tambay testing?

Besides Jehan Daruvala (Mahindra) and David Beckmann (Porsche/Andretti), Maloney would thus be the third driver earmarked for the test day entry list. In addition to them, other Formula 2 drivers could compete in Berlin. Theo Pourchaire (Nissan) and Arthur Leclerc (Venturi, now: Maserati MSG)-pictured below at the 2019 rookie test-gained past experience in the electric formula. They, too, are likely to be sought-after candidates for the 2023 test.

For the Berlin test are also traded former Indy Lights champion Linus Lundqvist, Louis Deletraz and Adrien Tambay. The Frenchman has ties to the ABT team through Cupra, with whom he won the title in the FIA ETCR in 2022. However, the German racing team could also draw on its own DTM squad, in which, in addition to Kelvin van der Linde - who is suspended for the rookie test due to his starters as Robin Frijns' replacement - Ricardo Feller is likely to be an attractive candidate.

Mitch Evans' brother eyeing Jaguar opportunity

Jaguar TCS Racing, meanwhile, could be looking to a familiar name for electric motorsport fans in the cockpit: Simon Evans. The New Zealander is the four-year older brother of Formula E race winner Mitch Evans and a racing driver himself. In 2020, he won the Jaguar one-make cup I-Pace eTrophy. At the time, the constructor promised him a test in Formula E as a prize for winning the title, but that has so far not happened, mainly due to the coronavirus pandemic. Evans' prize could be redeemed in Berlin.

In addition, Hugh Barter (Formula 3), Charlie Eastwood (various endurance series) and one-time Formula 1 starter Jack Aitken, who currently races in the IMSA series, are also said to be currently in negotiations to take part in the rookie test. The final entry list for the test day in Germany is expected to be published in the coming weeks.