Team Peugeot TotalEnergies has revealed that it will run three drivers during next month’s FIA World Endurance Championship ‘Rookie Test’ (9 November), from a multiple 24 Hours of Le Mans podium-visitor to a rising young British talent.
The annual Rookie Test will take place at Bahrain International Circuit the day after the season-closing Bapco Energies 8 Hours of Bahrain. Taking to the wheel of Peugeot’s 9X8 Hypercar – a top three finisher in each of the latest two outings in 2025 – will be Nick Cassidy, Mathias Beche and Alex Quinn.
Formula E front-runner Cassidy will occupy one of the race seats for the French manufacturer from next year, with the upcoming test set to mark his second taste of Peugeot’s prototype, having already sampled it at Texas’ Circuit of The Americas last month.
The New Zealander will be joined in Bahrain by experienced Swiss endurance racer Beche – a driver renowned in the discipline for his sharp technical insight and development skills. The 39-year-old lifted the LMP1-L laurels in FIA WEC’s inaugural campaign in 2014, two years after similarly triumphing in the European Le Mans Series’ LMP2 category. He has reached the rostrum at Le Mans on no fewer than five occasions, and qualified on pole position for the most recent edition of the twice-round-the-clock contest.
Highly-rated young gun Quinn, meanwhile, cut his teeth in single-seater circles before switching to sportscars in 2023. Competing for Algarve Pro Racing, the 24-year-old has finished as runner-up in ELMS’ LMP2 Pro-Am class for each of the past two seasons.
“The Rookie Test is a great opportunity to open our doors to drivers from different backgrounds and to collect valuable feedback on the Peugeot 9X8,” commented Peugeot Sport Technical Director, Olivier Jansonnie. “Nick continues his integration ahead of officially joining the programme in 2026, while Mathias and Alex each bring different experiences – from a young prospect to an endurance veteran. That diversity is a real asset for the team and contributes to our collective progress.”
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