“I’m happy to be driving the GR010 HYBRID Hypercar on track for the first time in the official WEC rookie test in Bahrain,” Ogier said. “The simulator session went well; it was nice to work with the team and discover the GR010 HYBRID for the first time. I could already feel that the Hypercar is very different to the TS050 HYBRID which I drove on the simulator last year.
“As everyone knows, it’s a dream of mine to compete in endurance racing in the future and the test in Bahrain is important to learn more about the car and about my own level. It’s a big challenge for me and I’m working hard to be ready for Bahrain, but I’m really looking forward to it.”
The part-time WRC campaign will also allow the Frenchman more time to transform his world-renowned off-road skills into a greater on-track acumen.
“Sébastien Ogier is well-known in the world of motorsport and it will be an honour to host him in Bahrain as he makes his endurance debut,” added FIA WEC CEO Frédéric Lequien. “Our rookie tests are the perfect opportunity for drivers from a wide variety of disciplines to test our WEC machinery and it will be interesting to see how he adapts his rally skills to that of the Toyota Hypercar.”