Shwartzman acquired to pattern Ferrari’s Le Mans 24 Hours-winning LMH automotive on the official WEC rookie take a look at in Bahrain final Sunday, simply over a month after scoring his first victory within the GT World Problem Europe sequence in Barcelona.
Finishing 30 laps on the wheel of the #51 Ferrari 499P, the 24-year-old posted a finest time of 1m48.559s to finish the day on the high of the timesheets, beating Jota Porsche’s full-timer Will Stevens by 0.066s.
The Russian-Israeli has examined all kinds of vehicles since exiting Components 2 on the finish of the 2021 season, together with IndyCar, Components 1 and Components E, however this marked his first outing in a prototype sportscar.
Talking after the take a look at, Shwartzman stated his tempo within the Ferrari LMH was proof that he can transfer up the Hypercar class in 2024, and feels he received’t achieve something by persevering with in GTWCE for an additional yr.
“I am open for every thing, so I actually hope that after this take a look at there’s going to be a possibility to attempt the Hypercar and simply race correctly, [and] really feel the entire expertise of endurance racing,” he stated.
“Within the take a look at I’ve proven sufficient that I am absolutely prepared for that automotive and I’ve zero doubt about it.
Picture by: Shameem Fahath
Robert Shwartzman, Ferrari AF Corse
“I am usually very, very fast to adapt to something. Like once I did the IndyCar take a look at, I used to be straight on for the time being and sooner [than everyone else].
“With FE additionally after we did the Berlin take a look at, it was additionally superb there. For me it would not require a lot time. I am a really fast learner and that is what I can say I am happy with.
“So I did a season in GT3. I already [have a] really feel [of] the endurance [format]. I do know kind of how issues work. I do not want one other yr.
“I do not see something that I’ll study greater than I’ve already now. My ambition and goal is clearly to step up subsequent yr.”
Forward of final weekend’s Bahrain 8 Hours, Ferrari said it’s exploring the potential for supporting a 3rd LMH automotive within the full 2024 WEC season, though a remaining determination behind increasing the programme past the 2 manufacturing unit entries is but to be made.
The Italian producer additionally advised that it’s going to not make any modifications to its current driver line-up, which means there will likely be no vacancies in 2024 except an settlement might be reached with a buyer workforce to run an extra LMH automotive with assist from the manufacturing unit.
Shwartzman hopes he will likely be thought-about by Ferrari for the potential third automotive, which may probably be run by AF Corse with backing from Richard Mille.
“I am actually trying ahead to driving with Ferrari in a hypercar so they are going to determine,” he stated.
“I do not know in regards to the third automotive, will they do it, will they not. But when they do I actually hope they are going to contemplate me.
“However I usually hope that particularly after this take a look at that I’ve proven what I’m prepared and I am fast to study something and that they’re going to have an interest.”
Aside from Shwartzman, Ferrari additionally gave manufacturing unit GT driver Lilou Wadoux the possibility to check out the 499P on the Bahrain Worldwide Circuit, with the 22-year-old setting a finest time of 1m49.488s after finishing 30 laps within the automotive.