FIA World Endurance Championship driver Thomas Laurent says a switch to single-seaters in Formula 2 is an option next year, and he will test with the Arden team later this month.
Laurent lies third in the WEC LMP1 class with Rebellion Racing, alongside Gustavo Menezes and Mathias Beche, having taken victory in August’s Silverstone race following the exclusion of both Toyotas.
He has raced in GTs since graduating from karting in 2016, but believes now is the right time to sample other machinery as he searches to fill his 2019 calendar with the elongated WEC season now running over two years.
He will drive Arden’s car during the post-season test in Abu Dhabi between November 29-December 1.
“It’s still an option [to switch to Formula 2], the WEC season is really long, I need to have another season in parallel,” Laurent told Motorsport.com.
“Let’s see there is no clash [the F2 calendar hasn’t been revealed yet] and yeah, why not.
“For the moment it’s just a test, there is nothing more after at the moment.
“I just wanted to try something else, I went straight from karting to LMP3, then to LMP2 and LMP1. I need to see something else.
“I think F2 is a good thing to do, let’s see what’s my pace and I hope I do well.”
Despite his success in various sportscar championships, this will be the first time the Frenchman has tested a single-seater in anger since his karting days.
“It will be my first real time [in a single-seater],” confirmed the 20-year-old. “I did a test in Formula 4 when I was 14 or 15 and I was really young, I don’t remember much about it.
“I went to a KZ go-kart [125cc, water-cooled] and it was f***ing rapid and I jumped in the F4 and it was a bit boring. But F2 should be interesting.
“The main work [in the F2 test] will be on management of the tyre, I’ve heard everywhere that the tyres are a bit s**t. I think this will be the main problem to manage. But I will try.”
Source: Read Full Article