Juncadella to test for Mahindra in Valencia

Nick Heidfeld is unavailable for the final day of the pre-season test at Valencia, so Mahindra will hand Juncadella his first drive in the M4 ELECTRO.

The 2012 European Formula 3 champion has undertaken a race-winning Blancpain campaign this season after being dropped from Mercedes’ DTM line-up, but told Motorsport.com last year he was keen on earning a Formula E opportunity.

The 26-year-old has completed some simulator work for Mahindra in the last few days and will fill in for Heidfeld alongside Felix Rosenqvist on Thursday.  

Mahindra team principal Dilbagh Gill told Motorsport.com: “We are looking to have a third driver this year, I’m not saying he will be – but he is being evaluated for that role.

“We’ve been tracking him for some time.

“We look at good F3 drivers, and Dani’s in a Felix sort of a mould.”

Juncadella’s employer Mercedes will enter FE as a factory team in 2019/20, and has two of its DTM drivers – Edoardo Mortara and Maro Engel – testing for Venturi this week.

Engel drove for Venturi last season while Motorsport.com understands Mortara’s opportunity is a result of Mercedes’ FE interest.

However, Gill stressed that Mahindra’s scouting of Juncadella was an independent venture.

“It’s up to us, it’s nothing to do with Mercedes. If you look at our long-term plans we’d like to have another driver come on board. He’s one of them, it’s not a done deal.”

Mahindra has not tested any other drivers in relation to the reserve driver role and hopes to make a decision in the next month.  

Other drivers vying for FE opportunities this week are BMW’s Tom Blomqvist and Alexander Sims, at Andretti, and Lexus Super GT ace James Rossiter at Venturi.

2017/18 Formula E test line-up: