Jonathan Engström tops 2024 NXT Gen Cup pre-season testing at Misano
Jonathan Engström topped the official 2024 NXT Gen Cup pre-season test at Misano ahead of the season start with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at the same Italian circuit on April 13-14.
"It feels great to be fastest and we have had two really productive test days with a lot of different conditions. I have worked strategically and built up the speed and confidence on a type of track that I’m not used to. We had worked through more or less everything ahead of the final session and the balance felt great in the car. I’m heading home with really good feeling," said Jonathan Engström, who finished fifth overall in NXT Gen Cup last year.
A total of eight test sessions were held throughout the two days on Tuesday and Wednesday. The junior field completed more than 800 laps in both dry and wet conditions, during daytime and under floodlights, in the 100% electric LRT NXT1 race cars.
"It feels amazing to officially have started the 2024 NXT Gen Cup pre-season and see our new and returning juniors performing really well behind the wheel of our race cars," said Fredrik Lestrup, NXT Gen Cup founder.
"We have had two thoroughly productive test days where our drivers and cars faced a wide array of conditions, giving them a proper first run ahead of our groundbreaking second season. We've got two intense weeks ahead of us before the season start with final preparations and a lot of exciting news, let's do this!"
Dutch racer Calvin de Groot topped seven of the eight sessions and ended up second fastest overall, just 0.137 seconds behind Jonathan Engström's fastest lap time of 2:00.154, despite never having driven the LRT NXT1 race car before.
"I drove from Zandvoort to Misano for 16 hours and arrived just before the session and that makes it even nicer to be in the top. I didn't expect to find the pace so soon, but I got some tips from Ellis (Spiezia, 2023 NXT Gen Cup bronze medalist) and of course from our NXT Gen Cup engineer Tim. I definitely got a taste for more and hope to be back soon," said Calvin de Groot.
Enzo Hallman, who finished fourth overall in NXT Gen Cup last year, claimed the third fastest time, just below six tenths of a second from the top time.
"I got back into the driving quickly, at least in the dry. In the wet I have a bit to work on at the moment – I've never driven the car in a lot of rain before. It's been a good opportunity to develop that part and towards the end I think I got a decent handle on it. I've learned a lot during these two days and I'm really looking forward to the premiere here in two weeks!" said Enzo Hallman.
The dutch duo of Maxim Van den Doel and Lukas Stiefelhagen rounded off the top five, eight and nine tenths of a second from Jonathan Engström's time respectively.
While on track testing was the main focus throughout the two days, the drivers took part in an E-safety course, performed a seat fitting, weigh-in and a comprehensive session with the NXT Gen Cup engineers.
Next up for the NXT Gen Cup drivers is the first race weekend of the 2024 season at Misano on April 13-14, learn more here.
Misano pre-season test days - Combined top ten
1 - Jonathan Engström - SWE - 2:00.154
2 - Calvin De Groot - NED - +0.137
3 - Enzo Hallman - SWE - +0.517
4 - Maxim Van den Doel - NED - +0.780
5 - Lukas Stiefelhagen - NED - +0.932
6 - Emilian Carde - FRA - +0.999
7 - Victor Nielsen - DEN - +1.380
8 - Månz Thalin - SWE - +1.644
9 - Siri Hökfelt - SWE - +2.438
10 - Filip Bartos - CZE - +2.944
Are you interested in joining NXT Gen Cup? Get in touch.
About NXT Gen Cup
The NXT Gen Cup is the world’s first 100% electric junior touring car cup where young female and male drivers race the LRT NXT1, a fully electric race car based on the MINI Cooper SE road car - engineered and built by Lestrup Racing Team. The series races together with Formula E and DTM and is organised through an “arrive and drive” concept, enabling the junior drivers to focus on driving and creating the foundation for a professional racing career.
About Formula E
As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship and the only sport certified net zero carbon since inception, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings dramatic racing to the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities providing an elite motorsport platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers to accelerate electric vehicle innovation. The Formula E network of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters, and host cities are united by a passion for the sport and belief in its potential to accelerate sustainable human progress and create a better future for people and planet.
About DTM
DTM is Europe’s premier and best-known racing series and is celebrating its 40th birthday in 2024. As one the most competitive racing series, DTM features seven prestigious brands in its anniversary season. The DTM has a German core, but a strong international fan base. Races are broadcasted live in 150 territories. The series is also a leader in sustainable motorsport. For the second season, all cars are powered by a sustainable fuel made of 50% renewable components. Not only the cars racing in DTM are in the center of sustainable project. For the events itself the ADAC as promoter of the DTM offers innovations like an initiative to reduce plastic waste and a digital carpool solution, which has been recognised and awarded by the FIA.
