– First appearance of Porsche’s new duo Wehrlein and Müller
– Schall joins experienced Czech driver Jílková for the women’s test
– 99X Electric in Cayenne look for the start of the new season
As the previous year, two female drivers concluded the Porsche 99X Electric test programme on Friday before the new ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season begins in São Paulo in December. At the end of the official pre-season testing in Valencia, Gabriela Jílková and Janina Schall took over the race cars of former World Champion Pascal Wehrlein and his new teammate Nico Müller. While experienced Czech driver Jílková (30) took part in the test sessions for the third consecutive year, 20-year-old German Schall, from Dornstadt in Swabia, made her debut at the wheel of the 99X Electric. Both participated in two dedicated test sessions for female drivers – an initiative by Formula E aimed at reducing barriers for women in motorsport.
Gabriela Jílková
Jílková, who first drove the 99X in Valencia in 2023, has since accumulated more than 470 kilometres of experience in Porsche’s fully electric single-seater. She continues to support the Porsche Formula E Team mainly through simulator work. The driver from Prague also has experience in GT and prototype racing and will compete in the GT4 European Series in 2025, among other categories. Following Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro, Jílková became the second female driver to be part of Porsche’s Formula E roster.
Janina Schall
Influenced by the German racing team of the same name, Schall currently competes mainly on the Nürburgring. She made her debut on the legendary Eifel circuit in 2023, driving a Porsche Cayman in the Rundstrecken-Challenge Nürburgring series. In 2024, she progressed to the NLS endurance championship, where she has since raced various BMW models – including at the iconic 24-hour race. The amateur artistic gymnast began her motorsport career in karting, and alongside racing, she studies automotive engineering in Ulm.
99X Electric in Cayenne look
At the start of the test week in Valencia, which ran from Monday to Friday, the two Porsche 99X Electric race cars of the works team appeared in a special design. In anticipation of the upcoming world premiere of the all-electric Cayenne, they sported the camouflage of the new performance SUV – symbolizing the technology transfer between racetrack and road that has long been a key part of Porsche’s philosophy. The striking Cayenne prototype has already made several public appearances, including with Jílková at the wheel. Since both 99X cars will be shipped directly from Valencia to the season-opening race in São Paulo on 6 December, the team switched back to the familiar livery during the test sessions. The purple and green tones, Purple Sky and Shade Green, reference Porsche’s road-going sports cars. On the race car, they now appear in a matte finish instead of glossy.
Comments on the official test sessions
Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E: « It’s good news that we’re able to return to Valencia after last year’s flooding. With a group photo on Wednesday, the entire paddock paid tribute once again to the victims and those affected. From a sporting perspective, I’m satisfied with our preparation. It’s important to understand that we’re facing several tasks in parallel: completing the final season with the current generation of car as successfully as possible, while at the same time preparing the introduction of the next generation. After the test is before the test – alongside the ongoing simulator work. I’m also pleased with our two female drivers: Gabi is a well-known and reliable asset for us, and Janina has largely met our expectations. The two 99X Electric cars of Nico and Pascal are now well-prepared for their journey to Brazil. And last but not least, I am pleased that Nico has already integrated very well into the team.”
Gabriela Jílková: « It was a successful test day, and I’m very happy that I could join the pre-season test again. Throughout the day, we made significant improvements – not always visible in the lap times, but the data clearly showed we were heading in the right direction. It was a very positive day, and I’m just grateful that I was back in the car again. »
Janina Schall: « I really enjoyed driving the Porsche 99X Electric. It’s quite different from what I’m used to, and it’s very cool to drive this car. Overall, I’m quite happy with the day. In the morning, I focused on getting to know the car and understanding how the team works. During the second session, we concentrated more on performance, and it went really well. I managed to improve my lap times, so I’m very happy with that. «
Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche factory driver (#94): « The test is done for us. It’s been a long week in Valencia with many laps completed, so there’s plenty of data to analyze. We’re happy with how it went and are looking forward to start season 12 in São Paulo on 6 December. »
Nico Müller, Porsche factory driver (#51): « I had a lot of fun out there, really connecting with the team. We’re already working well together and have built a great foundation for the season ahead. I can’t wait to get things started in São Paulo. »
Yannick Bitzer,