Antonio Giovanazzi, announced as one of the three FIA WEC nominees and due to run for the post Bahrain race Rookie test with Audi Sport has confirmed to DSC that he is unable to take up the opportunity.

“Unfortunately the timing does not fit with commitments I had already made to Sim work connected to my plans my GP2 season,” said the Italian GP2 frontrunner, racing again in Shanghai for the ESM squad in LMP2.

The decision was taken before the announcement of the end of the Audi LMP1 programme at the end of this season.

Audi Sport meanwhile have confirmed to DSC that despite the cessation of their LMP1 race programme after Bahrain the team will still run at the Rookie test and expect an announcement imminently of a replacement nominee driver.