Australian F4 champion Luis Leeds among first drivers for S5000 test

John Martin, Luis Leeds and Beau Beaton are the first drivers to be announced for the S5000 driver test and evaluation day, to take place at Phillip Island on Wednesday this week.

Luis Leeds celebrates a race victory at the Australian Grand Prix.

19-year-old Leeds comes fresh from securing his crown as Australian Formula 4 Champion earlier this year, and has a wealth of open wheel experience, having sampled Formula Ford, Australian, German, British, and Mexican Formula 4, as well as Formula Renault and the Toyota Racing Series.

John Martin will make his second outing in the new S5000 car, after taking part in a previous test at Queensland Raceway. Martin has raced in categories such as Formula 3, A1GP and SuperLeague Formula.

Beau Beaton has a decade of experience in Australian superbikes, alongside a long-standing relationship with the K-Tech Irving Vincent team, who are backing his S5000 bid.

Gary Rogers Motorsport, who are operating the series on behalf of promoters, the Australian Racing Group, will take five cars to the private test. More drivers are expected to be announced over the coming week.

This is scheduled as the first of two tests before the series debuts at the Sandown round of the Shannons Nationals, September 20-22. The abridged season will then conclude with a second round at The Bend Motorsport Park, November 15-17.

As announced earlier this week, the series will be headlined by Formula 1 Grand Prix race winner Rubens Barrichello. Motorsport.com has reported that the open-wheel series is also in contention for a support slot at the Australian Grand Prix.