Nissan Formula E introduces all-new drivers for Season 9

MANILA: Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz make up Nissan Formula E’s all-new driver lineup for the Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the first campaign of the Gen3 era.

“This is a significant moment for the team as we commence the Gen3 era, and we are very happy to welcome both Norman and Sacha on board. Season 9 will be our first season competing as one team, following Nissan’s acquisition of e.dams earlier this year, and also the beginning of our partnership with McLaren Racing. This marks a new era for the Nissan Formula E Team, and we believe that a combination of experience and the opportunity to nurture new talent is the right balance for us right now. In Norman and Sacha, we have found two strong drivers to fulfill our vision,” Nissan Formula E General Manager Tommaso Volpe stated.

Nato is a 30-year-old Frenchman who has won in Formula Renault 3.5 Series, GP2 Series, and FIA Formula 2. In 2020, he took the overall second place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

“I’m very happy to be making my comeback as a full-time driver in Formula E with Nissan,” Nato said. “The Gen3 era will be a new chapter for the championship, and I'm excited to prepare for testing and drive the car. The hard work starts now — I have a lot to learn and areas to develop in with the team to be at my best for the first round of Season 9 in Mexico City.”

Fenestraz, on the other hand, is a 23-year-old French Argentine racer who made his Formula E debut at the final round of Season 8. His participation in the Season 9 will be his first full-time campaign in Formula E. In 2019, Fenestraz won the Japanese Formula 3 title. He also won in the Super Formula and the GT500 class of the Super GT championship this year, leading the current Super GT standings.

“It’s a dream come true. It will be a big step forward in my career, to move up into a World Championship for the first time and to be competing at such a high level against some of the best drivers in the world. It's going to be a different challenge for me as it will be my first season in an all-electric car. I’m excited to compete in this championship as street circuits are my favorite, with high risks and no room for errors. As a rookie in a new format, there is a lot of preparation to do and plenty to learn! I've been dreaming of this moment for a very long time, and I am very grateful to Nissan for this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started and I'll do everything to perform as best as I can,” Fenestraz stated.

“Norman has proven to be a very talented driver in Formula E and in other series, and he brings a wealth of experience and skills to the team. As for Sacha, we have monitored his progress and performance over the past few years and have been very impressed,” Volpe said. “We believe he has great potential and that this is the right time to bring him into the team. I am convinced that they will complement each other and the team very well. I can’t wait to see them both in action on track in our new Nissan Gen3 car.”

Volpe also thanked Sebastien Buemi and Maximilian Gunther for representing the team last season.

“Seb in particular has played a big role in the history of our team, after having been with e.dams for eight seasons, four of which with Nissan. We have grown and evolved with him over the years; his tremendous achievements, perseverance and enthusiasm will always be a part of who we are. To have had both Séb and Max as part of our team makes us very proud. We wish them every success in their careers, all the best in their new endeavors, and remain open to future collaborations,” Volpe stated.

In Season 9, the new cars will be smaller and lighter, with 350 kilowatts and a top speed over 320 kph. This will be Nissan’s fifth season in Formula E.

Nissan made its all-electric racing debut in Season 5 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. In Season 7, Nissan declared its commitment to the Gen3 era, which will run from Season 9 to Season 12.

Last April, Nissan acquired the e.dams race team, and last June, the company announced that it will share its Nissan EV powertrain technology to McLaren Racing for the entire Gen3 era.

The cars that will be used by the Nissan Formula E Team are named after the brand’s road electric vehicles. The #23 Nissan Ariya is named after its electric crossover SUV, while the #22 Nissan Leaf is named after its popular electric vehicle.

Nissan’s participation in Formula aims to showcase the thrill and excitement of driving zero-emission electric vehicles. Nissan targets to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050 and electrify every all-new model by the early 2030s in key markets.

Photos from Nissan

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