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- For first time, rookie drivers will test on track alongside elite teammates
RIYADH: Formula E and the FIA have confirmed the full driver line-up for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship which begins with pre-season testing in the Spanish city of Valencia this week.
For the first time, rookie drivers will also test on the track alongside their elite teammates.
Alberto Longo, co-founder and chief championship officer for Formula E, said: “We are excited to give the very best emerging racing talent the chance to show why they deserve a seat in the championship in the future – by going up against the elite drivers and world champions in Formula E today.”
Formula E’s 22 drivers from 11 teams will return to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo track where, almost a year ago, the new GEN3 car got a mixed reaction.
Since then, the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built has broken all Formula E speed records, while most races saw triple-digit overtakes in the series’ most exciting season yet.
Drivers and teams will return to the track with a more robust understanding of the GEN3 car’s capabilities and a readiness to push its limits even further.
Pre-season testing is the first chance for fans to see drivers in their new teams and car liveries. Only three teams retain the same line-up as last season – TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, DS PENSKE, and NIO 333 Racing – with plenty of high-profile changes. Some notable moves include:
Jehan Daruvala, Maserati MSG Racing – the 2023 Formula E rookie will make the step up to a full-time seat following his success in Formula 2. He was also previously one of three Force India F1 Team winners of the One in a Billion hunt.
Nyck De Vries, Mahindra Racing – De Vries first joined Formula E in 2019 where he immediately showcased his world-class racing ability to take home the FIA Formula E World Champion title. He returns to Formula E with Mahindra Racing after driving for the F1 team Scuderia AlphaTauri.
Lucas di Grassi, ABT CUPRA Formula E Team – the Formula E veteran and former Formula E World Champion will return to ABT CUPRA for the team’s second season.
Nick Cassidy, Jaguar TCS Racing – last season’s runner-up in the world championship now shares a garage with Mitch Evans who finished just two points behind Cassidy in third, creating a formidable pairing.
Oliver Rowland, Nissan Formula E Team – The Brit marks his homecoming to the all-electric series with his return to the Japanese manufacturer.
Sam Bird, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team – English team Neom McLaren complete their all-British driver line up with the seasoned Bird joining the team.
Robin Frijns, Envision Racing – Frijns returns to Envision for Season 10, where he previously spent four years with the customer team and secured a fourth overall in the 2018 to 2019 season.