Avalanche Andretti's Reserve Driver Beckmann will step in for Lotterer, who will spend the weekend with Porsche's LMDh team preparing for the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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Named as the team's reserve for Season 8 and 9, Beckmann got his first taste of motor racing in karts. In 2012 he won the DMV Kart Championship (KF3 class) and the European Bridgestone Cup. A year later, he was crowned overall winner of the German Junior Kart Championship, beating Mick Schumacher. With this success under his belt, he advanced to Formula 4 in 2015, contesting championships in Germany, where he won the rookie classification, and also in Italy.

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After two years in the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, he switched to the GP3 series, where he finished fifth overall in 2018 with three race wins. Returning to the FIA Formula 3 European Championship, he clinched sixth overall with a string of strong performances. From 2021, he competed in FIA Formula 2.

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“I’m super grateful for the opportunity to step in for André and represent the Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team in Jakarta," said the 23-year-old. "Formula E is an incredibly competitive championship, and I’m excited to showcase my capabilities in this unique racing series. I would like to thank Michael Andretti and the team for trusting me with this responsibility. I’m going to give my best to achieve a successful outcome for everyone involved.”

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Merhi will race for the Mahindra team, alongside Season 3 Formula E champion Lucas di Grassi, from the Jakarta E-Prix next weekend. The team stated that a “mutual agreement” had been reached between Rowland and Mahindra for him to step aside for the next seven races.

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Rowland has plenty of Formula E experience under his belt, with his first race being the 2015 Punta del Este E-Prix and with 64 race entries to his name. In that time he won Round 10 of Season 6 in Berlin, as well as achieving five Julius Baer Pole Positions and six podiums. However, Rowland currently sits 19th in the Drivers’ World Championship standings with nine points to his name in the new GEN3 era.

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Roberto Merhi has a very impressive racing resume. Having raced in Formula 1 with the Manor Marussia F1 Team in 2015, he also had success winning races in various championships including Formula Renault, Spanish F3, British F3 and Formula Renault 3.5 Series. As well as single seaters, Merhi also competes in endurance racing and finished the Asian Le Mans Series Drivers’ Championship in 2020.

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​“I had a chance to drive the M9Electro at the rookie test in Berlin but Formula E is very different to any of the other series I’ve raced in so the learning curve will be steep. But I feel ready, excited and up for the challenge.”

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Over the last four years, Reigle has led Formula E in partnership with Founder and Chairman, Alejandro Agag, and will now move to an advisory role for the remainder of the season to ensure a seamless leadership transition.

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Appointed in 2019, Reigle navigated the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship through the pandemic, built a multi-disciplined executive team and introduced a series of initiatives that underpin Formula E’s strategic position and ongoing development.

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During his tenure, Reigle oversaw the introduction of a new sporting format that has been met with the universal enthusiasm of fans, teams and partners, the launch of the GEN3 car and the implementation of technical, commercial and financial regulations that reinforce the business model of Formula E’s teams and manufacturers.

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The Board of Formula E is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Dodds as CEO, starting 5 June. Dodds joins from Virgin Media O2 and will lead the next phase of Formula E's growth as the first electric motorsport world championship and driving force behind sustainability in elite sport.

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Dodds has a proven track record in building dynamic media businesses. He served as Chief Operating Officer at Virgin Media O2 for the past two years and prior to that he held leadership positions at Virgin Media as COO, Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer. He also spent two years living and working in the Netherlands as CEO of telecoms business Tele2.

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Dodds has held executive roles at Callaway Golf and Honda, while today he sits on the board of the disability equality organisation, The Valuable 500, and is a Non-Executive Director of the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

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Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman, Formula E, said: “I am pleased to welcome Jeff Dodds as Chief Executive Officer ahead of an exciting phase for Formula E as we build upon the success of Season 9. Jeff brings a proven track record of dynamic leadership and impressive execution to Formula E, and the Board looks forward to him unlocking the full potential of Formula E, for the benefit of our fans, teams, manufacturers, partners and stakeholders.

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“I would like to thank Jamie for his leadership over the last four years and welcome his support over the remainder of the season. I enjoyed partnering with Jamie to build upon my founding vision while reimagining the definition of success for Formula E.  It has been a pleasure working with him and I look forward to welcoming him back at Formula E races in the future.”

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Jeff Dodds, Chief Executive Officer, Formula E, said: “I am thrilled to take on the role of CEO at Formula E. My passion for automotive, sport and entertainment means I am incredibly excited about this opportunity. Formula E is a unique platform that blends cutting-edge technology with the world’s most sustainable sport, providing endless potential for innovation and positive change. There is a world-class team at Formula E and I am excited to lead them into the next chapter, shaping the future of motorsport and redefining what is possible.”

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Jamie Reigle said: “It has been an honour leading Formula E for the last four years. I was initially attracted to Formula E’s unique position as a sport at the intersection of innovation, sustainability and electric mobility.

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​"What I found was far more ambitious and humbling; a passionate group of people committed to building a global sport while changing the world. This mission continues under new leadership and as someone who benefitted from a partnership with Alejandro I’m happy to support Jeff before reverting to life as a passionate Formula E fan.”

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A league table recording the positions gained by every driver will be revealed immediately after each of the eight remaining races. The driver finishing the season with the most positions gained across all 16 races will be named the ABB Driver of Progress for Season 9.

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The new award will spotlight Formula E drivers who demonstrate the highest degree of skill and efficiency, regardless of starting position on the grid or where they finish on the podium and is sure to reveal powerful examples of outstanding competitive driving performance.

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Already this season, fans have seen most of Formula E’s on-track records shattered including the most overtakes in a race (190), lead changes at the line (20), and different race leaders (eight) all achieved in Round 7 of the SABIC Berlin E-Prix double-header race weekend.

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The fastest-ever lap in the series was set in Round 5 at the Cape Town E-Prix. Sacha Fenestraz (Nissan Formula E Team) qualified for pole position with an average speed of 154.987km/h, the fastest lap in Formula E history. In the next race, the 2023 Julius Baer São Paulo E-Prix, Sérgio Sette Câmara (NIO 333 Racing) set the fastest top speed in a Formula E race to-date of 264.1km/h.

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The new GEN3 race car, which debuted in the championship this season, has enabled the 23 drivers who have competed in Formula E this season to demonstrate their world-class capabilities in the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built. The GEN3 is also the first formula car specifically designed and optimised for street racing.

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Jean-Eric Vergne put on a masterclass in timing, poise and pace to clamber through the pack from 22nd to an ultimate seventh spot at the flag, a 15-position gain which saw him become the ABB Driver of Progress winner in Monaco.

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Despite Wehrlein's lack of progress in Round 9, he left Monaco atop the ABB Driver of Progress leaderboard. It's not often the German's been stuck for moves this season. It wouldn't be unexpected for the Porsche driver to continue that trend, rather than repeat the Monaco blip, heading into the second half of the campaign - especially given Porsche's qualifying performances this season.

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Andre Lotterer (Avalanche Andretti) sits second, just two positions gained behind with Vandoorne matching his teammates strides to head from 21st to ninth at the end of the race in Monaco. Vergne himself sits seventh in the running after 15 positions gained in Monte Carlo.

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The test was held exclusively for drivers with no previous experience driving a Formula E car on-track and who hold a minimum International Grade B license. It is designed to encourage new and emerging talent into the world's premier electric racing series, with the chance to showcase their skills in the cockpit of the GEN3.

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Since the last Rookie Test in Marrakesh, 2020, several drivers have made the step up to a full-time race seat; Nick Cassidy (Envision Racing), teammates Sacha Fenestraz and Norman Nato (Nissan), Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren) and Sergio Sette Camara (NIO 333) all took part.

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Test line-ups looked like this:

ABT - Tim Tramnitz, Adrien Tambay

Andretti - Zane Maloney, Linus Lundqvist

DS Penske - Robert Schwartzman, Will Stevens

Envision Racing - Jack Aitken, Jonny Edgar

Jaguar TCS - Simon Evans, Sheldon van der Linde

Mahindra - Jordan King, Jehan Daruvala, Roberto Merhi

Maserati - Felipe Drugovich, Hugh Barter

McLaren - Charlie Eastwood, Luke Browning

NIO 333 - Daniil Kvyat, Mikel Azcona

Nissan - Luca Ghiotto, Victor Martins

TAG Heuer Porsche - Yifei Ye, David Beckmann

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The afternoon's running proved quicker than the morning's with Drugovic, Victor Martins (Nissan), Zane Maloney (Avalanche Andretti) and Luca Ghiotto (Nissan) all inside Sheldon van der Linde's benchmark from the opening session.

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Current DTM champion and sportscar driver van der Linde couldn't replicate his earlier pace and ended up in the wall by the Airplane turn with the right front corner and front wing of his Jaguar I-PACE 6 missing. He wound up in 16th this time around.

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Drugovic is the incumbent F2 champion and his 1m05.509s lap, set towards the end of the three-hour second session of the day, was only 0.208s slower than the quickest time of the SABIC Berlin E-Prix weekend set by Maximilian Guenther - in the same Maserati MSG Racing Tipo Folgore in Free Practice 2. The time also beat any set in either Rounds 7 or 8 proper.

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Reigning FIA Formula 3 champion Martins was a tenth of a second back from Drugovic in the end with FIA Rookie of the Year and current F2 racer Maloney third as the chequered flag was thrown.

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Former F2 driver Ghiotto added the fourth fastest time in the afternoon to the second quickest time he sealed in the morning's running while Scuderia Ferrari reserve driver Robert Schwarzman and Mahindra Racing reserve Jehan Daruvala rounded out the top six runners.

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“My first test was really good,” said Drugovich, who since winning F2 last season, has spent extensive time testing with Aston Martin in Formula 1. “We got through the whole testing program; I did a lot of laps, and I enjoyed every second of being on track."

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“The car was really fun to drive, and I was positively surprised by it. As a driver, it’s important for me to enjoy what I’m driving and the GEN3 definitely exceeded my expectations. The brakes are very different to anything I’ve used before – you have to brake in a different way and use them in a different way which took some getting used to but, at the end of the day, it’s just a car with four wheels, and you always learn to get used to differences and adapt with time.”

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“Formula E is a unique animal,” added the Brazilian. "Comparing it to any other category is like comparing running to riding a bike – they’re completely different. “The best part of today was topping the session, and I hope my work will help the team move forwards this season.”

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Test classification

Gass has a wealth of knowledge across several motorsport championships and is very familiar with Formula E. In his previous role as Head of Audi Motorsport, Gass was responsible for the German manufacturer's successful entry into the championship, with highlights that included Audi being crowned the teams' champion for the 2017/2018 Formula E season.

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As part of his new role, Gass will play a key role alongside Alberto Longo working in partnership with the FIA on sporting and technical matters to ensure the continued growth and long-term objectives and visions of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship are met. As well as maintaining the high standards of technical development that the FIA and Formula E have upheld since inception, he will also work with the FIA and other stakeholders to maintain and implement a well-defined plan for the future.

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"Together with the FIA we have defined a clear roadmap for the sport," said Jamie Reigle, CEO, Formula E about Gass’ appointment. "But then the question is: how does the technology, the race car and adjacent technologies, like charging, serve the vision for the sport? We needed someone with credibility in there who could really drive that agenda for us in partnership with the FIA and make sure that we're delivering an outstanding product."

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Despite only being five rounds into Season 9 and the GEN3 era, work is already underway for GEN4 of the championship, which is set to be introduced from Season 13. Having a figure in place who can liaise with the FIA, teams and manufacturers and look at how potential changes could impact the sporting side, the purpose of the championship, and ‘the show’ - as Reigle describes the increasing entertainment values of events beyond the grid – is crucial.

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"You need the timing to be right. Very clearly, as we look to the back end of the decade, we knew we needed someone strong driving that area for Formula E and advising the FIA. We also wanted someone who has had experience working with manufacturers,” continued Reigle. “We also wanted someone who had experience working with Formula E. As you go through the selection process, that level of credibility and expertise becomes even rarer so we're delighted that Dieter Gass is taking on this challenge."

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As well as working with Formula E over several seasons, Gass also has a tremendous amount of experience working in endurance racing and Formula 1. Gass worked with Toyota F1 from 2001 before changing teams and operating at Lotus as their Sporting Director for the 2010 season.

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"I remember first engaging with Dieter when he was with Audi. Obviously, he's someone with an enormous amount of experience in motorsport, working for a number of manufacturers. He was involved in the Toyota Formula 1 programme, different endurance projects, and then, of course, Formula E. From a pure pedigree perspective, the experience he's had, in terms of developing winning race teams and shepherding the technical projects that attach to those, we're really excited to be able to bring on someone of his calibre."

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Helping nurture and blossom the next stages of the championship, Gass will be a valuable asset as Formula E continues to go from strength to strength.

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​"This is our commitment to make sure that we put the best championship out there," Reigle summarises. "It's also our recognition that, as we mature as a championship, we need to have the very best people within Formula E. Whether it's media distribution, marketing, communications, championship operations, etc. we've invested a lot to strengthen the team and recruit industry leaders from their field. 
 
"This is clearly an area where we felt we could really strengthen and appoint someone who can work closely with Alberto and the FIA on the day-to-day operating the championship on the technical and sporting side, and really level us up. Dieter is our guy and we’re delighted to welcome him to Formula E.”

Next season sees no changes for Jaguar TCS Racing, team that will keep Sam Bird and Mitch Evans in their garage for the start of Gen3 era. Mahindra continues to race this season, and they will keep Oliver Rowland in the team, and have signed 2016/17 champion, Lucas di Grassi. Brazilian racer will replace Alexander Sims who was racing for the Indian manufacturer for the past two years.

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Another team that will be using Mahindra powertrains is the returning Team ABT. Audi's sport division with experience in Formula E and DTM will be back, and with a strong duo - Robin Frijns returns to ABT, after departing from Envision Racing, and Nico Muller who returns to Formula E, after racing for Dragon Penske. They have 91 races between them in Formula E, so ABT will be looking for great results in season nine.

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Envision Racing now have an empty seat, that will be filled by Sebastien Buemi, who will partner Nick Cassidy, after competing for e.dams since the start of Formula E championship (2014). Envision will be changing to Jaguar powertrains next season.

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Buemi leaving e.dams comes from Nissan taking over the team and having a presence as the manufacturer, have signed Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz. Nato will be back in a full-time seat after racing for ROKiT Venturi and Jaguar. Fenestraz will have his first full-season outing as a Formula E racer.

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Another team with a full driver line-up is TAG Heuer Porsche, and they will field Pascal Wehrlein, who remains in the team, with Antonio Felix da Costa being picked up from DS Techeetah. With Porsche scoring their first Formula E win this season, champion from season six will be looking forward to add to Porsche's results.

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With Nissan being a manufacturer, their powertrains will be picked up by McLaren, who have signed three time DTM champion and ex-ABT Formula E racer, Rene Rast. Ian James continues as the team's lead - its Managing Director from September - with McLaren Racing looking for a smooth transition into their inaugural campaign and the Gen3 era, off the back of Mercedes-EQ's double title success which closed out the German manufacturer's time in Formula E.

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The Gen3 is the world’s first race car designed and optimised specifically for street racing. It will debut in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, where some of the world’s greatest manufacturers race wheel-to-wheel on the streets of iconic global cities.

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Developed by engineers and sustainability experts at the FIA and Formula E, the Gen3 is the pinnacle of high performance, efficiency and sustainability. Designed to show the world that high performance and sustainability can powerfully co-exist without compromise, the Gen3 pioneers cutting-edge technologies that will make the transfer from race to road.

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While aerodynamic development programs have been central to driving incremental improvement in motorsport for decades, the launch of the Gen3 propels software engineering forwards as a new battleground for motorsport innovation and competition. Performance upgrades to the Gen3 will be delivered as software updates directly to the advanced operating system built into the car.

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Seven of the world’s leading automotive manufacturers have registered with the FIA to race the new Gen3 in Season 9 of the ABB FIA World Championship with pre-season testing this winter. They are: DS Automobiles, France; Jaguar, UK; Mahindra Racing, India; Maserati, Italy; NIO 333, UK and China; Nissan, Japan; Porsche AG, Germany.

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Design, engineering and production innovations for the Gen3 race car include:

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Performance:

• Fastest Formula E car yet with a top speed over 322 kph / 200 mph.

• Most efficient formula racing car ever with more than 40% of the energy used within a race produced by regenerative braking.

• Around 95% power efficiency from an electric motor delivering up to 350kW of power (470BHP), compared to approximately 40% for an internal combustion engine.

• First-ever formula car with both front and rear powertrains. A new front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the current Gen2 to a total of 600kW.

• Ultra-high speed charging capability of 600kW for additional energy during a race, almost double the power of the most advanced commercial chargers in the world.

• The first formula car that will not feature rear hydraulic brakes with the addition of the front powertrain and its regenerative capability.

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Every aspect of Gen3 production has been rethought, redesigned and rebuilt to ensure the car sets the benchmark for high-performance, sustainable racing without compromise. For example, natural materials have been introduced to tyres, batteries and bodywork construction with life cycle thinking at the core.

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Sustainability:

• Gen3 batteries are among the most advanced, sustainable batteries ever made consisting of sustainably-sourced minerals while battery cells will be reused and recycled at end of life.

• Linen and recycled carbon fibre will be used in bodywork construction for the first time in a formula car featuring recycled carbon fibre from retired Gen2 cars and reducing the overall amount of virgin carbon fibre used. This will reduce the carbon footprint of the production of the Gen3 bodywork more than 10%. All waste carbon fibre will be reused for new applications through adoption of an innovative process from the aviation industry.

• Natural rubber and recycled fibres will make up 26% of new Gen3 tyres and all tyres will be fully recycled after racing.

• The carbon footprint of the Gen3 has been measured from the design phase to inform all reduction measures taken to reduce environmental impact, while all unavoidable emissions will be offset as part of Formula E’s net zero carbon commitment.

• All Gen3 suppliers will operate in line with top international standards to reduce environmental impacts of manufacturing (ISO 14001) and be FIA Environmental Accreditation 3-Star rated.

Nissan’s competition in Formula E supports its long-term commitment to electrification and sustainability laid out in Nissan’s Ambition 2030 plan. The Japanese company outlines the acquisition and taking full control of its Formula E project as the natural next step.

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Nissan entered Formula E back in 2018 in partnership with e.dams, with both companies racing together in the all-electric championship as the Nissan e.dams Formula E Team. In March 2021, the Japanese automaker announced its commitment to the Formula E Gen3 era, which runs from Season 9.

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In partnership with Renault, e.dams took the first three Formula E Teams’ titles and helped Sebastien Buemi to the 2015/16 Drivers' Championship, with a best of second spot overall since combining forces with Nissan. The change in ownership and new management structure will take place with immediate effect. Tommaso Volpe, General Manager of Nissan Formula E, will also become managing director at e.dams.

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“I am delighted that Nissan is taking over e.dams and today we are thinking of Jean-Paul Driot who, together with Nissan, had the vision for the team and helped to develop our partnership," said Volpe. "Since his passing in 2019, Olivier and Gregory Driot took over and made sure the legacy of their father’s success would continue. It has been a pleasure working together and I would like to thank them for their commitment and support."

“This is an important step in our Formula E project. As the pinnacle of all-electric racing, Formula E gives us an engaging global platform from which we can show customers that EVs are not only fun and thrilling, but also that Nissan continues to be at the cutting edge of EV technology. We were happy to enter the sport in 2018 in partnership with e.dams. We have had a strong and successful collaboration, and we have learnt a great deal from their long-term experience in the series. We have a fantastic team in place, and we are looking forward to building on our success and experience together as a team, and to beginning this new chapter in our Formula E involvement.”

When it joins the fold from 2022/23 and the Gen3 era, Maserati will become the first Italian brand to compete in Formula E as it ends a 60-year hiatus from single-seater motorsport. The marque will unite with ROKiT Venturi Racing for the series' next generation, with the Gen3 set to be the fastest, lightest and most powerful and most sustainable electric single-seat race car yet.

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"Uniting with Maserati marks the start of a new chapter and represents the best possible outcome for the team following our successful partnership with Mercedes-EQ," says Susie Wolff, CEO & Managing Partner, ROKiT Venturi Racing. “Being entrusted with the return of one of motorsport’s most recognisable brands to international single-seater competition underlines our success in recent seasons in which we have firmly established ourselves as a commercially viable, race-winning team that can seriously contend for championships. With this commitment, the team is now in a fantastic position to contest Formula E’s next generation of competition which will commence in 2023.”

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ROKiT Venturi Racing heads the way in the Drivers' and Teams' World Championships on the way into Rome, and is looking to consolidate with a strong showing in the Italian capital. Season 7 was the team's best yet in Formula E, with two race wins and five podiums, while Edoardo Mortara finished runner-up in the Drivers' standings.

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“Returning to motorsport with Formula E was a natural choice for Maserati," says Davide Grasso, Maserati CEO. "We are driven by our passion and innovation and we’re happy to share this adventure with a partner that abides by the same values as we do and is looking ahead to the future, just like us. We share with the ROKiT Venturi Racing team the same determination and desire to compete and win on circuits all over the world”.

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Scott Swid, Chairman & Managing Partner, ROKiT Venturi Racing, said: “Partnering with Maserati for Gen3 is brilliant news. It’s excellent for the team, for Maserati and Formula E, but above all else, it’s fantastic news for the fans who will witness the return of an iconic marque to top-tier motorsport. Not only does this establish strong foundations for our long-term future in Formula E, but it also marks one of the most exciting stories in international sport in which a prestigious brand is returning to its roots by joining the most progressive and fastest-growing form of motorsport.”

The agreement will see the two British-based teams join forces for Formula E’s highly-anticipated Gen3 era and the introduction of the sport’s third-generation all-electric racing car – which will set the benchmark for sustainability in high-performance vehicles.

This announcement comes as the interest in Formula E is at an all-time high with record-breaking global TV audiences in Season 7, increasing its cumulative audience to more than 300 million. Combined with expanding race calendar, new manufacturer in Maserati, the team is also generating record commercial revenues.

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Together, the teams have amassed 15 wins and more than 40 podiums between them so collaborating and sharing technical expertise from both camps is set to be a winning formula. As the sport continues to grow its reach, the impact of the technology developed is leading the way for the future of clean mobility from the track to the road.

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Jaguar, a global leader in the manufacturing of luxury electric vehicles, will supply Envision Racing with its new high voltage electric motor, inverter, transmission, cooling system, casing and suspension. Envision Racing secured its first choice with Jaguar after identifying the manufacturer as its ideal partner, because of its innovation and a shared ambition to accelerate the transition to zero emission vehicles.

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“Jaguar and their factory team have been one of our fiercest competitors in Formula E since they joined the Championship in 2016. The team’s advanced powertrain technology and overall commitment to its Formula E programme made them the most attractive option to us. Formula E is one of the fastest growing sports in the world, inspiring and exciting the next generation of motorsport fans in cities across the globe. But more exciting is the fact it is arguably the most collaborative sport in the world because we recognise the role that we can play in solving one of the biggest problems of our time in the race against climate change," said Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director and CTO at Envision Racing.

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James Barclay, Managing Director at Jaguar Land Rover Motorsport said: “I am proud to announce that we will supply Envision Racing with our Jaguar powertrain in Gen3. They are one of the most competitive teams in Formula E and it’s an honour that they were set on using our powertrain technology in this new era of FIA Formula E. We look forward to working and achieving further successes together in the future. I have a huge amount of respect for Sylvain and his team - they are the perfect fit for Jaguar. We are both fully committed to Formula E. The Gen3 era of racing is going to push the boundaries of electric vehicle technology in a high-performance racing environment. Envision Racing will be able to optimise their own software for the powertrain so we remain rivals on track. However, we race to innovate together and I’m excited to see four Jaguar powered Formula E racecars line up on the grid alongside each other next season.”

Thanks to its driveability and safety, as well as its output of up to 560 kW (761 PS), the high performance Taycan Turbo S is the ideal choice for this critical role. With launch control, the flagship model of the Taycan range accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 2.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 260 km/h.

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The car will helm races in the heart of iconic world cities including London, Mexico City, New York City, Berlin, Monaco and Seoul.

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The conversion required the installation of a rollcage and racing bucket seats with six-point seatbelts as well as wire harnesses for the Safety Car lighting and the Marelli Logger System, while flashing lights were integrated into the bumpers. Bruno Correia, the long-standing Formula E Safety Car driver is also equipped with a fire extinguisher and a high-tech communication system in his new office - all set for service, then, in the world's premier electric racing series.

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“We’re proud that Formula E has entrusted a Porsche with this task – one that is important for the safety of its drivers,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Vice President Porsche Motorsport. “With the Taycan Turbo S as the official safety car, we’re making an important contribution to track safety and also underlining the importance of Formula E for Porsche Motorsport."

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"The distinctive design illustrates our commitment to the successful future of this innovative racing series. Although we’re rivals out on the track, we’re spreading this message to the world together. What’s more, we hope that this also enables us to appeal to a younger target audience who are not yet motorsport fans.”

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Designed to be more than just the Formula E Safety Car, the Taycan's striking paintwork flies the colours of the championship's eleven teams and those of the FIA and Formula E - symbolising the commitment of everyone involved in Formula E and the common path towards the future of all-electric motor racing.

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The livery also gives a visual expression of social values such as diversity and community, while the number 22 acknowledges the performance of the 22 drivers set to contest Drivers' World Championship.

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“Formula E is delighted the Porsche Taycan Turbo S will serve as the championship’s Safety Car from Season 8,” says Jamie Reigle, CEO of Formula E. “The Porsche Taycan Turbo S is the pinnacle of high performance electrified vehicles and will light up Formula E city racetracks around the world. In designing the Formula E Safety Car, Porsche reimagined the critical on-track safety function to be a powerful symbol of the championship’s commitment to an electrified future and the unity of the competitors in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.”

The Frenchman, who impressed in his rookie campaign last season at ROKiT Venturi Racing, could count himself unfortunate to miss out on a race seat for Season 8, with Jaguar quick to ensure it is the beneficiary.

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Nato capped his season with a collected race win in the Berlin finale, hitting the front and not looking back from there. His efforts helped deliver Venturi its best points tally in Formula E to-date.

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Jaguar TCS Racing heads into Season 8 after its most successful campaign to-date, with the efforts of Mitch Evans and Sam Bird firing the outfit to second in the Teams' World Championship in 2020/21.

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A new title partner in Tata Consultancy Services, and some structural changes suggest the team has doubled down on its strong footing for 2021/22 ahead of the season opener in Diriyah - the site of Bird's maiden win for Jaguar, and a strong showing in Season 7.

Berlin and Rome will now feature as double-header races in the Season 8 calendar alongside previously ratified races in new locations Vancouver, Jakarta and Seoul and long-standing host cities Diriyah, Mexico City, Monaco, New York and London.

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After a successful pre-season test in Valencia and following consultation by Formula E with the FIA, the WMSC approved updates to the Season 8 sporting regulations, including:

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• The Group stages of Formula E’s new qualifying format - which also features head-to-head knockout Duels - will be increased from 10 to 12 minutes and each driver’s first timed lap must be completed within the first six minutes

• Three points will only be awarded to the pole-winner with the outright fastest lap in all qualifying sessions no longer receiving one point

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The new financial regulations come into force from 1 October next year and will align with the championship’s technical and sporting regulations. Two sets of financial regulations will be introduced, one for Formula E teams and another for Formula E manufacturers.

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Teams:

• The teams financial regulations are comprehensive with limited exclusions, mainly for costs clearly linked to the commercial growth of the championship

• The spending level for Seasons 9 and 10 will be set at €13 million per season with certain transitional exclusions to address existing contractual commitments

• From Season 11, the spending level will increase to €15 million per season inclusive of driver costs and other costs associated with the second phase of the Gen3 car, facilitating continued investment in talent and development

Manufacturers: 

• A separate set of financial regulations will govern manufacturer investment in research and development related to powertrain development

• Manufacturers will operate within a spending level of €25 million over two consecutive seasons starting from Season 9

• Includes costs for research & development, manufacturing activities and ongoing mandatory services to support Formula E teams

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The regulations will be enforced via the FIA’s Cost Cap Administration, which will monitor compliance, investigate instances of suspected non-compliance and update regulatory documentation.

In October and November 2022, Formula E teams will be able to voluntarily submit Season 8 documentation to acclimatise to the new regulations.

The arrival of the legendary Maserati Trident on the grid will mark its return to single seater competition for the first time in more than 60 years. It will make history as the first Italian brand to compete in Formula E.
 

Motorsport and competition is in Maserati’s DNA. The company was born on the track with the Maserati brothers jumping in-car for their racing debut 96 years ago.

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The iconic Maserati Trident badge made its first appearance in the 1926 Targa Florio – an endurance race in the Sicilian mountains – and won its class, with Alfieri Maserati behind the wheel.

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One of the sport’s all-time greats, Juan Manuel Fangio, sealed the Formula 1 World Championship for Maserati in 1957, and the last time one of its single seaters was seen on track was in the hands of Maria Teresa de Filippis – the first woman to qualify for an F1 Grand Prix – in 1958. The brand’s MC12 raced in sports cars in the 2000s, taking 14 titles in FIA GT between 2004 and 2010.

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Maserati CEO Davide Grasso feels the brand’s racing heritage aligns perfectly with the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, and even given Maserati’s history, the marque is eager to put down new roots and signal its intent at the beginning of a new era for the Trident with competition in the world’s first electric motor racing series.

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“We are very proud to be back where we belong as protagonists in the world of racing. We are powered by passion and innovative by nature. We have a long history of world-class excellence in competition and we are ready to drive performance in the future,” said Grasso.

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“In the race for more performance, luxury, and innovation, Folgore – our electrified line and it is the purest expression of Maserati. That’s why we decided to go back to racing in the FIA Formula E World Championship, meeting our customers in the city centres of the world, taking the Trident forward into the future.”

The Gen3 was presented to an exclusive group of Formula E manufacturers, teams, drivers and partners in Valencia, Spain, where pre-season testing is underway for Season 8 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, which begins in January.

While Formula E manufacturers are set to take delivery of Gen3 cars in spring 2022 following further intensive development testing on and off the track, the briefing in Valencia disclosed a series of design, performance and sustainability innovations in the Gen3 car:

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• The world’s most efficient racing car – at least 40% of the energy used within a race will be produced by regenerative braking during the race

• The first formula car with both front and rear powertrains: a new front powertrain adds 250kW to the 350kW at the rear, more than doubling the regenerative capability of the current Gen2 to a total of 600kW

• The first formula car that will not feature rear hydraulic brakes due to the addition of the front powertrain and its regenerative capability.

• An electric motor delivering up to 350kw of power (470BHP), capable of a top speed of 200mph (320 km/h), with a power-to-weight ratio that is twice as efficient as an equivalent 470BHP internal combustion engine (ICE)

• Lighter and smaller than the Gen2 to enable faster, more agile wheel-to-wheel racing

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The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship creates an environment where high performance and sustainability powerfully co-exist. Leading experts in sustainability at the FIA and Formula E worked closely with engineers throughout the development process to ensure the Gen3 sets the benchmark for sustainability in high performance racing cars.

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The Gen3 is the first formula car aligned to Life Cycle Thinking with a clear path towards second life and end of life for all tyres, broken parts and battery cells. In addition:

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• The Gen3 will be net-zero carbon, maintaining the championship’s status as the first sport to be certified as net-zero carbon since inception.

• All carbon fibre broken parts will be recycled by an innovative process from the aviation and aerospace industry into new fibres reusable for other applications

• A pioneering process will deliver 26% sustainable materials into the composition of tyres

• The Gen3 is powered by electric motors that are substantially more efficient than ICEs as they can convert over 90% of the electrical energy into mechanical energy (motion) compared to approx. 40% in high efficiency ICEs

• All suppliers are held to strict sustainability KPIs, notably achieving FIA 3* Environmental Accreditation certification by Season 9

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Jean Todt, FIA President, said: “The new Gen3 Formula E single-seater is a car created at the intersection of high performance, efficiency and sustainability. The work accomplished by the FIA’s teams together with Formula E, since the launch of the discipline eight seasons ago, tirelessly seek to drive innovation and further the development of sustainable mobility. I have no doubt that this new single-seater will elevate Formula E to the next level.”

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Jamie Reigle, Formula E CEO, said: “In designing the Gen3 car, we set out to demonstrate that high performance, efficiency and sustainability can co-exist without compromise. Together with the FIA, we have built the world’s most efficient and sustainable high performance race car.

“The Gen3 is our fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient racing car yet. It is a creature designed for its habitat: racing on city streets in wheel-to-wheel combat. We look forward to witnessing it inspire and excite the next generation of motorsport fans in cities around the world from Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.”

DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT has signed Antonio Giovanizzi to partner the returning Sergio Sette Camara at the team for the 2021/22 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Giovinazzi returns to Formula E proper in Season 8 after a taste of the fully-electric, net carbon zero motor racing championship back in 2018 at the Marrakesh Rookie Test with Virgin alongside Joel Eriksson, where he placed narrowly behind Season 7 champion Nyck de Vries on the timesheets.

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Avalanche Andretti has confirmed that Oliver Askew will make his return to the Michael Andretti-led motor racing stable, joining Jake Dennis at the team for the 2021/22 Formula E campaign. Askew becomes the first American to compete full-time in Formula E and the only driver heralding from Stateside on the Season 8 grid. He joined Andretti Autosport’s Indy Lights team in 2019. He claimed seven wins, seven poles and 15 podiums on his way to win the 2019 Indy Lights Championship with Andretti. Askew made his IndyCar debut in 2020 competing in 12 races and scoring one podium. Most recently, the young American recorded starts in both IndyCar and IMSA, sealing a win, five top-five finishes, and six top-10 finishes throughout his time on track in 2021.

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British racer Dan Ticktum will race for NIO 333 this season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship alongside longstanding NIO driver Oliver Turvey. Dan Ticktum joins NIO 333 following two seasons in FIA Formula 2. Ticktum won his home event at Silverstone in his rookie season, securing three further podiums. He has added two race wins to his tally in the 2021 campaign so far, where he sits fourth in the standings. Adam Carroll continues as the team's development and reserve driver, and will make his debut on-track in Formula E at next week's pre-season test.

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With these signings, Formula E entry list currently looks like this:

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Envision Racing - Robin Frijns, Nick Cassidy

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Jaguar Racing - Sam Bird, Mitch Evans

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Avalanche Andretti Autosport - Jake Dennis, Oliver Askew

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TAG Heuer Porsche FE - Andre Lotterer, Pascal Wehrlein

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Mahindra Racing - Oliver Rowland, Alexander Sims

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DS Techeetah - Antonio Felix da Costa, Jean-Eric Vergne

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Mercedes EQ FE - Nyck de Vries, Stoffel Vandoorne

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Nissan e.dams - Sebastien Buemi, Maximilian Guenther

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NIO 333 FE - Oliver Turvey, Dan Ticktum

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ROKiT Venturi Racing - Lucas di Grassi, Edoardo Mortara

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Dragon / Penske Autosport - Sergio Sette Camara, Antonio Giovinazzi

ROKiT Venturi Racing is pleased to announce the promotion of Susie Wolff to the role of Chief Executive Officer with Jérôme D’Ambrosio taking on the role of Team Principal ahead of Season 8 of the FIA Formula E World Championship.

Since joining the team in July 2018, Susie has transformed the Monegasque marque both culturally and commercially by championing diversity and inclusion. With the addition of new ownership in December 2020 lead by Chairman, Scott Swid, the new management team set about redefining the business to create a financially viable racing team.

During Susie’s time as Team Principal, ROKiT Venturi Racing enjoyed its most successful season to date in Season 7 with two victories, five podiums and one vice-World Championship title alongside commercial milestones including the appointment of its very first Title Partner, ROKiT, in 2019 and the successful powertrain partnership with Mercedes-Benz.

Following a three-season tenure in this role, Susie’s progression to the position of CEO marks a natural evolution. After taking on the role of Deputy Team Principal in 2020 and working closely alongside Susie in Season 7, Jérôme is prepared to take on the task ahead.

As one of only four drivers to contest every Formula E race from Seasons 1-6, and having already made his mark in his first year of team management, Jérôme will draw on his wealth of motorsport experience to lead ROKiT Venturi Racing and continue to build on the success of Season 7.

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“I’m grateful to the team for entrusting me with this opportunity. As Susie’s successor as Team Principal, I know that I have big shoes to fill and I’m someone who has always relished a new challenge. Over the past 12 months, I have learnt a lot from Susie, and I believe that together, we will continue to make an incredibly strong team. This team dynamic resulted in us achieving our most successful campaign to date which is a fantastic foundation to build upon for the future. With Edo and Lucas in the car next season, and after our form from Season 7, the whole team is feeling positive and very motivated to get back out on track, working together towards another successful Championship.”, said Jérôme D’Ambrosio. 

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The new CEO had this to say: “After serving as Team Principal for the past three years, the timing feels right for this change. Since taking on this role in 2018, I have experienced a great sense of pride and achievement from how we have gone from strength to strength as an organisation. Since joining the team last year, Jérôme has made a positive impact and I know that I’m leaving the team operations in very capable hands as Formula E advances towards its third generation of competition in Season 9.”

The new format allows the best teams and drivers to showcase their speed and skill but maintains the possibility of any driver to step up, pull a lap out of the bag and fire themselves up the starting grid.

The Groups stage sees two groups of 11 drivers, ordered based on their Drivers' World Championship position, battling at 220kW to set lap times each in a 10-minute session, with the fastest four from each progressing into the Duels stage. Those eight will then face off in the quarter-finals, competing against one another head to head in a knockout at 250kW over the last eight into the semi-finals and on to the final.

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The winning driver of the final duel takes Julius Baer Pole Position, while the runner-up lines up second. The semi-finalists will line up third and fourth, the quarter-finalists between fifth and eighth - according to their lap times.

The fifth to 12th-placed drivers who competed in the polesitter's group will fill the odd positions on the grid. The corresponding drivers from the other group will be classified in the even grid slots. So, if the polesitter comes from Group 1, the fifth placed driver in Group 1 will line up ninth on the starting grid and the fifth placed driver in Group 2 takes 10th and so on.

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Formula E races can now have additional race time of up to a maximum of 10 minutes added when incidents result in a Safety Car or Full Course Yellow neutralizations during the standard 45-minute plus one lap race. As ratified at July’s WMSC, Formula E’s all-electric Gen2 cars will be able to use 220kW of power in Season 8, an increase from 200kW in Season 7, during races. Power during ATTACK MODE will also increase to 250kW from 235kW in Season 7.

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2022 Calendar:

Round 1 – January 28th  – Diriyah (Saudi Arabia)
Round 2 – January 29th  – Diriyah (Saudi Arabia)
Round 3 – February 12th – Mexico
Round 4 – March 5th – To Be Confirmed
Round 5 – March 19th – To Be Confirmed (China)
Round 6 – April 9th – Rome
Round 7 – April 30th – Monaco
Round 8 – May 14th – Berlin
Round 9 – June 4th – Jakarta
Round 10 – July 2nd – Vancouver
Round 11 – July 16th – New York
Round 12 – July 17th – New York
Round 13 – July 30th – London
Round 14 – July 31st – London
Round 15 – August 13th – Seoul
Round 16 – August 14th – Seoul

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The Vancouver E-Prix is scheduled for Saturday, July 2, 2022, on a track that will see the only FIA certified all-electric World Championship race in front the Rogers Arena in Vancouver’s False Creek neighbourhood subject to FIA homologation and will be sanctioned by ASN Canada.

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More than just a race weekend, the event will see performances from superstar musicians round-off a spectacular three days in Vancouver, British Colombia. Other scheduled events include a conference on climate change and sustainability featuring soon-to-be-announced speakers, a paddock tour for local residents, and a fitness challenge on the False Creek race circuit, which includes the newly-named City Gate Straight.

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Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E, said: “The Canadian E-Fest will be an exciting, dynamic, innovative sports and entertainment event that drives the promotion of electric mobility and the fight against climate change in Canada and around the world. Working with our local partners, we are excited to bring the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to the streets of Vancouver in 2022 and showcase the latest innovations in sustainable technology.”

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Sarah Kirby-Yung, Vancouver City Councillor, said: “Since it was announced that OSS Group had chosen Vancouver to host this fantastic event, we’ve been looking forward to this official launch. We look forward to OSS working with our teams and the local community in delivering an ‘electric’ event experience for Canada Day 2022. Formula E is a win on so many levels, from being a net-zero carbon event that supports sustainable transportation, to being a huge boost for our hard-hit tourism sector, our residents and our local economy.”

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The Canadian E-Fest will take place from June 30 to July 2, bringing awareness to and showcasing environmental leadership with four central pillars: E-Prix, E-Live, E-Volve and E-Sports.

Brit Alice Powell joins Envision Virgin Racing as the team's official simulator and development driver, to aid the team with testing and development work, race preparation and commercial activities.

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The 28-year-old tested with the team in 2020 at the official Season 6 Rookie Test. Powell currently competes in the W Series championship, which she joined in its inaugural 2019 season. In that time, Powell has scored four podium finishes and a victory at Brands Hatch on the way to third in the standings. This season, she currently sits at the top of the Drivers' table.

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Powell was the first female driver to win a Formula Renault championship in 2010, and the first woman to score points in GP3 Series in 2012.

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“I am really happy to be joining the Envision Virgin Racing team”, said Powell. “I have already worked with quite a few of the guys when I did my Rookie Test in 2020 and I am super excited to be part of such a fantastic team. I’ve seen how hard everyone works at the factory and to have this opportunity to help the team, who have a great driver line-up as well in Robin (Frijns) and Nick (Cassidy), is incredible. We have a great car and great drivers, and I am very proud to be able to support the team in the simulator and contribute to the results.”

“I am delighted to welcome Alice to the team; we have already seen her performance and what she can deliver during the Rookie Test she did with us and are very pleased to have her on-board," said Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director and CTO at Envision Virgin Racing.

“She brings with her a lot of skill, determination, and some fantastic experience behind the wheel. I have no doubt that she will constitute a very valuable asset for us, and the team is looking forward to working with her."

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Joel Eriksson will fulfill a long-term goal and make his Formula E debut in Mexico next month (June 19-20) in place of Nico Mueller at DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT.

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Mueller, who clinched the team's maiden Formula E podium in Valencia, is unavailable for the Puebla double-header as a result of DTM commitments, so Eriksson will make the step up from his newly-agreed role as DRAGON's reserve driver for the rest of Season 7.

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“To race in Formula E has always been a dream since the championship started and to be given the chance finally feels kind of unreal,” said the 22-year-old.

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"There’s a lot of work in front of us, but I have a great team behind me, so I know they will do all they can to make me as prepared as possible before arriving in Mexico.

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“This time, it will be challenging as I only have limited mileage in this car. But, my main goal is to make the best out of it and gain as much experience as possible. I do believe that scoring points in the races is absolutely possible if I execute well. I will give it my all to achieve this goal.”

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Eriksson took part in the Season 6 Rookie Test in Marrakesh with the team, and will make his competitive Formula E debut off the back of spells in European Formula 3 - where he was runner up to now-McLaren driver Lando Norris - two seasons in DTM with BMW and a campaign last year in ADAC GT Masters.

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“I am pleased to welcome Joel back to the Team,” said team boss Jay Penske. “He is a valuable resource for the organisation and has tremendous potential to apply his racecraft to the unique demands of Formula E and deliver results for the team on track in Puebla and behind the scenes throughout the rest of the season. I look forward to our first race together.”

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The Chinese manufacturer, owned by Shanghai Lisheng Racing, joined Formula E in Season 6 and introduced their bespoke powertrain package ahead of Season 7 this year, resulting in four points finishes already for the NIO 333 FE Team. It is the only Chinese operation on the grid, representing the nation that manufactures and buys more electric vehicles than any other in the world.

Formula E and the FIA are working together to shape the Gen3 era and deliver a new generation of progress both as a sport and for the future of electric mobility. Gen3 will bring performance and efficiency benefits including more powerful, lighter cars, faster charging and cost controls, all increasing the highly competitive, unpredictable racing that fans associate with Formula E.

333 Racing joins DS Automobiles, Porsche, Nissan and Mahindra as outfits committed to Formula E Gen3, which is set to get underway from Season 9 (2022/23).

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Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, said: “333 Racing Team confirming their intention to compete in the Gen3 era is fantastic news and further evidence of Formula E’s unique position as a global sport, technology proving ground and marketing platform. The team has made a strategic decision to build their own powertrain and control their competitive destiny. We look forward to working with the NIO 333 Formula E Team to develop the next phase of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. As a Chinese owned and operated team, 333 Racing will further our ambition of accelerating a shift to electric mobility in China and beyond.”

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Vincent Wang, CEO of NIO 333 FE Team, said: “We have experienced the development of Formula E since its inception and now, as it blossoms into an FIA World Championship, we welcome the evolution in to its third generation. We joined many meetings with the FIA and Formula E regarding the Gen3 technical roadmap when we joined the Formula E family as 333 Racing last year. We are delighted to join the list of manufacturers that will continue in the series and we expect to see further change as the Formula E develops; metabolism is the objective law of development. Formula E is still the best new-energy racing series featuring sustainable development, worldwide influence and is at the forefront of electric mobility technology innovation - we at NIO 333 Formula E Team are extremely proud to continue to be part of it.”

Nissan today announced its long-term commitment to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship through to the end of Season 12 (2025-2026) of the all-electric racing series. Nissan joined the series in Season 5 as the only Japanese manufacturer. The Gen3 era of the championship begins in Season 9 (2022-23) and will feature even more powerful, faster cars.

Nissan races in Formula E to bring the excitement and fun of zero-emission electric vehicles to a global audience. As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify all-new Nissan vehicle offerings by the early 2030s.

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The Japanese manufacturer aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the race track and road for better electric vehicles for customers.

“Nissan’s vision for cars goes far beyond simply modes of transport,” said Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer. “We aim to design and build electric vehicles that transform the way communities connect and move, and inspire us all to work towards a sustainable society.

"For Nissan, Formula E helps us bring excitement, energy and the environment to the forefront as we deliver this vision of the future to an ever-growing, new, young and diverse audience.”

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“We’ve achieved great results during our first two seasons and renewing our long-term commitment to Formula E is a key step,” said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director.

“We entered the sport with a 'road-to-track' technical transfer approach, and by extending our racing program through the Gen3 era, we have the opportunity to close the circle with 'track-to-road' technical transfer. We believe that, as one of the most global manufacturers involved in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, this sport is the perfect platform to promote our expertise in electrification and demonstrate our commitment to more sustainable mobility solutions.”

French manufacturer DS Automobiles has been a competitor in Formula E since Season 2, partnering with Chinese racing team TECHEETAH since the start of the Gen2 era in Season 5. Together, the duo has become a formidable force on the grid, claiming two consecutive Drivers' and Teams’ Championships, seven race wins and 15 podiums to-date.

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DS Automobiles is the only outfit in Formula E history to have produced two different title winners. Frenchman and DS E-TENSE ambassador Jean-Eric Vergne took the title in Seasons 4 and 5, whilst his Portuguese teammate Antonio Felix da Costa is the reigning Drivers' Champion. The pair will look to make history once again behind the wheel of the DS E-TENSE FE20 in 2020/21 - Formula E's first campaign as an FIA World Championship.

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Formula E provides the perfect platform for DS Automobiles to promote its electrification strategy, and contributes to the marque becoming the car manufacturer with the lowest average CO2 emissions in Europe in 2020. The technology transfer from race track to road can also be traced in the fully-electric DS 3 CROSSBACK and the DS 7 CROSSBACK, DS 4 and DS 9 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

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The work that Formula E and the FIA have done to shape the Gen3 era focuses on delivering a new generation of progress both as a sport - reaffirming Formula E’s position as the pinnacle of electric racing - and in driving the future of electric mobility.

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Gen3 will bring performance and efficiency benefits including more powerful, lighter cars as well as faster charging and cost controls, all adding to the competitive and unpredictable racing Formula E has become known for.

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Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, said:

“DS Automobiles was one of the first manufacturers to join Formula E when teams began developing the powertrains of their racing cars and it is inspiring to see the extensive fleet of electric vehicles they have introduced to the streets since. I am delighted that Formula E's only back-to-back double champions have secured a place on the grid for Season 9 as it reaffirms Formula E’s position as a technological proving ground and marketing platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers. We look forward to breaking new ground during the next phase of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with DS Automobiles.”

Beatrice Foucher, DS Automobiles Director General, said:

“Electrification is at the core of DS Automobiles’ global strategy. We have been the first premium car maker to enter Formula E and our brand has significantly benefitted from the work and the successes of DS Performance, both in terms of development and brand awareness. If today DS Automobiles is the multienergy constructor with the lowest average of CO2 emissions in Europe, it is also thanks to the expertise acquired in Formula E. Extending our commitment to 2026 will offer us new opportunities to continue our development work!”

First up will be a return to the Italian capital of Rome and the EUR district for Round 3 on April 10.

Round 4 set for a new race location, the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, where pre-season testing has taken place for the past three seasons. This first competitive Spanish outing will be on April 24 and will use a new circuit configuration designed especially for Formula E.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will then head to Monte Carlo for Round 5 and the Monaco E-Prix on May 8, marking the fourth biennial race in the principality. 

For Round 6, Formula E returns to the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains in Marrakesh on May 22, racing in Africa at the international circuit Moulay El Hassan for a fifth successive season. The Americas will then play host to a double header, with the Santiago E-Prix providing Rounds 7 and 8 on June 5 and 6.

The current health and safety considerations make the specific organisation of the prestigious Paris E-Prix around Les Invalides too complex in Season 7. Therefore, it has been agreed with the City of Paris to plan instead for the Season 8 edition.

Formula E’s races in Sanya and Seoul will not take place in March and May respectively as originally envisaged. They have been postponed and a decision on these events will be confirmed with the remainder of the calendar in early spring.

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2020/21 updated CALENDAR:

ROUND 1: DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA - February 26

ROUND 2: DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA - February 27

ROUND 3: ROME, ITALY - April 10

ROUND 4: VALENCIA, SPAIN - April 24

ROUND 5: MONACO, MONACO - May 8

ROUND 6: MARRAKESH, MOROCCO - May 22

ROUND 7: SANTIAGO, CHILE - June 5

ROUND 8: SANTIAGO, CHILE - June 6

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The 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will kick off with a Diriyah double-header under the lights on February 26 & 27, with Saudi Arabia playing host to the first all-electric night races. The Diriyah E-Prix will run at 17:00 GMT (20:00 local time), with the next set of races to be confirmed in early 2021.

Formula E will continue to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and is in constant communication with its community of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters and host cities.

All calendar updates depend on travel restrictions, as well as local government protocols and are subject to approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

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Part of McLaren Racing’s ongoing evaluation of potential new motorsport platforms, the agreement provides McLaren the option to enter the championship as one of a maximum 12 entries for the 2022/23 season.

McLaren Racing has formalised its interest in joining Formula E’s team and manufacturer line-up from the new Gen3 era. Gen3 will take to the track from the 2022/23 season, bringing performance and efficiency advances including more powerful, lighter cars and faster charging as well as a set of technical and financial controls aimed at reinforcing the business case for Formula E’s ecosystem of teams and manufacturers.

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McLaren Racing’s interest in Formula E is a validation of the series as the pinnacle of electric racing, both as a proving ground for the top racing teams in the world and as a test bed for the next generation of electric vehicles.

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McLaren Racing is one of the most successful operations in motorsport, enjoying a rich history of success in Formula 1 as well as IndyCar and Le Mans. McLaren Applied is Formula E’s exclusive Gen2 battery supplier under a four-season contract which concludes at the end of the 2021/22 season, after which McLaren Racing will evaluate the potential to deepen its involvement as a competitor in the electric championship.

Alejandro Agag, Founder and Chairman of Formula E, said: “McLaren Racing securing an option to join the Formula E grid from Gen3 is testament to the ongoing impact of our sport. With some of the most famous names in motorsport already competing in Formula E, we are thrilled that McLaren Racing has decided to examine a potential entry to Formula E.”

Zak Brown, Chief Executive Officer of McLaren Racing, said: “We’ve been closely observing Formula E for some time and monitoring the series’ progress and future direction. The opportunity to take an option on an entry and the completion of the McLaren Applied supplier contract with the FIA at the end of Gen2, gives us the necessary time to decide if Formula E is right for McLaren as a future competition platform.”

Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, said: “We are delighted that McLaren Racing, one of the most iconic names in motorsport, has secured an option to join Formula E. McLaren has contributed immensely to Formula E’s success as suppliers of our Gen2 battery systems. We now look forward to working with McLaren Racing to demonstrate the sporting and commercial potential of Formula E and devise ways to elevate the series to a new level, as part of their evaluation.”

Mahindra Racing today announced its commitment to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, becoming the first automotive manufacturer and racing team to sign up for the generation that commences with the 2022/23 season.
 
As Formula E begins its first season as an FIA World Championship, Mahindra has reaffirmed its strong, long-term relationship by committing to the Formula E Gen3 era, starting in 2022. As a team that has so far claimed four E-Prix victories, 18 podiums, and 690 championship points, Mahindra Racing is one of the most consistent and respected outfits on the grid and it has now sealed its long-term future in the series.
 
Mahindra Racing is committed to pushing the limits of technology and innovation in the electric vehicle space and addressing the impact of climate change. The team recently became the first Formula E team to be awarded the FIA Environmental Accreditation Three-Star rating, demonstrating excellence in sustainability practices. The Mahindra Group aims to put half a million electric vehicles on Indian roads by 2025 and believes in Formula E’s ongoing role as an essential proving ground for future race-to-road electric vehicle and sustainable mobility technologies.
 
Gen3 marks a new era of performance and efficiency benefits including more powerful, lighter cars, faster charging and cost controls, all with the aim of increasing the intense and unpredictable racing Formula E has become known for.
 
The car will have a four-year cycle and several key components have already been confirmed by the FIA. After a tender process, Spark Racing Technology will continue to produce a spec chassis for all teams, including the front powertrain kit, Williams Advanced Engineering will create the battery system, which will allow for faster charging, and Hankook Tire and Technology will provide all-weather tyres for the series.
 
The Gen3 Formula E car, which will come in from Season 9, is due to take another step up in power, while being nimble for street racing, all while keeping within agreed operating budgets. The power increase will go up to 350kW in qualifying and 300kW in the races (currently 250kW and 220kW respectively for Gen2), with maximum regenerative braking power between front and rear to 600kW, compared with current max rear regen of 250kW. These significant upgrades will help to deliver even more exciting and unpredictable racing.

Testing will take place every day with the exception of Monday, November 30, with all 12 teams and 24 cars and drivers together for the first, and last time before the trip to Chile that marks the start of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship proper.

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The first two days’ running will be broken into a morning session between 09:00 and 12:00, with an afternoon session taking place between 14:00 and 17:00. Session 5 on Tuesday December 1 will run between 09:00 and 15:00.

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The most competitive line-up in Formula E history

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Teams are signing off their driver line-ups for the forthcoming campaign and it’s shaping up to be the championship’s most competitive grid yet, comprising 12 teams, including 10 manufacturer outfits, and 24 of the best drivers in world motorsport.

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With five different champions and 17 different race winners in six seasons of Formula E to-date, the only thing that will be predictable in 2020/21 is unpredictability.

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Take a look at how things stand up and down the pit-lane at the moment ahead of the new campaign as silly season draws to a close.

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Audi Sport ABT Shaeffler - Lucas di Grassi, Rene Rast

BMW i Andretti Motorsport - Max Guenther, Jake Dennis

Dragon/Penske Autosport - Sergio Sette Camara, Nico Mueller

DS Techeetah - Antonio Felix da Costa, Jean-Eric Vergne
Envision Virgin Racing - Robin Frijns, Nick Cassidy
Mahindra Racing - Alexander Sims, Alexander Lynn
Mercedes-Benz EQ - Stoffel Vandoorne, Nyck de Vries

NIO 333 Racing - Oliver Turvey, Tom Blomqvist

Nissan e.dams - Sebastien Buemi, Oliver Rowland

Jaguar Racing - Mitch Evans, Sam Bird

TAG Heuer Porsche - Andre Lotterer, Pascal Wehrlein
ROKiT Venturi Racing - Edoardo Mortara, Norman Nato

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Track changes

Each of the three visits the championship has made to Circuit Ricardo Tormo so far have seen a chicane added to its layout.

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This season, a decision was made in close collaboration with teams that the chicane would not be used this time around, instead being replaced by track limits sensors.

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“With a short turnaround time between the test and Round 1 in Santiago, it was decided that this would be the best way to go, as the risk of damage to cars and the potential need for replacement parts and repairs is reduced,” explains Fred Espinos, Formula E Sporting Director.

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“For the first time, we’ll be using a track limits system as there are several corners at Valencia where the limits weren’t traditionally respected. It’s important for the batteries’ operating temperatures that limits are adhered to and this system will ensure that.

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“It also means that because we head straight to Santiago for Round 1 in January, that we can lessen the risk of damage to the cars by removing the chicane.”

It will be consisted of nine week esports competition featuring all the teams and drivers from the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, as well as a selection of top gamers.

The world of gaming will allow the entire Formula E community of teams, manufacturers, partners, drivers and fans to be a part of live online races while raising funds for UNICEF to keep children around the world healthy, safe and learning during the coronavirus crisis.

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The partnership will focus on keeping children around the world healthy and learning in the face of coronavirus, with funds being directed to projects such as those contributing to remote learning programmes and the supply of essential protective equipment for hospital staff and care workers on the frontline. 

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Like UNICEF, Formula E has a vision of a brighter future for children and young people, growing up on a cleaner and safer planet. As a global sport with a purpose to counteract climate change by accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles, Formula E is naturally placed to use its platforms to raise awareness of UNICEF’s work to protect children against the effects of coronavirus. 

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Working in partnership with UNICEF, Formula E will launch initiatives to raise funds in support of the global coronavirus appeal. These efforts will build upon an initial donation to UNICEF from Formula E, to make an immediate impact on the charity’s work.

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UNICEF’s comprehensive response to the coronavirus pandemic includes tackling both the primary health and wellbeing of children and young people across the world, and a secondary impact of lost educational opportunities, as well as the discrimination and stigma which come from widespread misinformation.

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Formula E’s donations, fundraising and support in raising awareness of UNICEF’s mission aims to change the lives of children across the world for the better.

Donations from the competition will be directed by UNICEF to comprehensive emergency projects around the world, such as those contributing to the supply of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers and setting up home learning schemes for children currently out of school.

The ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge will feature two separate grids running in parallel, one comprised of drivers from the ABB FIA Formula E Championship and the other one filled by some of the fastest gamers and influencers. The winning gamer will make the transition from the gaming world to secure real-life track time on a Formula E circuit during a race weekend.

Drivers and gamers will compete using rFactor 2 simulator software in a number of online events taking place over a nine-week period from the safety of their own homes. Races will be staged each Saturday beginning with a pre-season test event on April 18, before point scoring commences the following weekend. Points are then accumulated over consecutive race weekends contributing to the overall standings in the build-up to the Grand Final on June 13.

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HOW IT WORKS

The ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge will take place every Saturday for nine consecutive weekends, starting with a non-point scoring pre-season test event on April 18.

The remaining eight events will follow the traditional Formula E scoring system with extra points for Julius Baer pole position and fastest lap. Double points will also be on offer at the final race.

Gamers will need to qualify ahead of each round and set a time using highly reputable rFactor 2 simulation software, which includes the latest generation Formula E car, up-to-date liveries of all the teams and iconic streets tracks such as Hong Kong and Monaco.

The quickest 18 drivers over the course of the set qualifying window, which runs from Monday to Thursday every week, will automatically progress to the main event and be joined by a selection of influencers and familiar faces from the world of motorsport.

The ABB FIA Formula E Championship drivers will also race against one another remotely using the same software, in a simulator provided by Playseat®, wheels and pedals from Fanatec and the latest gaming PCs, monitors, headphones and other peripherals by Asus.

Each driver and gamer will be under extreme pressure to deliver when it counts with a one-lap qualifying system to determine the order of the grid. The online events will use a Race Royale format that is specific to gaming, where the last-placed driver at the end of each lap is eliminated.

The process of elimination will continue until only 10 drivers remain, leaving a single lap sprint to the finish line to decide the points-scoring positions. Both drivers and gamers will carry over their points to the following weekend, with the top-three sim racers automatically qualifying for the next event.
 

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The decision, made in coordination with the relevant local authorities to temporarily freeze races held in highly-populated cities, was taken as the most responsible course of action, due to the continued spread of coronavirus and the World Health Organisation officially declaring COVID-19 a pandemic.

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With the well-being of staff, spectators and the entire championship workforce being the number one priority, precautionary measures put in place will restrict races from running during a set timeframe.

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The series is implementing a flag system traditionally used in motorsport, to determine different phases and time windows where races could be rearranged or remain unaffected. Red representing no races, yellow keeping the opportunity open and green going ahead as planned.

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Months marked as red flags are March and April, with May currently categorised as a yellow flag and both June and July given the green flag, should the situation improve and stabilise.

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As a consequence of the suspension, it will no longer be possible to race in Paris and Seoul, or Jakarta as previously announced on the originally scheduled dates.

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Working in collaboration with the FIA and local authorities in each event location, Formula E will closely monitor the situation and evaluate options to organise and reschedule races following the temporary suspension.

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“Right now is the time to take responsible actions and this is why we have decided to temporarily suspend the season and move forward with introducing measures to freeze races from taking place over the next two months," said Alejandro Agag, Founder & Chairman of Formula E.

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"Motorsport plays a major part in our lives and it is important, but what is more important is the health and safety of our staff, fans and their families, as well as citizens in the cities we race. The ABB FIA Formula E Championship will be back in full force, once the ongoing health crisis and spread of COVID- 19 has subsided,” Agag added.

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As a consequence of the ongoing health emergency in Italy and according to the provisions set out in the ministerial decree concerning measures to counteract and contain the spread of COVID-19 in the country - which includes sporting events with large crowds and spectators in close proximity - it will not be possible to stage the Rome E-Prix on April 4, 2020.

Formula E, in agreement with the relevant authorities in Rome, EUR S.p.A and together with the FIA and Automobile Club d'Italia (ACI), will work closely with championship partners and stakeholders in order to assess and review alternative options to postpone the Rome E-Prix to a later date once restrictions have been lifted.

Boasting one of the most competitive line ups in motorsport – with new additions TAG Heuer Porsche and Mercedes-Benz EQ joining the Mexico grid for the first time – all 24 cars and drivers will make their way around the longer 2.606km circuit in the capital city.

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Heading off the same start/finish line, the first two corners remain the same as previous years, before the pack makes its way around a new Turn 3, which turns left into a new, four turn sequence. 

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Looping back around a hairpin (Turn 5), Turn 6 and 7 lead back onto the familiar layout, with a straight and sharp right-hand bend (Turn 8) leading into the legendary Foro Sol stadium section (Turns 9-13).  

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Once around this, its back through Turn 14 and then into the fully profiled Peraltada curve (Turn 15), which no longer features the chicane, before the pack crosses the start/finish line to complete the lap. 

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After Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler’s Lucas di Grassi snatched the win from Mahindra Racing’s Pascal Wehrlein just meters from the finish, expect even more energy management chaos on the new Mexico circuit on February 15.

After six years and six seasons of racing on the streets of the world's most progressive cities, Formula E gains world championship status, a move granted by the FIA - motorsport's governing body. The moment will see the series recognised as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship from the start of the 2020/21 season, as all teams and manufacturers continue to battle on the streets to advance the adoption of more sustainable mobility.

What started as nothing more than a dream shared by Alejandro Agag and FIA President Jean Todt has grown into the most competitive motorsport championship, boasting a current line up of 12 teams and 24 cars and drivers.  

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The decision to certify the series was taken by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile and sitting members of the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC), who recently voted upon and agreed to move forward with certifying Formula E as a world championship. 

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Founder & Chairman of Formula E Alejandro Agag - alongside FIA President Jean Todt - finalised the agreement together at FIA headquarters at Place de la Concorde in Paris, to officially confirm world championship status for season seven. 

“It was always our ambition to one day become an FIA world championship. Everything we have done and delivered to this point has been working towards this particular moment in time," said Agag. "Achieving the feat and being granted with world championship status adds more credibility to what is already a fully-fledged formula of racing and a spectacular sporting product."

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This agreement and announcement truly puts Formula E in the top tier of international single-seater racing. It has been a tremendous effort from many people involved and none of it would have been possible without the support of FIA President Jean Todt and the federation, as well as the dedication and commitment shown by our teams and partners.

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"Now we can say we have done it. But it is only the beginning of a new chapter under the banner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.” 

Transitioning to the highest level in the FIA sanctioned single-seater hierarchy, means the most competitive line-up of teams and drivers in motorsport will be competing for the newly named ABB FIA Formula E World Championship title next season. 

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“The creation and development of Formula E has been a great adventure. I am proud that today we confirm its FIA world championship status," said Todt. "Since we started this journey, Formula E has undoubtedly gone from strength to strength. Within a short timeframe, the series has proven itself relevant for the automotive industry with two more major car manufacturers having joined the championship at the start of the current season, bringing the total number to 10."

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The commitment and professionalism of those manufacturers and their respective teams is mirrored in the quality of the driver roster, which has improved with every season.

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"Since its first race in Beijing in 2014 and with every E-Prix thereafter, Formula E has proven that the concept of cutting-edge electric racing works. I wholeheartedly welcome Formula E as the latest FIA world championship.”

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The announcement follows Formula E’s most successful season to date - with nine different race winners and growing audience figures - and shortly after the opening two rounds of season six and the much-anticipated arrival of Mercedes-Benz and Porsche at the SAUDIA Diriyah E-Prix.

Penned by Micheal Scully, Head of Design at BMW Motorsport, the BMW i8 Coupe Safety Car pays tribute to the BMW i Andretti Motorsport team's iFE.18 racers, piloted by Antonio Felix da Costa and Alex Sims. The design was developed in close collaboration between Formula E and the BMW Motorsport design team. 

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“As with the BMW iFE.18, the first priority when designing the Safety Car was the top view of the car,” explained Scully. “We have translated the themes found in the design of the BMW iFE.18 to the very different proportions of the BMW i8 Coupe. This livery gives the Safety Car a new dynamism and a bold level of expression appropriate to racing in the streets,” added the design boss. 

With roots in Formula E dating back to the first season, when the German powerhouse joined the series as the Official Vehicle Partner, BMW has since supplied the entire fleet of safety and support vehicles, based on its hybrid i8 Coupe and all-electric i3 city car.

Tuned for the track, the new-look Safety Car is modified using BMW M components, such as a roll bar, rear wing and rear hatch made of carbon fibre and a front splitter on the outside. In the cockpit, sports seats taken from the BMW M4 GTS and a four-point harness keep Safety Car driver Bruno Correia, a roof-mounted signal light system, BMW M carbon ceramic brakes and a sports chassis.