Team Aguri has today confirmed that German racer Rene Rast will make his Formula E debut at the BMW i Berlin ePrix.
Rast is a highly rated endurance and GT driver, with three Porsche Supercup titles to his name. He rose to fame in 2012, winning the GT division of the 24 Hours of Daytona, and has also competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship and 24 Hours of Le Mans as an Audi factory driver.
He stands in for Antonio Felix da Costa, who has prior commitments racing in DTM.
Rast commented: “Driving a Formula E car on the streets of Berlin will be something very special and I’d like to thank the team for this great opportunity. I have been in the simulator for the last few days to get a good feel for the car. While these cars have their own unique demands, I am confident that I can get up to speed quickly and use my experience in energy management to deliver a strong result for the team.”
Leo Thomas, Technical Director at Team Aguri, said: “Rene is a proven and talented racer, who I have a strong relationship with from our time together in endurance racing. He has been working very hard in our simulator to prepare for the race and has made very good progress, so we are confident that he will have a strong race.”
Mark Preston, Team Principal of Team Aguri, added: “There has been a lot of speculation about who would stand in for Antonio and we have been in contact with a number of drivers. While we came close to agreements with some other famous names, Rene’s energy management skills, professional approach and pace made him an obvious choice. We are sure that the fans in Berlin will be very supportive of another home favourite and that he can give his fellow LMP drivers a run for their money. Our thanks go to Audi for providing their permission for Rene to race with us.”
Rast will race with the number #55 car, subject to confirmation from the FIA and Stewards of the event.