Lotterer leaves DS Techeetah to complete Porsche driver line up
The DS Techeetah driver leaves his Championship-winning team to join new entrants Porsche alongside Neel Jani ahead of its maiden campaign in Formula E.
Fresh from winning the team's title in the 2018/19 season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in New York City, DS Techeetah driver Andre Lotterer will leave to join Porsche for it's debut season in the all-electric series. The German driver is reunited with long-time Porsche works driver Neel Jani after they both drove for the team in the World Endurance Car Championship in 2017.
“I’m really looking forward to competing for Porsche in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in the 2019/2020 season," said Lotterer.
"I have been part of the Porsche family since 2017 and have lots of great memories of joint successes – particularly when working with Neel.
"We drove together in the Porsche LMP1 Team in 2017, and drove for Rebellion Racing in the WEC these past two years.
"It’s great that we will now be the driver pairing for the Porsche Formula E Team. I’m looking forward to the new task and to the future collaboration with the team.”
After joining the all-electric series in 2017, Lotterer brought home two podiums for Techeetah in his maiden Formula E season and finished in eighth place in the overall standings. Finishing his second campaign in New York City only a few days ago, the German driver claimed another two podiums for DS Techeetah and again finished eighth place in the driver’s standings.
With no prior experience in Formula E, the series is a new venture for Porsche as it takes on the like of Mercedes, BMW and Audi alongside others in the 2019/20 season.
"Neel and André make the perfect driver pairing for Porsche’s works entry into Formula E," said Fritz Enzinger, Vice President Porsche Motorsport.
"[Andre] has been a Porsche works driver for three years and knows the team and Neel really well. And we can only benefit from the experience that André will bring from the past two Formula E seasons.
"We are looking forward to entering our maiden season in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship for the 2019/2020 season with this strong driver pairing.”
Despite good relations with the DS Techeetah squad and team frontman Jean-Eric Vergne, Lotterer will go on to compete against his former teammate and two-time Champion.
“I’ve had such an amazing time with DS Techeetah and I’d like to thank each and every member of the team for the faith they put in me when I joined and for all the great work and unforgettable moments we’ve had together," he said.
"After two years with the team, I was offered a new challenge that I couldn't say no to. I wish everyone the very best and look forward to battle it out from the other side.”
With no replacement announced at DS Techeetah, the Chinese team is looking for the right candidate to join Vergne as the team compete for its second championship title when the season kicks off in Saudi Arabia on November 22.
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