Nissan has announced Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz will form its all-new driver line-up ahead of Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the first campaign of the Gen3 era.
Nato, a Formula E race winner back in Berlin, Season 6, makes his full-time return to the series with the Japanese manufacturer, having competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2022 and stepped in at Jaguar TCS Racing as its reserve driver for the injured Sam Bird in Seoul.
“I’m very happy to be making my comeback as a full-time driver in Formula E with Nissan," says the 30-year-old. "The Gen3 era will be a new chapter for the championship, and I'm excited to prepare for testing and drive the car. The hard work starts now - I have a lot to learn and areas to develop in with the team to be at my best for the first round of Season 9 in Mexico City.”
Nato's a Formula E race winner: Berlin, Season 6 while with ROKiT Venturi Racing
For Fenestraz, next season will mark his first full-time campaign in Formula E, following his debut at the final round of Season 8 at DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT - in place of Antonio Giovinazzi, who also missed out of race two through injury. The French-Argentine racer won the Japanese Formula 3 title in 2019 and continues to compete in both Super Formula and the GT500 class of the Super GT championship. So far in 2022, the 23-year-old has taken victory in both championships and currently tops the Super GT standings.
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”It’s a dream come true. It will be a big step forward in my career, to move up into a World Championship for the first time and to be competing at such a high level against some of the best drivers in the world," says Fenestraz. "It's going to be a different challenge for me as it will be my first season in an all-electric car. I’m excited to compete in this championship as street circuits are my favourite, with high risks and no room for errors.
"As a rookie in a new format, there is a lot of preparation to do and plenty to learn! I've been dreaming of this moment for a very long time, and I am very grateful to Nissan for this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started and I'll do everything to perform as best as I can.”
Fenestraz joins off the back of his race debut in Seoul, having impressed in reserve at Jaguar TCS Racing
Nissan's new era
Tommaso Volpe, General Manager, Nissan Formula E, and Managing Director, Nissan Formula E Team: “This is a significant moment for the team as we commence the Gen3 era, and we are very happy to welcome both Norman and Sacha on board. Season 9 will be our first season competing as one team, following Nissan’s acquisition of e.dams earlier this year, and also the beginning of our partnership with McLaren Racing.
"This marks a new era for the Nissan Formula E Team, and we believe that a combination of experience and the opportunity to nurture new talent is the right balance for us right now. In Norman and Sacha, we have found two strong drivers to fulfil our vision.
“Norman has proven to be a very talented driver in Formula E and in other series, and he brings a wealth of experience and skills to the team. As for Sacha, we have monitored his progress and performance over the past few years and have been very impressed. We believe he has great potential and that this is the right time to bring him into to the team. I am convinced that they will complement each other and the team very well. I can’t wait to see them both in action on track in our new Nissan Gen3 car."
Buemi and Guenther's goodbyes
“At the same time, I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Sebastien Buemi and Maximilian Guenther for all their hard work, commitment and dedication during the last season, which has been a challenging yet a crucial one for us," continues Volpe. "Seb in particular has played a big role in the history of our team, after having been with e.dams for eight seasons, four of which with Nissan.
"We have grown and evolved with him over the years; his tremendous achievements, perseverance and enthusiasm will always be a part of who we are. To have had both Séb and Max as part of our team makes us very proud. We wish them every success in their careers, all the best in their new endeavours, and remain open to future collaborations.”