As the grid prepares for the start of Season 10 next month, Dan Ticktum has been keeping busy in China with duties for the ERT Formula E team. The Chinese team has undergone a rebrand for the new year, and is ready to embrace its tenth season in the all-electric championship.
Ticktum started his trip to China by visiting a school in Pudong, a district in Shanghai. The country’s biggest city will also soon host its very own Formula E races, when the motorsport series visits for a double-header event during 25 and 26 May. Whilst at the school, Ticktum met with the Special Olympic table tennis players and even took part in a friendly match.
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“It’s great to spend time with Special Olympics athletes because I can feel their passion for sports and see how much effort they’ve put into their training,” Ticktum added about the activity. “I hope to see them at the China race next year.”
Later that day, the ERT driver paid a visit to Shanghai Tower – the tallest building in the city. With incredible views of the special location, Ticktum couldn’t hide his excitement to be racing in China next season: “I love this city, it’s amazing. I can’t wait for Shanghai – and I can only hope we’ll have even more races in China.”
Things didn’t stop there, as in the evening the racer with 32 Formula E starts to his name was invited to Fudan University. Here he engaged in interactive conversation with ESG Club alumni regarding sustainable racing, tech innovation and the upcoming race in China. As well as Fudan alumni, there were also members of the media present as well as industry experts and representatives from Formula E.
While global leaders converged in Dubai for COP28 last week, Formula E, represented by Ticktum, attended the sixth Sino-UK Innovation and Development Forum, themed “Green innovation and inclusive development”, serving as a confluence of ideas, strategies, and ambitions for sustainable development.
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With the likes of The Oxford Technology and Management Centre for Development, Surrey Centre for Innovation and Commercialisation, and giants like Tencent in support, the forum brought together a diverse mix of academics, policymakers, and industry leaders. Their shared goal? To explore and leverage advancements in science, technology, and innovation for sustainable development.
“The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is an elite global sport at the highest international level,” Ticktum summarised, on Formula E's return to China. “By being here, I’m part of something special: net zero since day zero – it’s the perfect combination of sport, innovation, entertainment and sustainability. I can’t wait to see everyone at the China race next year.”
Ticktum also joined Team Principal Alex Hui at the World New Energy Vehicle Congress in Haikou.
"It’s my honor to introduce Formula E and ERT at WNEVC, and communicate with many industry specialists about the relationship between electric racing and electric vehicles," said Hui. "Our mission at ERT is to leverage our Formula E experience to spur advancements in the wider electric vehicle industry. This event provided a valuable opportunity to discuss the potential of racing technology in shaping the future of everyday EVs."