YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan Formula E Team is prepared for the first double-header of the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as they target the points under the lights in Diriyah.
Following a strong recovery drive in Mexico City which saw Oliver Rowland gain nine places and finish tantalizingly close to the points, he and teammate Sacha Fenestraz are determined to harness the pace of the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 and claim top-10 finishes in Saudi Arabia.
The only night race on the Formula E calendar, the Diriyah E-Prix has earned its place among the most loved events in the series. The street circuit provides a demanding yet exhilarating experience. The high-speed, downhill section between Turns 6-14 requires the utmost concentration and bravery to navigate, while high tire wear means that drivers must carefully regulate how much they push the car. This, combined with the strong chance of accidents and Safety Cars, forces competitors to strike a balance between risk and caution to claim glory.
On-track action begins on Thursday 26 January with Free Practice 1, ahead of Friday's Round 2, with qualifying at 15:20 AST (UTC+3) and the race at 20:00. These times will be repeated for Round 3 on Saturday.
Nissan boasts a strong connection with Saudi Arabia which stretches back to 1957, when the first Nissan vehicles were delivered to the country. Petromin Nissan, the company's official authorized retail dealer in the Kingdom since 2016, represents an important part of this heritage, with extensive operations including 18 showrooms and 16 aftersales centers nationwide. The two brands will look to deepen their collaboration at the Diriyah E-Prix as Petromin Nissan will once again be the team's official innovation partner for the event. Working together, the two marques will demonstrate the commitment to innovation and customer service that they both share.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: "We saw some encouraging signs in Mexico, even though the result was not what we wanted. Oliver and Sacha worked well as a team, showing that we have a strong driver pairing to build on for the season. We know we have a strong car, and our aim for Diriyah is to iron out any issues and ensure we can operate smoothly. The double-header presents us with two opportunities to score points, so our focus will be on learning as much as we can from Friday's race to help us on Saturday, and perfecting our setup for a track that requires agility just as much as top speed. We're excited to be collaborating with Petromin Nissan for the championship's visit to Saudi Arabia once again. They represent a key partner in one of Nissan's most important markets, and we look forward to sharing the excitement of Formula E with their customers during the event."
Sacha Fenestraz, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: "Diriyah is one of my favorite tracks on the Formula E calendar. Its blind corners and low margin for error make it exciting to drive, and I have fond memories of it as I scored my first ever Formula E points there. Though the final result in Mexico was not what we wanted, we showed good pace in qualifying, so our preparation has been focused on bringing this speed into the race. Naturally, double header events are always busy and tiring, but if we can work together to find consistency over the two races then I'm confident that we can come away with a strong haul of points."
Oliver Rowland, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: "The first event in Mexico was all about experience and we ended up with plenty of positives after a good comeback in the race. We'll be looking to maintain that momentum, attacking it with the same relaxed approach. Diriyah is a tough track to overtake on, so we need to maximize our performance in qualifying. Free Practice will be important, to get ourselves in a comfortable place ahead of the rest of the weekend. It's cool to race at night, it's the only one of the season and the show is always great for fans, so I'm excited to get started!"
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About Nissan in Formula E
Nissan made its all-electric racing debut in Season 5 (2018/19) of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, becoming the first and only Japanese manufacturer to enter the series.
In Season 7 (2020/21), Nissan announced its long-term involvement in Formula E and its commitment to the Gen3 era, which will run from Season 9 (2022/23) through to the end of Season 12 (2025/26) of the all-electric racing series.
In April 2022, Nissan acquired the e.dams race team, with the Japanese automaker taking full ownership of its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
In June 2022, Nissan announced it would supply its Nissan EV powertrain technology to McLaren Racing for the entirety of the Formula E Gen3 era.
For Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Nissan Formula E drivers will be Oliver Rowland and Sacha Fenestraz.
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 every all-new vehicle offering by the early 2030s in key markets. The Japanese automaker aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the racetrack and road for better electric vehicles for customers.
About Formula E
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint from inception back in 2020, having invested in certified climate-protecting projects in all race markets to offset emissions from every season of electric racing.
All cars in the championship are powered by electricity, with the series acting as a competitive platform to test and develop the latest in electric technology.
The World's greatest manufacturers race against each other on street circuits and Formula E promotes the adoption of sustainable mobility in city centers in a bid to combat air pollution and lessen the effects of climate change.
Contact
Maria De Juana
Head of Communications, Formula E, Nissan Motor Co.
Phone: +33-6 17 36 37 61
mdejuana@nissan-europe.comOpens in a new window.
