- The Nissan team is getting ready to participate in the first race of the category in Brazil, which will take place in the city of São Paulo, on March 25
- Sacha Fenestraz, the French-Argentine driver, talks regarding his arrival in Formula E, how he prepares for each race and what he expects from the e-Prix in the country
South America – Sacha Fenestraz is a special pilot. Young, but with a very interesting trajectory, he debuted in the Nissan Formula E team in the 2021/2022 season.
At 23 years old, Sacha has a rich background as a professional racing driver. He went through Formula 4 in Europe, Formula Renault, in which he was European champion, and Formula 3, being Japanese champion.
After winning your first pole position at the e-Prix, in Cape Town, the Nissan driver reveals the details of the beginning of his racing career and what for him is the best and most fun part of Formula E: “I am fulfilling my dream of racing in a world championship, which has an incredible level”.
Check it out in the interview:
1 – How did you get to Formula E?
It was a big, long step. I started racing in Argentina when I was four years old and spent eleven years racing karts. Then I went to Europe to drive internationally and from there I went into Formula 4 where I did well. My next step was Formula Renault, where I was European champion, and then Formula 3, where I was Japanese champion. I had moved there.
With Nissan, it happened at the last minute. In August of last year, they called me, we started talking regarding the contract and here I am fulfilling another dream of being able to compete in a World Cup like this, because the level is incredible.
2 – Tell us regarding Nissan in motorsport and Formula E
Nissan is a great brand around the world, but it also has great achievements in motorsport. Most of all, in Japan, with the Super GT, and also at Le Mans when they did the 24 hours with the tricycle, let’s say, the three-wheeled car.
And now, in Formula E, he’s been doing a great job in the first few seasons. It’s a very strong team. And in my first year with them, I entered Generation 3, the new stage of Formula E.
3 – What is most fun regarding Formula E?
The most fun thing regarding Formula E is the paddock, it’s the people. The truth is that we have a very good vibe among the drivers. Once several pilots went to dinner together, we laughed a lot, we had a lot of fun.
Obviously on the track it’s something else, we all want to win. It’s very competitive, even more so at this level, where they are all former Formula 1 drivers or former world champions. In other words, the bar is very high. But, off the track, the truth is that we had a lot of fun and that’s the best part of this championship.
4 – How is the training before the race? What can’t be missing?
Well, before the test, the week before, I like to do a lot of sports, like running, going to the gym, to get a little adrenaline going for the week. Elevates motivation and adrenaline for running.
5 – How do you imagine the experience on the Brazilian circuit, where you will race now in March?
Well, Brazil enters its first season in the Formula E world. The truth is that it will be crazy. It’s the first time we’re going there, in Brazil, in São Paulo, the race is going to be incredible.
I have a lot of friends from Argentina who are going to the race, so I’m really looking forward to this weekend.
I haven’t seen the circuit yet, but it’s definitely going to be amazing, and the truth is that we’re all really looking forward to it.
About Nissan in Formula E
Nissan debuted in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Season 5 (2018/2019), becoming the first and only Japanese automaker to participate in the all-electric category.
In Season 7 (2020/2021), Nissan announced its long-term commitment to Formula E and the Generation 3 (Gen3) car era, which runs from Season 9 (2022/2023) until the end of Season 12 (2025/2026) in the all-electric racing category.
With Nissan’s acquisition of the e.dams team in April 2022, the Japanese automaker took full control of its stake in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. And in June 2022, Nissan announced that it would supply its electric powertrain for McLaren Racing throughout the Gen3 era of Formula E.
Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz are the Nissan Formula E Team drivers in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Nissan is competing 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 in all its operations and throughout the life cycle of its products by 2050, the brand intends to electrify all new vehicles sold by the early 2030s, in the main markets. The Japanese automaker intends to use its expertise in transferring know-how and technology between the tracks and the streets, to offer even better electric vehicles to its customers.
About Formula E
Since it was created in 2020, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has been the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint, with investments in certified climate protection projects in all countries hosting its races to offset the emissions of each season.
All cars in the championship are electrically powered, making the series a competitive platform for testing and developing the latest electric powertrain technologies. As a result, the biggest builders on the planet compete with each other on street circuits and Formula E promotes the adoption of sustainable mobility in urban centers, betting on combating atmospheric pollution and reducing the effects of climate change.