2023-07-31 15:43:47
LONDON – The Nissan Formula E Team crowned the 2022/2023 season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with a positive performance at the London E-Prix, with Norman Nato scoring points in both races of the double round.
Facing the track with internal and external sections of the ExCeL Circuit in London, the Frenchman Nato ran well in the 15th Round on Saturday and was heading for a good result, but a five-second penalty relegated him to 9th place, following a chaotic race. Meanwhile, Sacha Fenestraz was involved in an incident mid-race and had to retire.
On Sunday, Nato continued in the same way in qualifying, starting 3rd on the final grid of the season. The delayed start and the wet and treacherous conditions made things difficult for the entire field, but Nato delivered a solid performance once once more, finishing fourth. French-Argentine Fenestraz ended an impressive rookie campaign by finishing 15th.
This weekend’s results put Nato in the top 10 in the final drivers’ standings with 63 points, while Fenestraz finishes 16th with 32. The pair total 95 points, ranking the Nissan Formula E Team 7th in the team rankings.
Tommaso Volpe, General Manager and Head of the Nissan Formula E Team:
“We missed an opportunity in qualifying on Saturday, when the car’s balance was more like oversteer, making life difficult for our drivers. We knew that incidents might happen on this narrow track, which was the case. Norman was fighting in the top 5, doing a very good job before the contact and with chances to finish with a nice result, but the penalty cost him several positions and points. Sacha’s accident was bad luck as he was doing well with energy management, with good pace in the car.”
“Norman presented an excellent performance in the qualifications of the second race. He rode very well securing 3rd place amid difficult conditions, finishing 4th in the race and the season with a positive result. Sacha was unlucky, having been caught in the rain on the final lap of qualifying, which forced him to start in reverse order. On a track where overtaking is so difficult, this prevented him from challenging for points despite his solid pace.”
“Season 9 was our first as builders; it was a big transition for us, but as the year went on we improved and became more competitive. There were some more obvious highlights, like Sacha’s pole in Cape Town, Norman’s podium in Rome and many other positives. We also know where we need to work, we have a clear plan ahead of us, and we’re already looking forward to Season 10!”
Norman Nato:
“I’m really happy to end the season with a positive showing. Yesterday the race was crazy, with the late red flag and the damage at the end. We delivered a good performance, we knew anything might happen and we were unlucky enough to receive the five-second penalty, which cost us several positions. I’m quite satisfied with today’s qualifying – third place was an excellent result and we can be proud of it. It was difficult with the track wet on the outside and dry on the inside. The outside was very slippery and we had to be careful. The pace wasn’t up to fighting for the podium, but I’m satisfied with 4th place to crown the second half of the season”.
Sacha Fenestraz:
“It was difficult to get pace in qualifying all weekend, which hasn’t happened this season. We’ve tried to stay positive all round, but it’s frustrating to end the year outside the points. This has been a strong season as a rookie, with a pole position in Cape Town, fighting at the front of the pack and learning a lot. My thanks to the team for helping me adapt to the category. I hope to have much more to come!”
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 the acquisition of e.dams by Nissan in April 2022, the Japanese automaker took full control of its participation in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
In June 2022, Nissan announced that it will supply its electric powertrain technology to McLaren Racing throughout the Gen3 era of Formula E. Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz form the Nissan Formula E Team’s driver line-up for the 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 across all operations and product lifecycles by 2050, Nissan aims to electrify all new vehicles sold by the early 2030s in all major 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 electric races. , to offset each season’s emissions.
All cars in the championship are electrically powered, making the series a competitive platform for testing and developing the latest electric powertrain technologies.
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.
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