Formula E

Nissan Formula E Team all set for Season 11 opener in São Paulo

December 4, 2024

5 min Reading

Rowland and Nato looking to set strong benchmark in first GEN3 Evo race

Nissan Formula E Team is ready to kick off the GEN3 Evo era this weekend as the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship gets underway in São Paulo, Brazil. The squad will line-up for Season 11 with Oliver Rowland looking to continue his strong form with the Japanese outfit, alongside the returning Norman Nato.

Last season’s event in São Paulo saw Rowland produce a remarkable double overtake in the final corner of the last lap to secure a brilliant podium finish for the team. The performance was one of many strong showings from the Brit in Season 10, where he took to the podium on seven occasions, including race wins in Misano and London.

It will be the third time that the series visits Brazil, with the São Paulo Street Circuit playing host on each occasion. Saturday’s race will take place on the Anhembi Sambadrome, with the main straight being situated on the venue of the world-renowned Carnival of São Paulo.

The 2.93-kilometre track features 11 turns with three long straights, which are followed by heavy braking zones, offering the best overtaking opportunities into Turns 1, 4 and 7.

Nissan has a strong presence in Brazil, with the 24 year-long relationship set to grow over the coming years. In 2023, in line with the global Ambition 2030 plan, the company announced that it will expand its 2023-2025 investment plan, reaching up to R$ 2.8 billion, to produce two new sports utility vehicles (SUVs) at the facility.

Track action begins on Friday at 16:30 (UTC-3), with qualifying at 09:40 on Saturday ahead of the race at 14:00.

Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “Testing with the GEN3 Evo car was intense but we learned a lot, especially about the new tires and the all-wheel drive system. We’ve worked hard in the past few months and can’t wait to finally being back on track. Brazil is an important market for Nissan, and we have very good memories from our last visit here, with Oli earning us a podium with his stunning last corner double overtake. The São Paulo circuit is very particular, not like many others on the calendar- the layout is high speed, with hard braking and low grip, so it will be a challenge to start the campaign there, especially with the new cars. However, we’re ready and we will aim to start Season 11 in the same way we finished in Season 10.”

Oliver Rowland

“Since pre-season testing in Madrid it’s all been about optimizing the car to ensure the best possible performance this weekend. The different tires have been a key talking point throughout testing and in the lead up to the first event, but I’m confident that we can execute our plan well. We didn’t have the strongest qualifying here last time, but showed excellent pace during the race to make our way onto the podium. I feel confident coming into the weekend, even though it’s not the type of track I normally excel on. If we can qualify well, I think I will be in a strong position to deliver a great result for the team.”

Norman Nato

“It’s going to feel strange starting a new season in December but, of course, I’m looking forward to it! I enjoy the track and the venue, and although I’ve not had the best of luck there in the past, I’m confident I can perform strongly. Testing in Madrid went well but it’s always very different in race conditions, so it will be good to see where we stack up against our competitors. We’ve been working hard to be as ready as we can for São Paulo, trying to understand the new tires, fine tuning set-up for qualifying and races, and tweaking strategies. We will learn much more when we hit the track in Brazil, so I can’t wait to be out there and kick off the season.”

Sérgio Sette Câmara, reserve and simulator driver, Nissan Formula E Team

“It’s great to see São Paulo hosting the opening round of the championship, which is a home E-Prix for me! Brazil is such a massive market and has some of the most passionate motorsport fans in the world, with Formula E growing rapidly here. The race is always an exciting one as the layout allows energy saving which means constant battling. Oli did a brilliant job last year to secure a podium and hopefully we get to see that again around this amazing venue. I can’t wait to start my new role and to be in Brazil with the squad this weekend.”

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