Motorsport TechnologyThe ROKiT Venturi Racing team, partnered by Acronis, begins the 2021 ABB Formula E World Championship season in high spirits at a circuit it has experienced previous success.
Driver Edoardo Mortara finished fourth in Diriyah last time out and is looking forward to a different challenge as 597 low-consumption LED lights will illuminate the Riyadh Street Circuit for the first back-to-back night races.
“I’m looking forward to getting Season 7 underway and it’s great to be back at a race track,” said Mortara. “I think we have a better car this season and we have been working very hard to resolve the issues we faced last year. Early indications show that our pace is better, but it’s always difficult to know how the other teams will perform, especially in a tight and challenging championship like Formula E. There are a lot of unknowns at this stage.
“Having a good start to the season will be crucial and I think a good set of results in Diriyah will act as a nice boost for us as a team. I want to do much better than we have in previous years and my target is to be fighting for the higher positions on the grid. Last season, we were fighting for the lower places in the championship but I would like us to be one of the top six teams this season. On a personal level though, I want to improve my results as a whole.
“The past two seasons have been very consistent but this year, I would like to regularly challenge for podiums and wins if possible. I want to finish inside the top 10 in the Drivers’ Championship at the very least. At this early stage, we know that the competition will be fierce and it’s really up to us as a team to make the best of what we have. We need to go for it this season – it’s as simple as that.”
For new teammate Norman Nato, the 2021 season marks his first as a full race driver with Venturi and the Frenchman is excited to get things started.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very long time and this coming week in Diriyah is very special for me,” added Nato. “I can’t wait to contest my first-ever race in Formula E. We have worked very hard over the winter and we feel ready for the first race of the season.
“The opening round is always important – it’s our first chance to show what we can deliver in terms of performance and that’s very important for confidence. This is a historic moment in what is a new era for Formula E and we can’t wait to go racing again. We feel ready and we will push hard and do our very best as always.”
And for team principal Susie Wolff, there is real reason to feel optimistic going into the season with a new driver pairing and a continuation of the Mercedes-Benz powertrain partnership that begun last season.
“With regards to our hopes for this season, really, there’s only so much that we can learn from three days of pre-season testing in Valencia,” said Wolff. “The real test will come when we’re getting down to business under the lights of the Diriyah street circuit – only then will we see what we can expect in terms of performance this season. Whilst last season wasn’t what we had hoped for in terms of results, we have proven as a team that we can win so with a new driver pairing and our strong powertrain partnership with Mercedes-Benz, we have every reason to feel optimistic.”
Fraser Masefield