The Nissan Formula E Team heads home for the first-ever Tokyo E-Prix this weekend, with the event on the streets of the Japanese capital taking place less than an hour away from the company’s global headquarters.
The event marks Round 5 of the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with the squad in fine form after Oliver Rowland’s excellent double overtake in the last corner of the final lap in Sao Paulo made it back-to-back podiums for the Brit.
Sacha Fenestraz was unlucky to miss out on the points in Brazil but returns to familiar surroundings in Tokyo, having raced in Japan from 2019 to 2022.
The Nissan Formula E Team will mark the occasion with several special activities and events. The outfit’s two e-4ORCE 04 cars will sport a one-off livery which will highlight its Japanese DNA more than ever before, while 3,000 Nissan employees, fans and guests will sit in eight Nissan-dedicated grandstands around the track.
In addition, several Nissan cars will hit the track on race day in a 30-minute demonstration, with the Nissan Formula E Gen2 car, the Nissan LEAF Nismo RC prototype and the new Nissan ARIYA Nismo all in action.
Formula E’s maiden race in Japan will take place at a 2.6-kilometre urban circuit surrounding the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, commonly known as Tokyo Big Sight.
The action begins this Friday (March 29) with Free Practice. Saturday (March 30) will see qualifying take place before the race itself.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal of the Nissan Formula E Team, said: “The last two race weekends have been really positive for the team. Scoring podiums in both Diriyah and Sao Paulo has given us confidence and we know we have the pace to be competitive.
”To head into our debut home race off the back of these performances is great for team morale, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to compete in Tokyo for the first time.
”We’ve been dreaming of an E-Prix in Japan for a long time, and have been excited for it to come ever since it was announced by the series!”
Second to none
Nissan driver Sacha Fenestraz said: “I’m extremely excited, of course. I did a big part of my career in Japan so going back will be awesome and I cannot wait for the race.”
Fellow driver Oliver Rowland said: “I’m delighted to have secured another podium in Sao Paulo and want to keep this positive form going into the team’s home race next week.
”I’m super-excited to be racing in Japan. I went there a few times in karting, and from what we have experienced at the Nismo Festival, the reception we receive from the fans is second to none, so I’m really looking forward to getting on track.”