Nissan Formula E has announced Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz as its all-new driver line-up ahead of Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the first campaign of the Gen3 era.
Nato, a Formula E race winner, makes his full-time return to the series with the Japanese manufacturer having competed in the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2022.
The 30-year-old Frenchman had a stellar junior career, winning races in Formula Renault 3.5 Series, GP2 Series and FIA Formula 2, while also taking an overall second place at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2020.
For Fenestraz, next season will mark his first full-time campaign in Formula E, following his debut at the final round of Season 8.
The French-Argentine racer won the Japanese Formula 3 title in 2019 and continues to compete in the country in both Super Formula and the GT500 class of the Super GT championship.
So far in 2022, the 23-year-old has taken victory in both championships and currently tops the Super GT standings.
Tommaso Volpe, general manager, Nissan Formula E, and managing director, Nissan Formula E Team, commented: “This is a significant moment for the team as we commence the Gen3 era, and we are very happy to welcome both Norman and Sacha on board.
“Season 9 will be our first season competing as one team, following Nissan’s acquisition of e.dams earlier this year, and also the beginning of our partnership with McLaren Racing.
“This marks a new era for the Nissan Formula E Team, and we believe that a combination of experience and the opportunity to nurture new talent is the right balance for us.
“In Norman and Sacha, we have found two strong drivers to fulfil our vision. I can’t wait to see them both in action on track in our new Nissan Gen3 car.
“At the same time, I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Sébastien Buemi and Maximilian Günther for all their hard work, commitment and dedication during the last season, which has been a challenging yet a crucial one for us.”
Season 9 (2022/23) will be Nissan’s fifth in Formula E and marks the start of the Gen3 era. With 350 kilowatts (40 per cent more power than in Gen2) and a top speed over 320 km/h, the new cars will be lighter and smaller, enabling faster, more agile, wheel-to-wheel racing.
Nissan races 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 its operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify every all-new vehicle offering by the early 2030s in key markets.
The Japanese automaker aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the racetrack and road for better electric vehicles for customers.