Nissan Formula E Team is ready to take on the Shanghai International Circuit for Rounds 10 and 11 of the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship this weekend, as the series returns after a successful debut last year.
Following an excellent victory at home, Oliver Rowland will be aiming to extend his lead in the Drivers’ Standings in Shanghai, where he finished fourth during last year’s opener. In the #17 Nissan e-4ORCE 05, Norman Nato will be aiming to replicate his success from the maiden visit to Shanghai, which saw him take a podium during the second event.
Arriving in China, Nissan leads all three championships, having regained top spot in the Teams’ Standings last time out in Tokyo in front of its home fans.
This will be the series’ second visit to Shanghai and fifth trip to the Red Dragon, having hosted events in Sanya as well as the first ever E-Prix in Beijing. The race in Sanya back in Season 6 saw Rowland take pole position for the team and a second place finish, scoring his maiden Formula E podium.
This weekend’s venue follows the same Formula E specific layout as it did during Season 10. This variation of the Shanghai International Circuit features 12 corners, including the technical looping first corner that gradually tightens as it enters the tricky rolling complex of Turns 2 to 4. The heavy braking zones leading into Turns 6 and 10 are likely to offer the best overtaking opportunities across the two rounds.
The first race of the weekend will be the fourth of the season to feature Pit Boost. Nissan Formula E Team has been successful in the previous events with Pit Boost, taking second place finishes in Tokyo and Jeddah, as well as victory in Monaco.
Rowland and Nato will be on-track from 16:00 (UTC+8) local time on Friday for Free Practice. Qualifying gets underway on Saturday and Sunday at 10:20, with lights out for both races at 15:00.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “We arrive in China leading all three championships thanks to the tremendous work that the team did in Tokyo. I am very proud of how well everyone operated in such challenging conditions to deliver great results both in the wet and in the dry, putting us in a very strong position as we face the second half of the season. The schedule is currently very intense but we’re constantly learning and improving, which is promising. The only question marks heading to Shanghai are the newly resurfaced track and potentially the weather, but we’ve adapted to factors like this well in previous rounds. Our main aims for these two rounds are to consolidate Oli’s lead in the Drivers’ Standings while reinforcing our advantage in the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ Championships. To achieve this we need to score points with both cars, and our ambitions are high for Norman this weekend after the podium he took here last season.”
Oliver Rowland, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “The victory in Tokyo was very special and, overall, it was a great weekend for us. However, with this hectic schedule our focus has quickly shifted to Shanghai. A double-header means we’ll see Pit Boost again and I’ve loved the strategic element of these races, finishing on the podium in all three rounds so far. The circuit in Shanghai has been resurfaced so we’re expecting a lot of grip and I think we may end up with a peloton style event. With the wide track and overtaking easier, the tactic will be to manage energy well and have enough left to battle for position in the closing stages. My aim as always is to get into the duels and score some strong points as we look to extend our leads across the championships.”
Norman Nato, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “I enjoyed the first-ever weekend in Shanghai last season, getting through to the duels for both races, and securing my latest Formula E podium on the Sunday. However, it’s going to be very different from last year with Pit Boost as well as the four-wheel drive Attack Mode. I’m confident as we’ve been strong at permanent tracks throughout this campaign. Turn 1 is challenging with it being a long right-hander and it leads into a twisty section which you must get right on entry. We’re expecting a peloton style race which opens up lots of different strategical opportunities. Now that we’ve passed the halfway stage of Season 11, every point matters massively in helping the team to maintain its advantage in the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ Standings.”
Sérgio Sette Câmara, reserve and simulator driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “Shanghai is a circuit I enjoyed on its debut, and it should provide some exciting racing for the fans. With a wide track there is going to be lots of chances to overtake, and energy saving will be crucial. There was a lot of action into the final chicane last season and the changes to the curbs will make racing fairer. The circuit has also been resurfaced so we should see these Formula E cars going even quicker this weekend, which will be an excellent spectacle to witness.”
