Nissan Formula E Team is prepared for the first double-header of the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as they target the points under the lights in Diriyah.
Following a strong recovery drive in Mexico City which saw Oliver Rowland gain nine places and finish tantalizingly close to the points, he and teammate Sacha Fenestraz are determined to harness the pace of the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 and claim top-10 finishes in Saudi Arabia.
The only night race on the Formula E calendar, the Diriyah E-Prix has earned its place among the most loved events in the series. The street circuit provides a demanding yet exhilarating experience. The high-speed, downhill section between Turns 6-14 requires the utmost concentration and bravery to navigate, while high tire wear means that drivers must carefully regulate how much they push the car. This, combined with the strong chance of accidents and Safety Cars, forces competitors to strike a balance between risk and caution to claim glory.
On-track action begins on Thursday 26 January with Free Practice 1, ahead of Friday’s Round 2, with qualifying at 15:20 AST (UTC+3) and the race at 20:00. These times will be repeated for Round 3 on Saturday.
Nissan boasts a strong connection with Saudi Arabia which stretches back to 1957, when the first Nissan vehicles were delivered to the country. Petromin Nissan, the company’s official authorized retail dealer in the Kingdom since 2016, represents an important part of this heritage, with extensive operations including 18 showrooms and 16 aftersales centers nationwide. The two brands will look to deepen their collaboration at the Diriyah E-Prix as Petromin Nissan will once again be the team’s official innovation partner for the event. Working together, the two marques will demonstrate the commitment to innovation and customer service that they both share.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “We saw some encouraging signs in Mexico, even though the result was not what we wanted. Oliver and Sacha worked well as a team, showing that we have a strong driver pairing to build on for the season. We know we have a strong car, and our aim for Diriyah is to iron out any issues and ensure we can operate smoothly. The double-header presents us with two opportunities to score points, so our focus will be on learning as much as we can from Friday’s race to help us on Saturday, and perfecting our setup for a track that requires agility just as much as top speed. We’re excited to be collaborating with Petromin Nissan for the championship’s visit to Saudi Arabia once again. They represent a key partner in one of Nissan’s most important markets, and we look forward to sharing the excitement of Formula E with their customers during the event.”
Sacha Fenestraz, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “Diriyah is one of my favorite tracks on the Formula E calendar. Its blind corners and low margin for error make it exciting to drive, and I have fond memories of it as I scored my first ever Formula E points there. Though the final result in Mexico was not what we wanted, we showed good pace in qualifying, so our preparation has been focused on bringing this speed into the race. Naturally, double header events are always busy and tiring, but if we can work together to find consistency over the two races then I’m confident that we can come away with a strong haul of points.”
Oliver Rowland, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “The first event in Mexico was all about experience and we ended up with plenty of positives after a good comeback in the race. We’ll be looking to maintain that momentum, attacking it with the same relaxed approach. Diriyah is a tough track to overtake on, so we need to maximize our performance in qualifying. Free Practice will be important, to get ourselves in a comfortable place ahead of the rest of the weekend. It’s cool to race at night, it’s the only one of the season and the show is always great for fans, so I’m excited to get started!”
