In the second part of Motorsport Week’s exclusive interview with Till Bechtolsheimer, the Lola chairman reveals more detail about the signing of rookie sensation Zane Maloney, and the Formula E team’s realistic expectations for the remainder of Season 11.

One of the first issues to navigate for the Lola-Yamaha-ABT team was to find a replacement for Nico Mueller, who left to join Andretti.

The motorsport community, particularly within Formula E, were surprised to learn the man chosen was Formula 2 driver Zane Maloney.

The Bajan was in the midst of a title battle in the premier Formula 1 feeder series alongside Paul Aron and new F1 signings Isack Hadjar and Gabriel Bortoleto, the latter eventually taking the championship.

Maloney opted to forego his title aspirations to make the switch to FE in what was a demonstration of, not just Lola’s pulling power, but further indications that FE’s legitimacy as a top-level championship is more prevalent than ever.

Along with Bortoleto, Maloney made the jump from Sauber’s academy to take-up the drive alongside FE’s most long-standing driver, Lucas di Grassi.

Bechtolsheimer has nothing but praise for what he has seen of Maloney so far.

“I think it’s a really interesting driver lineup with the most experienced driver on the grids and the only real rookie,” he said.

“I mean, we’ve got a couple of rookies this year, but Zane is the only one who up until the first race of the season had never raced in a Formula E car before and that’s a really interesting dynamic. 

“I think it’s a great dynamic for where we’re at with Lola, as part of this multi-year campaign. Right now, we need someone like Lucas with the experience that he brings and the focus that he brings, and allowing a Lucas and a Zane, who are at such different points in their careers… I think they work really, really well together.

“And there’s a lot of positives. We want everyone pulling in the same direction, developing the car together, we have that dynamic with those two. 

“To have the opportunity to work with who I think is going to be the next big talent in Formula E is fantastic. He did exceptionally well in all of the junior formulas, including Formula 2. I mean, he was leading the championship for half of the season last year, and I think demonstrated that he’s got the chops to go up against this rising crop of drivers, a lot of whom are going into Formula 1 this year, and coaxing him over to Formula E, I think, is a real coup, not just for Lola, but for Formula E as a championship as well.”

Lola ‘impressed’ by ‘mature’ Maloney

A number of names including Dan Ticktum, Sacha Fenestraz and Kelvin van der Linde were all thought to have been contacted or at least considered, but shocked everyone by making the acquisition of Formula 2 talent Maloney.

Bechtolsheimer confirms that many names were sounded-out, but attributes showed by Maloney in their early conversations was enough to convince them.

“Yeah, I would say he was always on the shortlist and I think when you’re putting a shortlist together of drivers, I don’t think you rank the shortlist so much because until you’ve spoken to them and looked into them in more detail, it’s really just who would we be really excited to have.

“And there was a very small handful of young drivers that we were taking a look at and part of the problem with young drivers… you’re not hiring them into Formula 1, which is [what] they’ve grown up since little kids to wanting to do… one thing and one thing only, and that’s Formula 1, and we’re not a Formula 1 team.

“I get it. I respect it. I’m sure I’d be no different as a young driver, but the level of maturity that Zane demonstrated from the very first time we talked to him about how he thought about his career and how he felt Formula E could play a role in that was really, really impressive.

“When you talk to the Lola and the ABT engineers who work with Zane, they’re just so impressed with how mature of a driver he is, and Formula E is so different to what any of those younger drivers have had to deal with.

“It’s very different to Formula 1. You’re managing a lot of different things in the car. It takes time, and it takes, I think, a certain personality, a certain level of intelligence to be able to maximise [a package], and [in] Formula E [you] can’t be successful in this, and I think we’ve got that in Zane.”

Lola’s ‘good base package’ something to work towards in terms of progress

At the time of this interview – over the weekend of the Mexico City E-Prix – Lola had so far yet scored any points, and after rounds three and four in Jeddah, this is still the case, but there are many things to be positive about for the team.

Maloney qualified in the top 10 in Mexico, and in the season-opener in Brazil, he found himself running in the top six for a portion of the race, but his hopes were dashed after the red flag situation caused a chaotic change in the order.

But Bechtolsheimer sees much to be pleased about so far, saying that he is ‘”focused on where we are in the field come London, the last race of the season, not the first or second.

“I just want us to be making progress,” he added. “There are so many things that we need data on that right now, yes, we want to be competitive, don’t get me wrong, and the team is working incredibly hard to make sure that we get some good results here in the early part of the season.

“But the most important thing for us and for Yamaha is to collect data, make improvements, demonstrate to ourselves that we’re on the right path.

“I think Sao Paulo was that in a nutshell as well. We were disappointed that we didn’t end up with points. The fact that that was even a possibility in our very first race in Formula E, I think shows we’ve got a good base package.

“We’ve now just got to make these, not even baby steps, these significant steps every time we’re out and that’s what our main focus is.”

On the question of where Lola will take itself next, Bechtolsheimer is coy on what are the following steps but teases that the name will be seen elsewhere soon.

“We haven’t announced anything. Obviously, other than Formula E at this point, but I’m confident you’ll be hearing new announcements from us in 2025 about incremental projects,” he said.

“There’s one that’s a definite already, not ready to announce it yet. It’s less motorsport focused in terms of going to another series, but I think it’s an interesting product. 

“But in terms of racing in other series, I can assure you we’re working very hard on making that a reality.

“Lola has so much heritage in so many different forms of motorsport that we want to be going back to as many of them as possible.”

READ MORE – Exclusive: Lola supremo says Formula E entry was ‘no-brainer’

The post Exclusive: Lola boss says Zane Maloney signing ‘came from nowhere’ appeared first on Motorsport Week.

IMSA SportsCar Championship racing driver Tatiana Calderon will drive for Lola Yamaha ABT in next week’s Formula E rookie test in Jeddah.

The Colombian racing driver currently competes for Gradient Racing in the IMSA series, alongside Lola Cars chairman Till Bechtolsheimer, in her second season in the championship.

But she is now set to add to her previous experience of testing in Formula E by taking part in the upcoming rookie test session.

Calderon is vastly experienced in single-seater racing, having raced in the FIA World Endurance Championship, IndyCar, Formula 2, GP3 and Super Formula.

In a press release from Lola Yamaha ABT, she said: “I’m very excited to join the Lola Yamaha ABT Team for the Rookie free practice in Jeddah, which I feel is a great opportunity provided by Formula E for drivers who are new to the series.

“I’ve been impressed with the progress this new team has made so far and that is a testament of the quality of the people behind it.

“There’s a great atmosphere with everyone pushing in the same direction, something I’ve felt when I’ve been preparing in the simulator.

“I‘m very grateful to the whole team for this opportunity and can’t wait to hit the track in Jeddah to help them gain some valuable data in preparation for the first double-header of the season.”

Lola Cars’ Motorsport Director Mark Preston said: “We are pleased to welcome Tatiana to the team in Jeddah.

“Her talent and experience, combined with her previous testing in Formula E with both the GEN2 and the GEN3 Evo, are the ideal combination for a new team and manufacturer as we continue to develop our package.”

READ MORE: 2023 F2 Champion Theo Pourchaire signed by Maserati for Formula E rookie test

The post Lola Yamaha ABT confirms Tatiana Calderon for Formula E Jeddah test appeared first on Motorsport Week.

In the first part of an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week, the owner of famed British manufacturer Lola has said that entering Formula E was a “no-brainer” for the company, as it makes its return to top level motorsport.

Till Bechtolsheimer could be described as the saviour of one of Britain’s most recognisable manufacturers. A US-based British businessman and racing driver, Bechtolsheimer found out through reading Motorsport Magazine that Lola’s assets were available, and swiftly bought them, bringing back Lola from what was its second bankruptcy.

Its next step was to find a motorsport competition in which it could make its comeback, and with the right team in place – including former F1 tech supremo and Techeetah boss Mark Preston – Formula E was the destination.

In collaboration with Japanese giants Yamaha, it took manufacturing control of the existing ABT team, and took delivery of a GEN3 Evo car in April of last year.

Bechtolsheimer told Motorsport Week that FE and its trailblazing nature was what made it the ideal series for Lola to start in.

“There’s a few things that are attractive about Formula E for Lola as it relates to Lola’s broader plans,” he said.

“Really, as Lola, we want to be a leader in sustainable motorsport. Why sustainable motorsport? Because I think motorsport serves two purposes. On the one hand, it needs to be an entertainment sport.

“It needs to entertain people, otherwise it shouldn’t exist, but it also needs to act as a platform for innovation for the broader automotive and mobility space.

“And the broader automotive and mobility space is pretty focused on decarbonising and becoming more sustainable, and so that’s where motorsport needs to go as well.

“Our focus is across the kind of three obvious buckets within sustainability at the moment – electrification, hydrogen, sustainable fuels and materials.

“And when you look at electrification, which is probably the most important of the three in the here and now, Formula E is at the pinnacle of that, so it very much checks that box.”

Bechtolsheimer revealed that its work on the FE project has enabled them to “develop some cornerstone IP [intellectual property] that I think has a huge amount of transferability and relevance beyond just Formula E,” adding: “so a lot of what we’ve designed for the current Formula E car, and that’s continuing into GEN4, is done with half a mind of what we could use that for in other championships as well.

“It doesn’t really matter what form of motorsport you’re looking at – if it’s high level international motorsport, it’s got some electrification component or hybrid component to it and I think Formula E is at the epicentre of some really core technology, so it made a lot of sense for us to do that.

“And then when we were given the opportunity to partner with Yamaha to allow us to do that in a way that’s properly resourced, just kind of made it a no-brainer for us.”

Tri-nation supergroup showing cohesion in Formula E project

“It’s a big part of why I wanted to partner with an existing team rather than start the team from scratch, because we’ve got our hands full as Lola focussing on delivering this car.

“We’re the first new manufacturer, I think, in five years or so into Formula E, and so we’re playing catchup to everyone else and that’s what we want to focus Lola’s resources on.

“And so we wanted to partner with an existing kind of established group at one of the most experienced, I think one of the most respected operators, not just on Formula E grid, but in motorsport, so they’re [ABT] kind of a perfect partner for us.

“In terms of how it’s been integrating, I think it’s been really, really positive experience so far. It’s not easy to take a group of Lola guys based out of the UK, a group of ABT guys based out of Germany, and a group of Yamaha guys largely based out of Japan and throw them all together and expect it to be a well-oiled machine day one, but I think we’re getting there – we’re getting there really, really quickly, and the interaction is usually positive.

“It was actually in Jarama, I remember this very noticeable moment where we were having an issue with the bleeding the system on the car and the Lola guys were talking about it, and suddenly the ABT mechanics joined the conversation and started giving their input on it, and then we grabbed the Yamaha guys. 

“It turns out one of the Yamaha guys embedded in our team is one of Yamaha’s biggest experts on this particular issue and suddenly there was all three groups kind of all stood around the car, collaborating on how to best solve it, and you could just see this transition from three groups turning into kind of a single team.

“It’s only race two for us here, but it’s already feeling like a really cohesive group of people.”

Lola’s heritage might reach old school ‘petrolheads’

Lola is following a growing number of big racing brands that are part of the FE grid, such as McLaren, Andretti and Penske, which, to some, might be a further legitimisation of the sport, something that Bechtolsheimer is hopeful of, and, using the organisation of the all-female test in Jarama as a guide, Lola’s reach is already going far.

“I hope so. I mean, I guess you’d have to ask them really on what the impact has been.

“But when Formula E announced the female driver lineups for each team at the female test in Spain, what the response was in terms of number of views and so on for each of those announcements, I think the Lola announcement outperformed the second highest team by over ten to one, and I’m not exactly sure why that is. 

“I think part of it’s because where the new kids on the block, there’s interest around our entry; I think part of it is because I think Lola’s brand is very powerful in Japan – Miki [Koyama, its choice for the test] was a Japanese driver; we have a Japanese partner in Yamaha – there are lots of reasons for it, but I think part of it as well is there is this real love for the Lola brand amongst motorsport enthusiasts, and I think the typical Lola fan is not necessarily the same as the typical Formula E fan.

“So I think my hope is that it encourages some of the – I’ll use the word deliberately – “petrolheads” like myself to actually give Formula E a chance, because I’ll have to admit, up until me taking on Lola and Formula E becoming part of our strategy, it wasn’t a championship I was actually that focused on myself as a fan, as an enthusiast, and I’ve been blown away by how exciting the racing is and the level at which the technology is being developed within this championship.

“I think it’s really second only to Formula 1, despite the fact that there’s so many common components, and my hope is that Lola and the brand that it has can bring that type of audience to this championship.”

In the second part of our exclusive interview, Bechtolsheimer talks about the driver line-up of Lucas di Grassi and Zane Maloney, as well as what Lola may compete in next

READ MORE – Johnny Herbert lands new motorsport role after FIA dismissal

The post Exclusive: Lola supremo says Formula E entry was ‘no-brainer’ appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Johnny Herbert has been announced as a Global Brand Ambassador for Lola Cars, just one day after being dropped as a Formula 1 race steward by the FIA.

The former F1 driver and TV pundit “mutually agreed” with the FIA that his role was no longer “compatible” with his media duties, ending his 15-year tenure as on of its driver stewards.

But Herbert has found a new position at the famed British manufacturer, which is now taking its first steps back into top level motorsport with entry in the all-electric Formula E championship.

Whispers about Herbert’s involvement with the brand had already begun, having been present at the shakedown of its GEN3 Evo FE challenger – the T001 – last year.

In a statement, Herbert said it is “hugely exciting” to be part of brand, adding: “Lola has always been a big part of the motorsport world and, having grown up with Lolas around me in Formula Ford, sportscars and F1, joining the team for this next chapter feels like the perfect fit.

“I look forward to working with Lola and its partners, opening doors for the brand and helping contribute not only to the renewed success of such a storied name, but to the sustainable future of top tier motorsport as well.”

Lola’s Chairman Till Bechtolsheimer said: “The addition of a driver like Johnny to the Lola team is a real landmark moment for me.

“Having witnessed numerous displays of his talent and sportsmanship throughout his career, I am thrilled to get the opportunity to work alongside him.

“He is not only an ideal ambassador for everything that Lola stands for, but his wealth of experience will be a priceless resource for our present and future drivers.”

Lola role a new string to Herbert’s illustrious motorsport bow

Johnny Herbert raced in F1 between 1989 and 2000, a remarkable achievement in itself, having nearly lost both feet in a horrific Formula 3000 accident at Brands Hatch just months before his debut.

Despite being the only F1 driver in history to qualify for a disabled parking badge, Herbert utilised all his talent to make a success of his career, winning three Grands Prix, the first coming in-front of his home fans at Silverstone in 1995.

Herbert also has one of motorsport’s most prestigious feats to his name – victory in the Le Mans 24 Hours, which he took in 1991 for Mazda.

After retiring from racing, Herbert became a TV analyst with Sky Sports F1, a role he held up until 2023, and continues to provide comment for various outlets.

Despite his longstanding position within the FIA now gone, Herbert is regarded as a highly-respected figure in British motor racing, and joining forces with such an iconic brand such as Lola seems like the ideal fit.

The post Johnny Herbert lands new motorsport role after FIA dismissal appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Hometown hero Lucas di Grassi believes that “chaos” could help the Lola Yamaha ABT team score some early FIA Formula E points at the São Paulo E-Prix tomorrow.

The veteran, known as Mr Formula E, is utilising all his intelligence and experience to help the famed British manufacturer in its nascent steps into Formula E, its foray back into top level motorsport.

Lola are around two years behind the curve in comparison to other manufacturers as they only took delivery of a GEN3 Evo car in April, but di Grassi believes the team has done a lot to get to where it is, and sees progress from the pre-season testing in Jarama.

“Reliability was good, pace was not bad. Not great, but not bad,” he told Motorsport Week, “but here it’s all different. We cannot use the same setup, same setting, so it’s hard to say. 

“I’m 100% sure that we are behind the others. We are two years behind. But the pace is good. So if we manage to get a good setup and a good weekend, I think we can do points and we can be in the fight but in normal conditions, I think we are still a little bit behind.”

One of the big concerns this weekend is the possibility of the raining season in Brazil rearing its head, but if the race can go ahead with some rain, di Grassi sees it as a golden opportunity.

“The more chaotic… It’s probably going to rain a lot now. Yeah. So it’s super chaotic.Maybe with more chaos it’s good for us. Like the first podium with Mahindra in the first race [Mexico, Season 9], yeah, you never know.”

Another potential avenue of success di Grassi sees is the chance of the infamous Pit Boost idea finally going ahead, which it appears to be, but he is cautious of predicting something big from it, as the efficiency will lean towards the more successful powertrains.

“Normally, with Pit Boost, the most efficient car has a better edge, so I would say that Pit Boost is maybe not the best for us but because of the fact that it’s a mess and maybe there’s a safety car, only half of the cars actually can go through the pit lane and boost and all the cars have to wait a lap. 

“So this could throw a little bit everything upside down, so it could help us in a way.

“But if you look at the perfect race with no problems whatsoever, the Pit Boost actually favours the more efficient guys.

“I like it… I think it’s good. I think it’s something that pushes the right technology, creates two different races, that you can do two different stuff. So I think it’s good.”

Di Grassi ‘impressed’ by Lola’s hard work, ‘committed’ to the project

It almost feels like the perfect fit that one of the famed faces of Formula E is also driving for an esteemed manufacturer in Lola. Di Grassi agrees.

“Yeah, it’s nice. That was not the original plan, right? The idea of ABT was to go for a customer team, not become a full manufacturer with a better powertrain than we had last year. That’s why I signed a long-term deal with the team. But I’m very impressed with the Lola and how the teams are working together but it’s going to be tough. 

Di Grassi admits that the idea of driving one of the leading FE powertrains would be nice, but is committed to helping Lola to reach its potential.

“If I could choose, and say, look, take one already existing, very developed powertrain and put it here, for sure, for Saturday, I would have a better result than developing something from scratch. But in a long-term view, I enjoy a lot developing something, choosing, helping to come up with new ideas and different stuff.

“That is kind of in my DNA, so I kind of enjoy doing that. But it’s going to be a hard year, it’s not going to be easy. Although the car is good, on average, I don’t think we have the car to fight for championships at all.

And is di Grassi of the thinking that working so hard makes earning it even better?

“Well, I think you earn it anyway, but even so more because of all the development work.”

The post Lucas di Grassi: ‘chaos’ could help Lola score early Formula E points in Brazil appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Miki Koyama has been handed the opportunity to test the Lola Yamaha ABT FIA Formula E challenger in next month’s all-female test in Valencia.

Miki will be the only driver utilised by the team in the test, which takes place on November 7th, the final day of the pre-season testing programme at the Ricardo Tormo Circuit.

The 27-year-old Japanese driver is currently racing in the Japanese Super GT Championship and is a development driver for Toyota Gazoo Racing.

She was also a points-scorer in both the 2019 and 2021 seasons of W Series, and in 2022 became the first female driver to win a mixed-gender, single-seater FIA Championship, taking the title in the Formula Regional Japanese Championship.

Till Bechtolscheimer, Lola’s CEO, said:

“We’re thrilled to welcome Miki to the team. As our recent signing of Zane Maloney, himself a Formula E rookie, demonstrates, our commitment to accelerate the next generation of motorsport extends beyond the technology to the drivers themselves. Providing greater opportunities for women throughout the paddock is a key part of that vision.

“Going into any season, but as a new team in particular, every second of pre-season testing is invaluable. We’re highly confident not only in Miki’s abilities to maximise this opportunity for herself, but to use her experience to help us with our key development goals during this vital time for the team.”

Miki said: “The upcoming test in Valencia is a great chance to experience the next generation of Formula E cars, and I’m looking forward to making the most of my time in the car, and to also provide constructive feedback to the team as we prepare for the upcoming season.

“It’s exciting to be part of such a progressive initiative as the all-female test, it’s a brilliant platform to learn, showcase our abilities, and support the team’s development.”

The famed British manufacturer joined forced with the Japanese marque to produce a new powertrain for the German team for Season 11. It is Lola’s first venture back into top-level motorsport since its relaunch.

The post Lola hands Miki Koyama Formula E testing opportunity appeared first on Motorsport Week.

In an exclusive interview with Motorsport Week, the newest recruit to FIA Formula E, Zane Maloney, speaks about the opportunity the series is giving him, along with insights into his preparations for Season 11.

Maloney was, up until Wednesday morning, a man in the midst of an FIA Formula 2 title shot, and most definitely a sought-after talent.

Now officially bagged by Formula E’s most nascent manufacturer in conjunction with one of its most longstanding teams, he comes to the grid bursting with enthusiasm.

He was aware that interest in his services had been omnipresent for some time, but it was until more recent weeks that wheels were set in motion by Lola to secure his signature.

“I mean, everything moves very quickly,” he said. 

“I think, firstly, that’s what happens when it’s a good opportunity and a good deal, so everything moved along very quickly.

“I think the first I really heard of it was when, when Lola announced that they were coming into Formula E. 

“Of course from the outside, I was the same as everyone. I was intrigued by it. And then it was not until a month or two ago that things started to get a bit more serious, and then the conversations started to be had, of course. 

“For me, it was, it was a very, very great, amazing opportunity to jump on board, so from my side, it didn’t take too many conversations. Of course, all the contractual stuff takes a bit longer, but that was also easy in that sense.”

Like fellow new FE entrant Taylor Barnard, Maloney has made the sacrifice of prematurely ending his F2 season, and in the Bajan’s case, it is even more pertinent, given that he is mathematically still in the title race.

The Qatar weekend will be his final one in F2, and will hotfoot it to São Paulo for round one of the FE championship the weekend after.

Despite wanting to finish his campaign in F2, Maloney was only too aware of the importance of the chance he has been given by the Lola outfit.

“In one way, I wanted to win Formula 2 this year,” he said. “I wanted to give myself the best chance to do that, but I live my life by the day and I understand the opportunity that I have for next year, and when I think about that opportunity, everything in the present moment kind of gets forgotten about to some extent. 

“So, of course, I know that coming to Formula E is a big opportunity for me and something amazing to show my skills in a world championship.

“I don’t really focus too much on the negative side of certain things. I try to focus on the positives and I only see a positive thing coming into next year.”

‘Formula E is very well recognised’

Given that Maloney is following Barnard from the highest Formula 1 feeder series into Formula E, it might suggest that Formula E, only in its 10th year of existence, has already gained a strong reputation amongst racing drivers as a legitimate category of racing on its own. Maloney agrees.

“Yeah, for sure. I think it’s cool to see that drivers are coming from F2. I think it’s interesting in terms of in motorsports in general.

“In F1, IndyCar, Formula E, WEC as well, there’s not many seats that become available every year. There are a lot more drivers than there are seats, which makes it very difficult and I think Formula E has always been a series that has amazing drivers, amazing manufacturers, teams. And of course, the media sees different motorsport genres a bit differently. 

“But within the group of motorsports, Formula E is very well recognized, and every driver that goes into it knows how difficult it is to perform, so from that side of things, I don’t really focus too much on anything other than driving a race car as fast as I can with the opportunity that I’m given. 

“Yeah, I mean, obviously, the media sees things in different ways. But from my side, Formula E, F1, IndyCar, WEC, all amazing drivers and teams.”

Despite being officially a rookie entrant, Maloney is no stranger to FE, having partaken in several rookie tests over Seasons 9 and 10 with Andretti, giving him some much-needed and ample track time.

Asked if this will make him feel less of a rookie in that respect, Maloney is inclined to think so.

“To some extent, yes. It’s funny because through my whole career, this is the first year, 2024, that I’ve not been a rookie in a championship. From F4 all the way to F2, I’ve been a rookie each time so I’m used to learning something new and trying to develop myself as quickly as possible with a certain car. 

“Of course, I know that Formula E is a bit more difficult in that sense, with the energy and energy management, and you’re working with so many different people to do the job. 

“But I have some experience with Andretti, also with Sauber and Formula 1, working with a lot of people. So I think I’m ready for it, I know I’m ready for it, and now it’s just time to learn as quickly as possible and learn from the team and try to develop the car with the team as quickly as possible.”

New racing style ‘will be interesting’

An aspect of Formula E that Maloney will have to get to grips with are the breadth of circuits, and the different styles of racing they will produce. From the more traditional street circuits that will tests the teams and their performance, to the open circuits that will promote peloton style races, a unique byproduct of Formula E’s current regulations.

“That will be interesting,” Maloney says.

“Of course, going to London with the half-indoor, half-outdoor circuit is going to be a cool experience as well, which I’ve never been to because it clashed with F2 both of the years that I was doing reserve for Formula E. 

“I’m looking forward to every circuit, to be honest. I think I first need to do a race to understand these types of races and watching it is cool to see. But being inside of it and actually driving in them is going to be a different experience so I need to get up to speed with that.

“It looks like fun racing, Formula E is always very entertaining. A lot of overtakes, a lot of side-by-side racing and I’m just looking forward to getting qualifying good every single round from my side. 

“And then the racing side of things will take a bit longer as a rookie to get used to. But yeah, as we said, Lucas is very experienced and he’ll help me on that. I’m just looking forward to the season, to be honest.”

It is clear that Maloney exudes enthusiasm from every pore and regardless of where his Formula E adventure takes him, his commitment will never be questioned.

The post Zane Maloney exclusive: new Lola-Yamaha-ABT driver says Formula E is ‘huge opportunity’ appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Zane Maloney has been confirmed as the second ABT-Lola driver for the upcoming 11th season of the FIA Formula E World Championship.

The Bajan, who currently sits third in the Formula 2 Drivers’ standings with Rodin Motorsport, will partner FE veteran Lucas di Grassi, becoming the first and so far only rookie to be announced for Season 11, a move that Lola says proves its “overarching commitment to developing the next generation of motorsport talent and technology.”

Maloney is however already familiar with the paddock, having been Andretti’s reserve driver for Season 10, partaking in rookie tests in Misano and Berlin respectively, alongside fellow F2 racer Jak Crawford.

He is the second driver from the Formula 1 feeder series to make the jump to Formula E, with Taylor Barnard having been announced as a full-time driver with NEOM McLaren in August.

In a statement released by the British manufacturer, Maloney said: “I am delighted to be part of the Lola Yamaha ABT team and looking forward to this exciting challenge.

“Although I already know the championship well, this is a completely new chapter for me, so working with such an experienced team, and alongside such a successful driver, is the perfect next step.

“I’ve followed and admired Lucas’s battles over the past seasons, including when he became champion. I’m sure that I will learn a lot from him and together we will push both ourselves and the development of the car forward.”

With the final rounds of F2 taking place over the final two F1 weekends in December, Maloney has ample time to get to grips with the GEN3 Evo car, and has already been integrated into the team, having joined-up with the Huntingdon-based squad for testing in Varano, and will do so again this week in Spain, spending more time behind the wheel of the codenamed “T-001”.

“We won’t know how good our package is until São Paulo,” said Maloney, adding: “I am confident that I have the raw speed to be competitive, but experience is key in Formula E, so I will do everything I can to catch up here as quickly as possible.”

The 20-year-old arrives after an impressive season so far in which he took victories in the opening Sprint and Feature races in Bahrain, and has followed-up with a further five podium finishes, amassing 135 points so far, keeping him just in-touch with leader Gabriel Bortoleto and second-placed Isack Hadjar.

The post Formula 2 star Zane Maloney joins ABT-Lola in Formula E switch appeared first on Motorsport Week.

ABT-Lola has signed-up former Formula 1 designer Peter McCool as its technical director as the team prepares for Season 11 of the FIA Formula E World Championship.

McCool has a wealth of experience in both F1 and FE, including McLaren and Super Aguri, where he worked with Lola’s Director of Motorsport, Mark Preston.

It is believed that a small reshuffle of the Lola backroom team will accommodate McCool’s arrival, replacing Mark Tatham who will be retained as a consultant.

McCool’s services became available only just recently, having previously worked for Alpine Labs, the technology division of its F1 team.

This organisation has now been shut down following the arrival of Flavio Briatore as an executive adviser, and Lola were quick to snap-up McCool, who had previously worked for the company to head-up its proposed project for a Formula 1 entry in 2010.

The company went bankrupt for a second time soon afterwards, and has been relaunched under the stewardship of British businessman, Till Bechtolscheimer.

“Formula E is a championship I really like and have enjoyed, so when you add those two together, and with all the plans that Till has got, it’s just very appealing from a technical perspective,” McCool told The Race.

It is also believed that a second reason that enticed McCool is the plan for Lola to enter the Le Mans 24 Hours at some point in the future.

The famed British manufacturing giants, in collaboration with Yamaha, have already begun its Formula E testing programme, having run out its GEN3 Evo prototype model at Turweston Airfield as well as clocking-up the miles at the Calafat circuit in Spain.

This news comes as the ABT-Lola team are preparing to make a final decision on who will drive their second car in Season 11, with FE veteran and current ABT driver Lucas di Grassi retained.

Motorsport Week understands that Dan Ticktum has been one driver who has held talks with the team. Ticktum’s future in Formula E is currently up in the air, with the Englishman intimating that he has yet to be offered a new contract by his current employers ERT on his Twitch stream recently.

However, it is believed that ABT would rather opt for a rookie driver to partner di Grassi, with Kelvin van der Linde a likely candidate.

The South African has a longstanding relationship with ABT, currently leading the DTM championship for its Red Bull-backed team, and also has previous Formula E experience with the German outfit.

He filled-in for Robin Frijns for the team, then ABT-Cupra, for three rounds in Season 9 and subsequently did so again in Season 10, deputising for Nico Müller at the Berlin E-Prix weekend when the Swiss was competing in the World Endurance Championship.

Motorsport Week also understands that an unnamed rookie, with no prior experience in FE, is also being touted

The post Ex-McLaren F1 designer hired by Lola for Formula E project appeared first on Motorsport Week.

Lucas di Grassi has been confirmed as one of the drivers for Lola’s first venture back into top-level motorsport.

The Brazilian veteran will continue with the ABT team as the German outfit joins forces with the British manufacturing giant, in conjunction with Japanese giants Yamaha.

Di Grassi is the elder statesman of Formula E, boasting a record 131 starts and 47 podium finishes, including 13 wins and the 2016-17 championship. He was also the first man to drive a Lola-branded Formula E car back in June, when he tested its GEN3 Evo model in preparation for Season 11.

Lola have stated that a decision on di Grassi’s team-mate will be made “in the coming weeks”.

In a statement, Lola’s Director of Motorsport, Mark Preston, said:

“Having a driver with such experience, skill and dedication as Lucas is a huge boost as a new manufacturer entering the series. These attributes, combined with his existing relationship with ABT, make Lucas the ideal person to have at the wheel for our return to motorsport.

“His knowledge and feedback during testing have already proven invaluable and we look forward to hitting the track together in Season 11.”

ABT’s CEO Thomas Biermaier said: “We are delighted to continue our journey in Formula E with Lucas. Not only is he a great ambassador for our team and the entire championship, but like all of us, he is eager and fully motivated to finally be successful again.

“We know that working with a new manufacturer brings many challenges. This makes it all the more important for us to have the most experienced driver at our side in Lucas, in addition to the permanent members of the team.”

Di Grassi himself said:

“ABT is my family. I have experienced the best moments of my career there and have full confidence in the people who work hard every day to achieve success – so
I am happy that we are also tackling the new challenges together.

“It’s a very exciting project with people who know what it takes to be successful in Formula E, alongside two renowned brands in Lola and Yamaha with a wealth of motorsport heritage and technical prowess.

“We have a few busy weeks ahead of us. Together we will do everything we can to be successful as soon as possible.”

The post Formula E veteran confirmed as driver for ABT-Lola team appeared first on Motorsport Week.