Yahoo Autos Abt retains di Grassi for Lola Formula E venture
Abt has retained Lucas di Grassi for the next Formula E season, its first in partnership with Lola and Yamaha.
The veteran – who won the very first Formula E race – has competed in all but two of his nine Formula E campaigns with Abt, becoming champion in Season 3 when the team was partnered with Audi. He rejoined the team last season after spells with Venturi and the Mahindra factory team.
“Abt is my family,” said di Grassi. “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.”
di Grassi has already driven Abt’s new Lola-powered GEN3 Evo car in a shakedown in mid-June and is excited about the team’s next chapter with the historic motorsport brand.
“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,” he added. “We have a few busy weeks ahead of us. Together we will do everything we can to be successful as soon as possible.”
As well as his championship victory, di Grassi has scored 12 of his 13 Formula E wins with Abt, and competed in all but 31 of his record 131 and 35 of his 40 podiums with the team.
“We are delighted to continue our journey in Formula E with Lucas,” said ABT CEO Thomas Biermaier. “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.”
It’s that experience which Lola motorsport director Mark Preston will be invaluable as the company embarks on its first Formula E foray.
“Having a driver with such experience, skill and dedication as Lucas is a huge boost as a new manufacturer entering the series,” said Preston. “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.”
The confirmation of di Grassi’s retention comes after the team announced that Nico Mueller is departing the team. The Swiss driver, who will also leave the Peugeot World Endurance Championship program, has been linked to a switch to Porsche. His replacement at Abt is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
After sitting out the 2021-22 season following Audi’s exit from Formula E, Abt returned in 2022-23 as a customer of Mahindra. The team has endured a tricky couple of seasons with the Indian manufacturer though, taking no podiums and a best finish of fourth in the second Misano race earlier this year courtesy of Mueller. di Grassi had a best result of ninth last season, in the final race in London
