LONDON: ROKiT Venturi Racing is setting its sights on Formula E World Championship titles after it announced it was uniting two of the sport’s most competitive drivers.
Fresh from their most successful season to date, ROKiT Venturi Racing confirmed this week that FIA Formula E 2021 World Championship runner-up, Edoardo Mortara, will be joined by Brazilian racing driver Lucas Di Grassi to challenge Season 8 of the all-electric championship.
“Last season we demonstrated that we have a strong package, there were many highlights throughout the season starting with a podium and finishing with a win,” Susie Wolff, ROKiT Venturi Racing Team Principal, said.
“Edo showcased to everyone what we have known all along - that he’s a World Championship contender - moving forward to Season 8, Edo is joined by Lucas - a proven Formula E Championship winner who also brings a wealth of experience.
“They will push each other and drive us forward as a team. To have both cars scoring points in every race is essential for us for the Team’s Championship and with our new driver line-up, there’s a lot to feel optimistic about heading into Season 8,” she added.
With 92 points and four podium appearances under his belt in Season 7, Swiss-Italian Mortara enjoyed his most successful Formula E season to date.
Season 8 represents his fourth year with the Monegasque team and is a clear indicator of ROKiT Venturi’s faith in his abilities to contend the World Championship moving forward.
“I’m really happy to be continuing with the team and it’s a pleasure to welcome Lucas to the family,” Mortara said. “We had a very strong season this year, my best so far in Formula E which was also testimony to the hard work of the team around me.
“We’re on good trajectory and we want to maintain that moving forward, competing against Lucas in the past he has always been extremely competitive and he’s very good when it comes to energy management - one of the most critical points to being successful in Formula E.
“The progress we made in Season 7 was great but there is still plenty to do and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together,” he added.
Meanwhile, ROKiT’s latest signing, Di Grassi, also joins with unquestionable credentials.
The Monaco-based former Formula E World Champion won the first-ever Formula E race in Beijing, 2014 and is the most successful driver in the history of the championship.
“Anyone who knows me know how competitive I am - driving for a team that I know can fight at the front and really challenge for the championship is essential for me, he said. “ROKiT Venturi Racing was simply the best choice and I’m really happy to be part of the team, I’ve followed Venturi since Season 1 and I know that they have a strong history in Monaco.
“The team performed very, very well last season, you can see that the team has progressed a lot in recent years, the momentum is really there and they have shown clear improvements in every area.
“Edo had a fantastic season, really strong, he was fighting for the title until the very end and there were many times over the season that I was racing both Venturi cars and I could see how competitive they were,” he added.
Di Grassi has made no secret of his desire to continue to challenge the title with the right team.
“It’s not just about the team though, I’m really happy to drive alongside Edo, we’ve known each other for a very long time, we part of the Audi program together, I respect him as a driver, as a human - he’s a very talented driver and a great character, I think we’re going to work really well together.”
