The Nissan Formula E Team continues its preparations for the final two rounds of the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E Championship season at ExCeL London, seeking to consolidate its position in the overall standings and compete for both the Teams’ and Constructors’ titles, where it currently holds second place in both standings. Following the remarkable achievement in Berlin, which saw driver Oliver Rowland secure the Drivers’ World Championship title, the team aims to add victory in London to its exceptional record this season.
The Nissan Formula E team will be at ExCeL London this weekend with two cars adorned in striking Turquoise Blue livery, inspired by the alluring cherry blossoms that embody the brand’s distinctive Japanese identity, to celebrate the launch of the new generation of the UK-made Nissan LEAF. The new third-generation Nissan LEAF is the result of a journey of innovation and technical know-how that began in 2010 with the launch of the first model in this category, which made its name as the world’s first mass-market zero-emission electric vehicle. Drawing on more than 15 years of experience and nearly 700,000 units sold worldwide, Nissan has developed this generation of LEAF to deliver an innovative and practical electric driving experience with a stylish design and bold road presence, designed to meet the needs of the modern family.
The team demonstrated its competitive spirit on its last visit to London in 2024, with Oliver Rowland delivering an exceptional performance, starting from ninth and progressing steadily to victory amidst a strong crowd. Norman Nato also returns to drive the #17 Nissan e-4ORCE 05, continuing his impressive run of results at ExCeL London. He has scored points in three of his last four appearances, demonstrating his ability to adapt to the demands of the British circuit and deliver a remarkable competitive performance.
The 2.09-kilometre track is the only semi-enclosed Formula E circuit, running through and around the exhibition grounds at ExCeL London and alongside the Royal Victoria Docks. This circuit is characterised by its narrow
Its track is narrow, limiting overtaking opportunities and making qualifying extra competitive compared to most other Formula E circuits. The most significant overtaking opportunities are around Turn 1, as well as the outside of Turns 10 and 11 (the chicane), before the cars return to the inside of the track at Turn 16, where the narrow track makes progress more difficult.
Commenting on the team’s preparations for the upcoming round, Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Technical Director of the Nissan Formula E Team, said: “We head into the London round with great confidence, having achieved one of our main objectives for the season: winning the Drivers’ World Championship. With both the Teams’ and Constructors’ World Championships still up for grabs, our focus is now on achieving more success and ending the season with a victory. We are also delighted to have Norman Nato back in the driver’s seat after missing the last round, and we are optimistic about what he can achieve at this circuit, which holds wonderful memories for us, most notably Oliver’s victory in last year’s round.” “Both Oliver and Norman have shown impressive performances on this track in the past, and with the Drivers’ World Championship title secured in Berlin, we can now approach London with greater ease and adopt an aggressive strategy aimed at achieving as many points as possible. While we know that closing the gap in the standings will not be an easy task, we have an experienced and prepared team, and we are fully confident in our ability to compete until the very end.”
Nissan Formula E driver Oliver Rowland commented: “London is a track I enjoy driving on, even though I only won last season. But after all the years I’ve spent competing in its corners, I’ve come to know its needs well, and I know that it requires a high degree of balance between speed and energy management. Fortunately, we’ve mastered this skill as a team.” “I believe the recent updates to this track will help enhance our handling and performance, but we also expect the races to be physically demanding, especially with limited overtaking opportunities. That’s why the Power Boost and Attack Mode will be crucial tools to achieve victory. On the other hand, winning the drivers’ title in Berlin has given me a sense of mental peace and satisfaction, as I can now focus fully on making our goal as a team a reality: winning both the teams’ and constructors’ titles. So I’m confident that we’ll go into the final race with full focus and high ambitions to finish the season in the best possible way.”
Nissan Formula E driver Norman Nato said: “I’m very excited to be returning to the London circuit, as it has one of the most intense and focused circuits on the planet, which ignites the excitement we’ve come to expect from Formula E. The need to switch between the inside and outside lanes also changes the grip of the tires, which creates subtle challenges for controlling the car’s settings and makes it more difficult to respond to changing weather conditions.”
He added: “We enter the final round with a spirit of enthusiasm and high confidence in our ability to end the season with a resounding victory. We realize that the task will not be easy, but our goal is to win both the teams’ and constructors’ titles. Therefore, we will approach this challenge with a united mindset and will strive to deliver a distinguished strategic performance to achieve victory.”
“The London circuit has a unique character compared to other Formula E circuits, which makes it one of my favorites,” added Sergio Sette Camara, reserve driver and simulator driver for the Nissan Formula E team. “The semi-enclosed layout gives it a special feel, as driving inside a closed building requires some adaptation, but it adds a lot of fun to the racing experience.”
He added: “The London track reminds me of the Tokyo circuit in terms of the narrow lanes and numerous turns, which makes overtaking limited and requires a high degree of precision. However, with the adoption of the all-wheel drive system, the Attack Mode feature has become more effective than ever, which in turn makes achieving a high qualifying position, along with implementing a smart strategy during the race, two crucial elements for achieving a competitive result in this round.”
The race at ExCeL London will kick off on Friday at 16:00 CEST (UTC+1) with free practice, qualifying at 12:20, and the official start time will be at 17:00 on Saturday and Sunday.
