Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Norman Nato

  • Nissan confirm Rowland & Nato for 2025/26

    Nissan have confirmed champion Oliver Rowland will return alongside Norman Nato for the 2025/26 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    Following a strong season 11 which saw Nissan Formula E Team take third in the Teams’ World Championship, its best result since the Japanese automaker took on full ownership of the operation after partnering with e.dams, the outfit is looking to continue its trajectory next season, with consistency and stability earmarked as a key to push further.

    Formula E World Champion, Oliver Rowland will continue with the team for a sixth season as part of a multi year deal and after a superb campaign, which saw him secure the Drivers’ World Championship with three pole positions, seven podiums, including four vicotries.

    The British driver made his full time series debut with the Japanese team in season 5, which was also Nissan’s first in Formula E, and raced with the team for three years.
    Returning ahead of Season 10, Rowland hit the ground running with a strong campaign, before earning his maiden world title in Season 11.

    Norman Nato, who tackles his third season with Nissan, will continue to race alongside Rowland.
    A race winner in the series, the French driver first joined the squad in Season 9, where he was a regular points scorer, also taking the team’s first podium under full Nissan ownership in Rome.

    He returned after a year away to team up with Rowland, showing consistent speed on track claiming pole position in Miami.

    I’m thrilled to sign with Nissan Formula E Team on a multi-year deal, in what will be my sixth season with the squad. What we’ve managed to achieve following my return in 2023/24 has been remarkable. Since I came to Formula E, the team has felt like my home, and I have a high level of trust with them as well as plenty of support. The aim for Season 12 is to replicate and improve on what we did last campaign, but we know how hard we need to work in the off-season to achieve the best results possible.
    Rowland on the news.

    I’m delighted to continue with Nissan Formula E Team for another season as it was always the target to extend my stay here. It’ll be my third campaign with the team and my second consecutive one, which gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.
    Nato on the news. I still have plenty of areas to improve on, but I’m not starting from scratch this year so I can use factors I’ve learned in Season 11 to help me in the future. I’m sure Oli will perform at a very high level again and I’m positive that together we can fight for the Teams’ World Championship.

    Following a very successful season, we’ve decided to maintain our driver line-up for Season 12. We’re keen to consolidate our operations as we look to further improve on the work carried out both on and off-track since we took full control of our operations in the sport. I am sure that the stability and consistency that we’ve built with both Oli and Norman will help us continue our remarkable progression and fight for all three championships again next season.
    Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director & Team Principal.

  • Nato joins Rowland at Nissan

    Nissan will pair Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato for the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    Following a fruitful partnership in the Gen2 era, Rowland enjoyed a strong Season 10 with the team. The British driver took two victories, including a home win in the final race of the year.
    In addition to two Julius Baer Pole Positions and five further podiums on his way to fourth in the standings.

    Not only this, Formula E race winner, Norman Nato will be returning to the Japanese squad, having previously raced in cherry blossom during Season 9 (2022/23).

    The French driver was a regular in the points, securing the team’s first podium finish under full Nissan ownership at the 2023 Rome E-Prix. Nato will be replacing Sacha Fenestraz.

    I’m excited to continue with Nissan Formula E Team after a very strong year. It’s been great to have some time off, I’ve been training and working with the team which has been positive. For next season we need to try and bring more consistency to all elements of our race weekends, whether that’s in qualifying or car development. Last year, we executed some races perfectly, so for this season we have to maintain that progress and improve the small bits we can to continue moving further up the order. I’ve known Norman for a few years, he’s very experienced and knows the team well, and I’m looking forward to working together. The GEN3 Evo car will be a challenge for everyone on the grid, so it’s a chance for us to maximize our performance and start the season on the front foot. I also want to give my best to Sacha, I enjoyed working with him during Season 10 and hope to see him back on the grid soon.
    Rowland on the news.

    I’m really happy to be back with the team. We ended Season 9 strongly together and I’m looking to pick up where we left off. We will be aiming to perform straight away, so the fact I know the car and the team will be helpful. Oli proved how quick he is last season, we’ve been battling on track since Formula Renault 2.0 but never been teammates! I’m sure we will get along well and hopefully we can share some podiums together. It will be interesting to see how the car has improved, and the goal is clear. We want to win races and championships. Finally, I wish Sacha all the best, he’s a top guy and it’s never easy to replace someone you previously partnered with. I’m sure we will be racing each other again very soon.
    Nato on the news.

    We’re excited for Season 11 after a very good performance in the last campaign. We’ve refreshed our driver line-up by welcoming back Norman, who will bring his wealth of experience and performance. Norman knows the team well and showed his talent when he was previously with us. His feedback and insight are valuable and he has a track record of developing cars, so we are delighted to see him return. Oli had a fantastic Season 10, and we’re confident he can continue at that level. We believe that Norman and Oli will form a strong pairing, both are team players and will do their best to help us improve throughout the upcoming year. At the same time and while it hasn’t been an easy decision, we have to say goodbye to Sacha. He has been a fundamental part of the establishment and development of Nissan Formula E Team, and we thank him for his hard work and his ever positive attitude. We’re proud to have grown together with him, and wish him all the best for his future career.
    Tommaso Volpe, Managing Director and Team Principal.

  • Nato and Andretti part ways

    Andretti has announced that Norman Nato will be leaving the team.
    Nato joined Andretti for Season 10, making the move from Nissan.

    The Frenchman secured a season-best result of third place his first and only podium for the American team on Formula E’s return to Shanghai in May.

    Nato finished the season in 15th in the Drivers’ World Championship on 47 points. Eight positions and 75 points lower than teammate Dennis managed.

    The team have indicated that they will make its 2024/25 line-up clear in the next few days, with Season 9 Champion Jake Dennis now set to be partnered by a fresh driver to the team.

    However, Andretti is a Porsche customer team, and it is rumoured that Mueller is expected to move to the manufacturer after testing with it earlier in the year.
    He subsequently left both ABT Cupra in Formula E, and vacated his Peugeot seat in the World Endurance Championship.

  • Norman Nato joins Andretti

    Andretti have announced that Norman Nato will be joining Drivers’ World Champion, Jake Dennis at the team for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    The Frenchman finished Season 9 in strong form, scoring a season-best result with second for Nissan in Rome and consecutive point scoring outings in the last six races of the 2022/23 campaign.

    His impressive season finale, and a fourth-placed finish helped Nissan outscore their customer team, NEOM McLaren in the standings, while also securing a top 10 finish in the drivers’ world championship standings.

    Across his 33 Formula E starts, Nato has scored one win – the Berlin finale in Season 7, while at Venturi – two podiums and has led 36 laps.
    He made his way into Formula E via FIA Formula 2 then GP2 series and has previously raced in the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in the USA as well as the FIA World Endurance Championship.

    I am thrilled to be a part of the Andretti Formula E family for Season 10. It’s highly exciting to be given the opportunity to have a car capable of winning. I’m looking forward to working with the team and contributing to the team’s long history of success.

    Nato on his new seat.

    I’m confident of the direction that Andretti Formula E is heading as we gear up for Season 10. The addition of Norman to our roster reflects our shared mindsets for the pursuit of victory and passion for winning. Norman brings great experience and skill with him, and he caught our attention with his progress throughout the season. After Jake’s remarkable victory in the Driver’s Championship this year, the bar has been set high, and we’re hungry for more.

    Michael Andretti, CEO and Chairman of Andretti Global.

    We are embarking on an exciting journey with Norman Nato as part of the Andretti Formula E team for Season 10. Norman’s proven skillset and passion for racing align with our passion for victory. He is highly determined, and we are confident that his contribution will play a pivotal role in taking the team to new heights in the upcoming season.

    Team Principal, Roger Griffiths.

  • Nissan confirms driver line-up

    Nissan has announced Norman Nato and Sacha Fenestraz in their all new driver line-up ahead of Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the first campaign of the Gen3 era.

    Nato, a previous Formula E race winner back in Berlin in Season 6, makes his full-time return to the series with the Japanese manufacturer, having competed in FIA World Endurance Championship in 2022 and stepping in for Jaguar TCS Racing as its reserve driver in Seoul.

    I’m very happy to be making my comeback as a full-time driver in Formula E with Nissan. The Gen3 era will be a new chapter for the championship, and I’m excited to prepare for testing and drive the car. The hard work starts now – I have a lot to learn and areas to develop in with the team to be at my best for the first round of Season 9 in Mexico City.

    Norman Nato on his return.

    Whereas for Fenestraz, next season will mark his first full time campaign in Formula E, following his debut at the final round of season 8 at Dragon / Penske Autosport.

    The French-Argentine racer won the Japanese Formula 3 title in 2019 and continues to compete in both Super Formula and the GT500 class of the Super GT championship. So far in 2022, the 23 year old has taken victory in both championships and currently tops the Super GT standings.

    It’s a dream come true. It will be a big step forward in my career, to move up into a World Championship for the first time and to be competing at such a high level against some of the best drivers in the world. It’s going to be a different challenge for me as it will be my first season in an all-electric car. I’m excited to compete in this championship as street circuits are my favourite, with high risks and no room for errors. As a rookie in a new format, there is a lot of preparation to do and plenty to learn! I’ve been dreaming of this moment for a very long time, and I am very grateful to Nissan for this opportunity. I can’t wait to get started and I’ll do everything to perform as best as I can.

    Sacha Fenestraz on his move.

    This is a significant moment for the team as we commence the Gen3 era, and we are very happy to welcome both Norman and Sacha on board. Season 9 will be our first season competing as one team, following Nissan’s acquisition of e.dams earlier this year, and also the beginning of our partnership with McLaren Racing. This marks a new era for the Nissan Formula E Team, and we believe that a combination of experience and the opportunity to nurture new talent is the right balance for us right now. In Norman and Sacha, we have found two strong drivers to fulfil our vision. Norman has proven to be a very talented driver in Formula E and in other series, and he brings a wealth of experience and skills to the team. As for Sacha, we have monitored his progress and performance over the past few years and have been very impressed. We believe he has great potential and that this is the right time to bring him into to the team. I am convinced that they will complement each other and the team very well. I can’t wait to see them both in action on track in our new Nissan Gen3 car.

    Tommaso Volpe, General Manager, Nissan Formula E.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/Chl9IZPIiVk/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

  • Nato to step in for Bird

    Formula E race winner and Jaguar TCS Racing reserve driver, Norman Nato will step into the Jaguar car at the Hana Bank Seoul E-Prix Rounds 15 & 16, as Sam Bird misses out through injury.

    Bird was found to have broken his hand in a Lap 1 incident in the SABIC London E-Prix Round 14, following post race medical checks. The Brit tangled in the pack as its concertinaed around the tight Turns 1 and 2, with Bird later learning that the impact had fractured the metacarpal in his left hand, despite all this he climbed from 15th to eighth in the race.

    Jaguar noted in a statement immediately after the London double-header that Bird would be assessed in the days to follow, but since has been determined that he would be unable to compete in Seoul.

    It would mark the first races the 35 year old has failed to start in Formula E’s 98 race history as the championship approaches its centenary round to close out Season 8.

    Nato capped a fine rookie 2020/21 campaign for ROKiT Venturi Racing with a collected race win in the Berlin finale. The Frenchman who impressed throughout Season 7, could have counted himself unfortunate to miss out on a race seat this time around, with Jaguar quick to secure his services in a test and reserve role.

    I’m devastated not to be driving in the final two rounds of the season in Seoul, particularly as it would have been my 100th race in Formula E. I need to spend the next few weeks recovering from the operation on my left hand, so I am fully fit for testing and Season 9. I have confidence in Norman, he is a race winner and I’m sure he’ll bring some great points home for Jaguar TCS Racing.

    Sam Bird on not racing next week.

    We are hugely disappointed for Sam and that he won’t be competing next weekend in Seoul. It should have been his 100th Formula E race and I have to say his drive in London was nothing short of heroic, to drive through considerable pain and a slow puncture shows how much of a fighter he is. The priority now though is for his operation and focussing on a full recovery ahead of Gen3 testing and racing again in January. As a team we all have full faith in Norman to deliver valuable points for Jaguar TCS Racing. He won the season finale last year and is determined to help us fight for every place in the Teams’ standings.

    James Barclay Team Principle of Jaguar TCS Racing.

    Firstly I want to wish Sam the speediest of recoveries. As a reserve driver, I’ve been with the team every step of the way this season. Although I haven’t driven a Formula E car for over a year, when I get into the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 next weekend, I’ll be fighting for as many points as possible. I want to make the most of this opportunity.

    Norman Nato.
    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg3uN_tMSkY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
    https://www.instagram.com/p/Cg3xIHtMQM0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link