Nissan Formula E Team takes points in both races on Shanghai debut

Nissan Formula E Team secured a top-10 finish in both Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with Oliver Rowland in the points twice as the series made its maiden visit to Shanghai International Circuit.

Returning to China for the first time since 2019, the weekend produced two closely-matched days of action throughout the field.

In qualifying for Saturday’s Round 11, Rowland progressed to the Duels, making it to the Final and lining up second for the race. Following an extremely tight session, Sacha Fenestraz found himself 22nd on the grid, despite being just over two-tenths from getting through. In a dramatic E-Prix, Rowland battled hard throughout in the lead group, making a last-lap move to take fourth and a strong haul of 12 points. Meanwhile, Franco-Argentine racer Fenestraz completed several excellent overtakes, moving up 11 places to clinch 11th, just one position outside the points.

Today in Round 12, Rowland once again made it through to the Duels, having topped Group A. Fenestraz was only a tenth slower than his teammate, but could only do enough for sixth. Starting in eighth and 12th respectively, the duo fought hard in the midfield throughout the 28-lap race, with British driver Rowland clinching a point in 10th, with Fenestraz close behind in 14th.

Formula E now enters a four-week break following the intense schedule in recent months, returning for the penultimate race weekend of the season in Portland, USA on June 29-30.

Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: "It’s not the weekend we were expecting after a strong result in Berlin. It was really tight and hard-fought throughout, so we’re pleased to come out with points in both races. Oli performed well on Saturday to take P4, while Sacha did a great job to make so many overtakes and was unfortunate not to finish in the points. Today it was more difficult to pass, which made it tough. Neither driver got the best start and it was hard to recover. We’ve got a break now to see where we can improve, as we’ve been doing all season, and to consolidate third place in the Teams’ Championship next month in Portland"

Oliver Rowland, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: "I’m satisfied with the finish on Saturday, qualifying was strong to be on the front row and then we battled hard in the lead group throughout the race. P4 was a solid result and a good haul of points, even if a podium was definitely possible. Today was a bit more difficult, I made it into the Duels but I think we could’ve done more. The race was also tough, it was harder to overtake today but we still managed to take a point. Overall a decent event, and now it’s time to work hard in the break before Portland"

Sacha Fenestraz, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: "I hoped for more this weekend, the race pace was very strong yesterday but unfortunately the qualifying caused a difficult day. I felt competitive and think we have made a step forward on one-lap pace, we just didn’t get the laps together. It was fun to overtake several cars, but a shame to narrowly miss out on points. Today, qualifying was better but we had to deal with the battery temperatures, which made it tough in the race. We’re improving step-by-step, and now it’s time for a short break and to disconnect before turning our full focus to Portland and London"

About Nissan in Formula E

Nissan made its all-electric racing debut in Season 5 (2018/19) of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, becoming the first and only Japanese manufacturer to enter the series.

In Season 7 (2020/21), Nissan announced its long-term involvement in Formula E and its commitment to the Gen3 era, which will run from Season 9 (2022/23) through to the end of Season 12 (2025/26) of the all-electric racing series.

In April 2022, Nissan acquired the e.dams race team, with the Japanese automaker taking full ownership of its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

In June 2022, Nissan announced it would supply its Nissan EV powertrain technology to McLaren Racing for the entirety of the Formula E Gen3 era.

For Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Nissan Formula E drivers are Oliver Rowland and Sacha Fenestraz.

On 28th March 2024, ahead of the first ever Tokyo E-Prix, Nissan announced its long term commitment to Formula E, becoming the first manufacturer to sign up for the Gen4 era, which runs until 2030, reinforcing its pledge to its Ambition 2030 electrification targets.

Nissan races in Formula E to bring the excitement and fun of zero-emission electric vehicles to a global audience. As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify every all-new vehicle offering by the early 2030s in key markets. The Japanese automaker aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the racetrack and road for better electric vehicles for customers.

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About Formula E

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint from inception back in 2020, having invested in certified climate-protecting projects in all race markets to offset emissions from every season of electric racing.

All cars in the championship are powered by electricity, with the series acting as a competitive platform to test and develop the latest in electric technology.

The World’s greatest manufacturers race against each other on street circuits and Formula E promotes the adoption of sustainable mobility in city centers in a bid to combat air pollution and lessen the effects of climate change.

More information

Nissan Global Newsroom
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