Squad's reserve and simulator driver joined by Alpine Academy member in Berlin
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan Formula E Team will field Caio Collet and Gabriele Minì in the upcoming Rookie Test, which will take place on Monday, May 13 following the Berlin E-Prix double header.
Collet got his first taste of the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 during Free Practice 0 at the Misano E-Prix earlier this month. The Brazilian racer has been working with the team since the beginning of Season 10, helping to prepare for upcoming events in the simulator. Collet has an excellent junior CV, having taken a dominant French F4 title in 2018 and finishing second in the highly competitive Formula Renault Eurocup in 2020. That earned him a seat in FIA Formula 3 for 2021. In the three years that followed, he was a regular feature at the front of the pack, taking three victories and several podiums, alongside his membership of the Alpine Academy. This season, in combination with his reserve and simulator role with Nissan Formula E Team, Collet is tackling the full Indy NXT campaign.
Meanwhile, fellow F3 race winner Minì is part of the current Alpine Academy and will be at the wheel of Formula E machinery for the first time. Victory in the 2020 Italian F4 championship led him to the Formula Regional European Championship, clinching second in 2022. This attracted the attention of the Alpine Academy, which signed him up ahead of his debut F3 campaign in 2023, where he picked up two wins, including the prestigious Monaco Feature Race. The Italian driver currently sits third in the F3 standings after two rounds, having scored points at every race, including a podium finish in Melbourne.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: 'We're looking forward to the Rookie Test with two very talented drivers in Caio and Gabriele. After participating in FP0 in Misano, it will be important for Caio to continue developing in the car, becoming more and more comfortable. As our reserve and sim driver, it's vital for him to have as much experience as possible to support the team at his best. This will be a good opportunity to gain confidence and make a step forward with plenty of track time available. The test also presents us with a great chance to introduce Gabriele to the team. He's a very promising driver, part of the Alpine Academy and it's great to count on cross Alliance synergies to bring young drivers these opportunities. It's very positive for us to work with young, up-and-coming drivers like Gabriele and Caio, so we can not only play a role in their professional development, but also build a rapport and set important basis for potential future collaborations.'
Caio Collet, reserve and simulator driver, Nissan Formula E Team: 'It was my first time in the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 in Misano, so in Berlin I'm looking to use that experience to help me develop my driving. It's a very different car to what I'm used to, so it takes a while to understand what to do and how to get the best out of it. My target is to learn as much as I can and help the team continue to improve. To have more track time will also be useful for my simulator work, to make the sim more accurate. I'm looking forward to being with the team again and will do my best!'
Gabriele Minì: 'I'm very pleased to test the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 for the first time in the Berlin Rookie Test next month. It will be a great chance to discover the car and to challenge myself in a different type of single-seater. I'm looking forward to giving my best and learning more about this category of racing. I would like to thank both Alpine and Nissan for their trust and for this exciting opportunity.'
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 will be 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.
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 centres in a bid to combat air pollution and lessen the effects of climate change.
Photo credit: Nissan posted on conceptcarz.com
