The team’s choice to incorporate the iconic Sakura flower into its Season 9 livery is a nod to the squad’s Japanese DNA and celebrates a new beginning. The upcoming campaign will mark the start of the Gen3 era. The striking new livery on the NISSAN e-4ORCE 04 highlights a new age not only for the championship, but for the team itself - competing under the Nissan name alone for the first time in Formula E after it acquired the e.dams operation earlier this year.
“Electrification is at the centre of Nissan’s long-term vision, with Formula E playing an expanding role in it,” said Ashwani Gupta, Nissan's Chief Operating Officer. “Season 9 marks a new era for Nissan’s participation in the championship. It will be our fifth competing in Formula E but our first as one team.
"We have a long history in racing, and we also love to dare to do what others don’t. Our new livery celebrates our Japanese heritage and I’m certain that the design will stand out on track like never before. I’m really excited for the season to get underway, and I am confident that we have all we need to make the start of the Gen3 era a very successful one for us at Nissan.”
Tommaso Volpe, General Manager, Nissan Formula E, and Nanaging Director, Nissan Formula E Team, said: “We wanted to create something totally different and unique for this season to mark such an important moment for us in Formula E, and also to celebrate our Japanese DNA.
"The upcoming campaign is a big moment for the series, with the introduction of the Gen3 cars. But it’s also key for us at Nissan, with the team running under its new name as we take full ownership of all our operations in Formula E. All of us at Nissan are very excited for this new beginning, very motivated to tackle this new challenge, and very much looking forward to getting started.”
New era, new line-up
Nissan also has a new driver line-up for the upcoming season, blending experience and youth with Formula E race winner Norman Nato and 2022 Super Formula runner-up Sacha Fenestraz both joining the team. Frenchman Nato will compete in the #17 car, while Franco-Argentine Fenestraz will take to the wheel of the #23 machine.
“I really like the new livery, it’s different and will definitely stand out on track,” said Nato. “The cherry blossom design is a great touch, especially since it also signifies a new chapter in the championship and, even more so, for the team. This season is also a new beginning for me, a new chapter in my career, and one I’m extremely excited about.
“The car looks beautiful, I love the idea of the cherry blossom," added Fenestraz. "It’s the first time we’ve seen anything like this in Formula E and it’s great to celebrate the Japanese heritage of the team. I can’t wait to be on track and I’m really excited to get to Valencia and start testing soon. It’s a big step for me to race in Formula E, and to see the professionalism and dedication of the team is only pushing me to achieve the best possible results. We’re building up nicely to the season, in the simulator, tweaking and developing the car to start the campaign in a positive way.”
"I know we will have to work hard, but I am looking forward to it. We will keep focusing on getting ready for the season ahead, continuing to develop the car, and building a solid set up within the team so we are in a good place for the first race in Mexico. I feel prepared and I can’t wait to begin the new season with my new team.”
Shell and The Woolmark Company to partner with Nissan Formula E Team
For the upcoming season, Nissan Formula E Team will count on the valuable support of two key technical partners. The team will keep working closely with its well-established partner Shell, while is also proud to announce an exciting new collaboration with The Woolmark Company.
Shell will continue its long-standing partnership with the team into Season 9, demonstrating its commitment to Formula E. The partnership supports Shell in its continued development of its specialised Shell E-fluids, designed to optimise the efficiency of EVs, and its expanding Shell Recharge charging network, as it aims to become the global leader in EV charging services. Istvan Kapitany, Global Executive Vice President of Shell Mobility said: “Through our partnership with Nissan in Formula E, we are taking experience gained on the track and using it to create better products and services for our EV customers on the road. Formula E is an important testing ground for the development and production of cleaner energy products, including Shell Recharge, Shell E-fluids and other new energy products.”
The Woolmark Company joins Nissan Formula E for Season 9 as its technical partner to develop a high-performance team kit using Merino wool. “Our technical team worked hand-in-hand to craft a performance-oriented team kit, driving unexpected product offerings thanks to the inherent technical and eco-credentials of the fibre”, said The Woolmark Company Managing Director John Roberts. “The innovative nature of Merino wool is paralleled to the technology behind Formula E thanks to manufacturing techniques and engineering between our teams.”
"For us at Nissan it is very important to partner with companies that share our same values, priorities and long-term goals, especially when it comes to sustainability and electrification. We are proud to have the support of both Shell and The Woolmark Company and to collaborate with two likeminded partners who, like us, are committed to build a more sustainable future through technology and innovation”, concluded Volpe.