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DS TECHEETAH confirmed on Thursday that Tortosa had "passed away suddenly" on September 21 at the age of 49.
Tortosa was race engineer to Jean-Eric Vergne during his title-winning 2017/18 and 2018/19 campaigns and was a key figure in DS TECHEETAH's run to double Teams' titles in Seasons 5 and 6, as one of the founders of DS' engineering team. He became the outfit's Chief Strategist last season.
"It was really heart breaking for me to receive the news of Pascal’s passing," said Vergne. "He wasn’t just my Race Engineer but my friend and we shared the passion to win. It was like he was in the car with me on every lap as I drove to my two championships.
"I am so pleased that Pascal and I had such great success together – I will dearly miss him and I send my deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones at this difficult time."
"Pascal was not only a colleague but a friend to many of us," added the team's Race Director, Leo Thomas. "He’s been in the team since day one, was a key element of defining the DNA of what is now TECHEETAH and played a major role in JEV’s titles. He will be deeply missed within our team. We will race for his memory and to make him and his family proud of us."
The thoughts and condolences of the whole Formula E family are with Pascal Tortosa’s family, friends and teammates following the sad news of his passing.