Working in motorsport is an intense job at the best times, but being a Team Manager for one of the biggest manufacturers in Formula E takes it to another level. Italian Francesca Valdani works with the Nissan Formula E team, and shares what her role entails and the reality of being a woman in motorsport.
With their new Season 10 driver line-up of Oliver Rowland - making a comeback to the team - and Sacha Fenestraz who seriously impressed in his rookie season, it’s clear Nissan have big dreams for the second year of the GEN3 era as Valdani explains.
Speaking to the Nissan newsroom before the season started, Valdani stressed that “race weekends are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the hard work the entire team is putting in” in Formula E.
“I've got various responsibilities,” Francesca Valdani says about her role of Team Manager at the Nissan Formula E Team, a job she took on a year ago. “I'm in constant contact with the Race Directors, FEO (Formula E Operations) and the sporting department at the FIA in case the team needs to report anything or if I have to pass a message on. Race day is quite intense, so I'm responsible for making sure we always stay within the regulations as a team. I also check that everybody is where they need to be and organise meetings during the day."
GET TO KNOW: What does a Formula E race weekend look like?
As well as previously working for TECHEETAH and now Nissan, Francesca is no stranger to the all-electric motorsport championship.
“I was very interested when Formula E launched and tried to get involved. I was lucky to join the championship in Season 2 and I quickly discovered how different it was to other motorsport series. The whole concept around sustainability, giving a positive message to the fans and the places we visit and to show people the future of electric mobility is really important.
“I'm still a big fan of more traditional motorsport, but I think Formula E is the series for the next generation. For me, it's a passion to work in the sport and I feel lucky that I can earn a living in an industry I love and deliver a positive message for the future of racing.
“Everything happens so quickly on race day in Formula E. In other series the weekend is spread over two or three days, but in Formula E we have practice, qualifying and the race all in one. It's quite a challenge, I begin the day with meetings and briefings, and then we have session debriefs and before you know it the race has started. There's a lot of emotion in one day and while it's a whirlwind for us, it's great for the fans!"
Nissan are already making big moves just three rounds into Season 10. During the Saturday in Diriyah, Rowland picked up the Julius Baer Pole Position and secured a third place finish in the race. It's a fantastic start for the team, who underwent lots of changes going into the GEN3 era.
“Joining the team a month before the first race [of Season 9] and a few days before pre-season testing definitely wasn't easy,” Valdani continues. “I went to Valencia without knowing the names of some team members and it took time to learn a new way of working, new dynamics and people. It was intense, but I worked hard at it and in the end everything went smoothly, so that was definitely my biggest challenge.”
As well as her incredible work at Nissan, Valdani is one of the fantastic women that works within Formula E.
"It's still a challenge every day,” she adds when discussing the challenges of being a woman in motorsport. “But several positive steps have been made in recent years, there are lots of women in important roles now which is great to see. We still need to support the next generation of girls getting into motorsport to continue the progress and this is something I aim to do. At Nissan we are lucky because we have several women in the team. This helps to create a diverse atmosphere, which is welcomed by our colleagues.”
The Japanese team finished seventh in the Teams’ Standings for Season 9, but Nissan claim they now know what they need to do to get on that podium more consistently in this upcoming season. A trip to Tokyo on the calendar is sure to be a big highlight!
READ: Formula E and the FIA launch bigger than ever Girls On Track for Season 10
"We established a strong base in Season 9, we knew what we were capable of and now we need to start securing more podiums, more pole positions and fight at the front more consistently. We have to show that we've got the potential to fight for the championships in future seasons, so we must make fewer mistakes and aim to score regular points. We showed flashes of how quick we can be in Season 9, but for the upcoming year our goal is to end as one of the strongest teams."