The Tokyo E-Prix race week is finally here! One of the most anticipated rounds ever seen on the ABB FIA Formula E calendar is just days away, and here’s what some of our grid had to say about the Japanese capital being host to Round 5 of the championship.
“I’m buzzing,” Reigning World Champion, Jake Dennis (Andretti) said on Formula E’s The Added Lap show. “I can’t wait to be honest, it’s going to be an incredible circuit. I have driven it on the simulator and it’s tight, twisty and bumpy. The third to last corner is like a blind left over a jump and then into a downhill chicane!
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“It will be fun to watch on TV, I don’t know about the driver's spines! It is going to be challenging with the really fast tight corners. It’s a little bit like Rome really!”
Dennis, who currently sits fifth in the Drivers’ Standings after the first four rounds, will be hoping the similarity to the iconic Rome street circuit will work in his favour as he won one of the two Italian races there last season on his way to the title.
It’s also going to be a huge weekend for Nissan. Last week Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. announced its partnership with Formula E as the Official Race Partner of the first ever Tokyo E-Prix. The team, consisting of Sacha Fenestraz and Oliver Rowland are currently on a streak of back-to-back podiums thanks to Rowland.
The Yorkshireman, who returned to his old team Nissan at the start of Season 10, will be hoping he can make it a hatrick of podium places in front of the home crowd.
"I'm delighted to have secured another podium in São Paulo and want to keep this positive form going into the team's home race,” he stated.
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“I'm super excited to be racing in Japan. I went there a few times in karting, and from what we have experienced at the Nismo Festival, the reception we receive from the fans is second to none, so I'm really looking forward to getting on track. It's positive pressure, when you have this type of support you have extra energy to focus on the challenge, we need to manage that in a balanced way, not get too excited but also not too nervous. It's going to be a huge race for the team and I can't wait to get out there and experience the atmosphere!"
On the other side of the garage is Sacha Fenestraz, who is now into his second season of Formula E and a great addition to the Nissan family.
“I did a big part of my career in Japan, so going back there will be awesome and I cannot wait for the race,” the Argentine-French driver added. “ I know how amazing and crazy the Japanese fans are, so that will make it even more special.
“It's the first time the team and Formula E are going to Japan, so we are looking forward to seeing all the amazing support in the grandstands. It will be almost like a home race for me, the track looks really interesting so I'm excited to go racing!"
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Plenty of drivers have visited Tokyo for leisure, but never raced there and are thrilled to be returning.
“I think it's one of the big highlights of this season in the calendar,”Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther confessed. “I've been to Tokyo once, and I can't wait to go back there. It's an amazing city!”
Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans, who narrowly missed out on the victory in Brazil last time out, also added that he had seen his current teammate Nick Cassidy racing in Japan before but never been behind the wheel in the country himself.
“We're super pumped to get out to Japan,” Evans continued. “It's my first time racing out there. I have been to Tokyo before and love the city. I've actually been asked to watch Nick Cassidy before in Super GT and Japanese fans were really passionate. I'm looking forward to getting our machines out there. And hopefully the event is great, and we can put on a show for them.”
SCHEDULE: Where, when and how to watch or stream the 2024 Tokyo E-Prix Round 5
The inaugural Tokyo E-Prix gets underway on Friday 29 March with Free Practice 1 at 16:25 local time.
WATCH: How to watch or stream Formula E's Tokyo E-Prix where you are
Then it's on to race day on Saturday 30 March as Free Practice 2 kicks off the day at 07:55 local, qualifying follows at 10:20 local with lights out on Round 5 at 15:00 local/06:00 UTC.
View the full schedule in your time zone and check the broadcaster listings or tap the Ways to Watch button above to find out where to watch all the racing action where you live.