The Abt System E workforce has confirmed that Lucas di Grassi will stick with the squad for subsequent season when it’ll use the Lola/Yamaha powertrain for the primary time.
Di Grassi’s profession within the all-electric championship has been synonymous with Abt having raced for the German model over a seven-year interval which included profitable the 2016/17 drivers’ title.
The Brazilian rejoined Abt firstly of the 2023/24 season after two years away however struggled to match the performances of team-mate Nico Muller this time period, ending 48 factors behind after solely taking three factors finishes.
Di Grassi, although, has been concerned within the testing of the brand new Lola/Yamaha powertrain and the brand new Gen3 Evo machine, each of which is able to debut in System E subsequent season.
“Abt is my household. I’ve skilled the most effective moments of my profession there and have full confidence within the individuals who work laborious each day to attain success – so I’m joyful that we’re additionally tackling the brand new challenges collectively,” mentioned di Grassi, who will embark on his eleventh season in System E.
“It’s a really thrilling mission with individuals who know what it takes to achieve success in System E, alongside two famend manufacturers in Lola and Yamaha with a wealth of motorsport heritage and technical prowess.
“We’ve just a few busy weeks forward of us. Collectively we’ll do all the things we will to achieve success as quickly as attainable.”
Picture by: Abt/Lola
The 2024/25 marketing campaign will mark Lola’s return to a single-seater world championship having been resurrected by British businessman and IMSA racer, Until Bechtolsheimer, who purchased the title and remaining property in 2022 after the model had beforehand gone into administration.
The System E mission has been headed up by Mark Preston, a stalwart of motorsport having been concerned for many years in F1, whereas in System E, he was workforce principal at Techeetah because the squad took three drivers’ titles on the bounce with Jean-Eric Vergne (twice) and Antonio Felix da Costa between 2017-2020.
Regardless of having but to hit the monitor in anger, the British producer has already dedicated to the Gen4 ruleset which will likely be applied forward of the 2026/27 season.
“Having a driver with such expertise, talent and dedication as Lucas is a large increase as a brand new producer getting into the sequence,” mentioned Lola Automobiles motorsport director, Preston.
“These attributes, mixed together with his present relationship with Abt, make Lucas the perfect individual to have on the wheel for our return to motorsport.
“His information and suggestions throughout testing have already confirmed invaluable and we look ahead to hitting the monitor collectively in Season 11.”
It was confirmed earlier this month that Muller would go away Abt, the Swiss driver anticipated to affix Andretti, with Abt as a result of announce his alternative and di Grassi’s team-mate in the end.