Porsche’s 2019/20 Formula E drivers Neel Jani and Andre Lotterer took the covers of the 99X Electric ABB FIA Formula E car for its maiden season in the championship.
The drivers revealed the new car during a four-hour live launch event broadcast on Twitch from the Porsche Digital campus in Ludwigsburg.
The 99X Electric features Porsche’s familiar motorsport colours of white, black and red. It is named in Porsche’s usual fashion – with the three digits representing Porsche’s racing cars and two-door road machines.
Porsche said in a press release: “The highest number, nine, was used twice, to re-emphasise the importance of the Formula E project for Porsche, while the X stands for the forward-looking approach and prototype racing,” explained an official Porsche statement.
The team will be headed by Pascal Zurlinden, Porsche’s director of factory motorsport has joined the FE outfit in addition to his role in the marque’s works GT racing programmes.
He will work with technical chief Malte Huneke, Porsche’s head of FE operations Amiel Lindesay – previously its team manager in LMP1 in the World Endurance Championship – and Carlo Wiggers, director of team management and business relations for Porsche motorsport.
Fritz Enzinger, vice president of Porsche motorsport and group motorsport at Volkswagen AG said, “Today is an important day. With the premiere of the Porsche 99X Electric, we are taking a big step towards the Porsche works entry in Formula E.
“I am really proud of our team, which has shown a high level of commitment to the Formula E project. Now I am looking forward to seeing the Porsche 99X Electric on the racetrack.”
Zurlinden added: “Today sees the Porsche 99X Electric join the list of historic Porsche motorsport cars. The naming and the design give the car its initial character and bring it to life. It is a special day for everyone who has put a lot of work into the Porsche Formula E project in recent months.”
Porsche has been prepping for Formula E programme in the wake of pulling out of the WEC at the end of 2017, having rolled out their development car at its Weissach base earlier this year with testing at the Calafat and Mallorca circuits in Spain.
These were initially carried out by Jani and development driver Brendon Hartley who joined Dragon for the 2019/20 season after Porsche opted for Lotterer from DS Techeetah.
The team has one final session of private testing ahead of the three days of official Formula E pre-season testing in Valencia, set for October.
TAG Heuer and Porsche entered a long-term agreement for their Formula E engagement, as the Swiss luxury watchmaker becomes Title and Timing Partner. The Porsche works entry into the ABB FIA Formula E Championship 2019/2020 will be under the name of TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team.
Detlev von Platen (Member of the Executive Board for Sales and Marketing, Porsche AG): “Long-standing tradition, highest precision and technical innovation has always been common values for Porsche and TAG Heuer. The ABB FIA Formula E Championship is the perfect platform for both companies to create the future of motorsports. I am convinced that the partnership with TAG Heuer will be another great example for team successes in motorsport.”
Stéphane Bianchi (CEO of LVMH Watch making division and CEO of TAG Heuer): “We are truly honored to begin our partnership with Porsche, a move which further strengthens our presence in Formula E. Beyond sharing the same passion for motorsport and having the same challenger spirit, our two brands have the same uncompromising love for quality and technology. TAG Heuer is looking forward to supporting the team on its journey into Formula E and the upcoming races.”
Michael Steiner (Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development, Porsche AG): “Porsche and TAG Heuer both look back on a successful history in motorsport. We are very proud of having TAG Heuer on board as Title and Timing Partner on Porsche’s work entry into the world’s first electric street racing series. We can’t wait to be writing a new chapter as TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.”
Frédéric Arnault (Chief Strategy and Digital Officer, TAG Heuer): “This partnership with Porsche demonstrates our ongoing commitment and support for Formula E, to which we were a founding partner. Innovation has always been at the core of the TAG Heuer brand and this partnership with Porsche’s new team will enable us to continue bringing to life our ambition to create new and experimental innovations within motorsport.”
Fritz Enzinger (Vice President Porsche Motorsport and Group Motorsport Volkswagen AG): “We are delighted to welcome TAG Heuer again at Porsche Motorsport. Looking back on our successful history, both brands will build on former achievements for this new era in Formula E. It is exciting times that we join our forces again and that together our huge passion for motorsport continues to be alive. We are counting the days for our first race as TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team in November this year.”
https://www.grandprix247.com/2019/08/09/hartley-to-race-in-formula-e-as-well-as-wec/
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