The Nissan Formula E Team is fully prepared for FIA Formula E E-Prix this weekend, as the series makes its return to Miami for the first time since the very first FE season.
The Japanese team has enjoyed a remarkable Season 11 thus far, with Oliver Rowland claiming two victories in the opening four races to lead the drivers’ standings. These stellar performances have propelled Nissan to the top of both the Teams’ and Manufacturers’ Championships.
“We’re proud to arrive in such a key market for Nissan while leading all three championships, and we have been working hard during the break to give ourselves the best chance to maintain our position,” said Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal of Nissan Formula E Team.
Strong US record for Nato
Norman Nato will be looking to maintain his impressive point-scoring record in the United States, having finished in the top-10 in both New York and Portland during all his previous Formula E competitions across the Atlantic.
“I’ve had a quiet and chilled time off,” Nato reflected. “It was a busy pre-season with the opening round in December and settling back in with the team, so it felt good to have a proper break. I’ve been with my family, training and resting, and now I’m ready to go flat out until the end of the campaign.”
Homestead-Miami Speedway, which has previously hosted every major North American motorsport series, now becomes Formula E’s latest US race venue. The original technical infield road course will challenge drivers with high-speed sections, with the most promising overtaking opportunities expected at Turns 1, 6 and 8, setting the scene for an exciting return to the Sunshine State.
Sérgio Sette Câmara, reserve and simulator driver for Nissan Formula E Team, offers insight into the unique challenges of the new track. “From my experiences in the sim, this is one of the trickiest circuits I’ve driven during my time in the championship due to its high-speed nature,” he explained.
“It’ll produce some great racing with wide sections of the track, and I think there will be a lot of important strategy calls and swapping of positions, which I can’t wait to see live.”
The importance of the US for Nissan
The American round holds particular significance for the team, as the USA represents Nissan’s largest market globally. The manufacturer has operated in the United States since 1960, with its current headquarters situated in Franklin, Tennessee.
Volpe emphasised the preparation required for tackling a new circuit. “We know we’ve still got some fine-tuning to do, which we’ve being focusing on during the break; now it’s time to put it all together on track and make sure we extract the best of the new directions we found,” he explained.
“It’s always interesting to race in new circuits, as we often do in Formula E. However, there are also many unknowns that come with it, so we’ve been doing a lot of pre-simulation and simulation work to identify the key challenges and what will make the difference in terms of performance. We’re expecting a peloton-style race, and we know we have good pace, so we have to be ambitious and will be targeting a strong result.”
Nissan FE are ready for the Miami E-Prix
Championship leader Rowland appears unfazed by his early success. “I’ve had a good break, been away and done some driver coaching, so I’ve kept myself busy and now feeling ready to go again,” he said. “Nothing’s different on our side despite the excellent start to the season – I have my goals for each race which don’t change. I’m in a good place mentally, and we’ve been preparing well for this event.”
“A new track is always exciting, it’s a long lap so getting up to speed quickly will be important. The race strategy should suit my style with the energy saving, so I’m looking forward to being out there.”
Nato also sees opportunity in racing at a new venue, saying, “For Miami, a new track is always an opportunity to perform strongly.”
“Nobody has reference points from previous years, so it will be important to hit the ground running in Free Practice. We’re expecting a strategic race, and we’re trying to understand the best approach possible ahead of the weekend.”
