The moves around the DS team have not only brought new hires, mergers and projects forFormula Eseason 9. The team announced its partnership with Penske, signed the newly crowned champion Stofel Vandoorne and appointed the experienced Eugenio Franzetti as Director.
However, a relevant brand in the short history of the electric series has been left out of the new equation. It is Techeetah, which will be left without a place on the grid for the Gen3 era.
According to a report fromThe Race, the reason for the separation refers to the failure of the company that manages the team to make the investment required to continue in the series. This choice was made after DS itself had already decided to change course.
For a couple of seasons now, uncertainty had surrounded DS Techeetah‘s operations due to a lack of sponsors and funding to stay in the series.
Working on a Comeback
After the hard blow that means for Techeetah not to accompany the Formula E in its new stage with a new vehicle, new format and an extensive calendar, the directors of the firm are already taking steps to return as soon as possible.
According to Mark Preston, the team’s Director, they have started to make contacts with several constructors to guarantee their return to the championship in 2024. However, the main obstacle relates to the license to compete in the tournament held by the company that owns the team.
“We built a fantastic team and proved that with the right partners we could consistently achieve wins and titles,” Preston added. “Now we need to reorganize and rebuild a fresh start, with new investors and new partners for the future. We believe we have the skills to write another successful chapter in the Gen 3 era″, assured Preston.
Read also:Formula E Season 8 Breaks Ratings Records Once Again
A Category Benchmark
The departure of Techeetah implies a setback not only for the brand, but also for the tournament’s history, since so far the squad remains the most successful in Formula E.
The roster has won three drivers’ and two teams’ championships between 2018 and 2020 with Jean-Eric Vergne and Antonio Felix da Costa, central to those achievements.
The ninth season of Formula E has generated exciting anticipation with the arrival of the new GEN 3 car, with a completely innovative design and technical package, as well as the debut of Hankook as a tire supplier.