Abt has retained Lucas di Grassi for the following System E season, its first in partnership with Lola and Yamaha.
The veteran – who gained the very first System E race – has competed in all however two of his 9 System E campaigns with Abt, changing into champion in Season 3 when the workforce was partnered with Audi. He rejoined the workforce final season after spells with Venturi and the Mahindra manufacturing facility workforce.
“Abt is my household,” mentioned di Grassi. “I’ve skilled the very best moments of my profession there and have full confidence within the individuals who work laborious each day to attain success – so I’m glad that we’re additionally tackling the brand new challenges collectively.”
di Grassi has already pushed Abt’s new Lola-powered GEN3 Evo automobile in a shakedown in mid-June and is happy concerning the workforce’s subsequent chapter with the historic motorsport model.
“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,” he added. “Now we have a couple of busy weeks forward of us. Collectively we’ll do the whole lot we are able to to achieve success as quickly as attainable.”
In addition to his championship victory, di Grassi has scored 12 of his 13 System E wins with Abt, and competed in all however 31 of his file 131 and 35 of his 40 podiums with the workforce.
“We’re delighted to proceed our journey in System E with Lucas,” mentioned ABT CEO Thomas Biermaier. “Not solely is he an amazing ambassador for our workforce and the whole championship, however like all of us, he’s keen and totally motivated to lastly achieve success once more.
“We all know that working with a brand new producer brings many challenges. This makes it all of the extra necessary for us to have probably the most skilled driver at our aspect in Lucas, along with the everlasting members of the workforce.”
It’s that have which Lola motorsport director Mark Preston can be invaluable as the corporate embarks on its first System E foray.
“Having a driver with such expertise, ability and dedication as Lucas is a large enhance as a brand new producer getting into the sequence,” mentioned Preston. “These attributes, mixed together with his current relationship with ABT, make Lucas the best particular person to have on the wheel for our return to motorsport.
“His information and suggestions throughout testing have already confirmed invaluable and we sit up for hitting the monitor collectively in Season 11.”
The affirmation of di Grassi’s retention comes after the workforce introduced that Nico Mueller is departing the workforce. The Swiss driver, who may even go away the Peugeot World Endurance Championship program, has been linked to a swap to Porsche. His substitute at Abt is predicted to be introduced within the coming weeks.
After sitting out the 2021-22 season following Audi’s exit from System E, Abt returned in 2022-23 as a buyer of Mahindra. The workforce has endured a difficult couple of seasons with the Indian producer although, taking no podiums and a greatest end of fourth within the second Misano race earlier this yr courtesy of Mueller. di Grassi had a greatest results of ninth final season, within the closing race in London
