'Formula E can become a destination, not an alternative'
F1 News
- GPblog.com
The 11 teams in Formula E have two E-Prix scheduled in Berlin this weekend, but they are also already looking at next Monday. Each team will then give two rookies a chance during a special test day. Not only experienced drivers like Daniil Kvyat will feature, but young talents like Victor Martins and Hugh Barter will also get time in a Gen3 car.
With that, there seems to be a turnaround: not only drivers who (no longer) have their sights on Formula 1 but also youngsters with serious F1 dreams who perhaps see a future in Formula E. At the press conference ahead of first free practice, teamboss Roger Griffiths of Avalanche Andretti expressed his delight that more and more drivers are finding Formula E interesting.
Two king classes
He told the media, including GPblog: "Formula E can become a destination, rather than an alternative." Moreover, Griffiths also observes, the accretion of top drivers is currently big. "Not for everyone there is a path to Formula 1. There can be two pinacles in motorsport."
For the Avalanche Andretti team, the Berlin test is important for another reason: regular driver Andre Lotterer will not be able to participate in the Jakarta ePrix. This is because the German will then have commitments for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. According to Griffiths, Avalanche Andretti has four possible replacements in mind. These include rookies Zane Maloney (reserve driver at Red Bull Racing) and Linus Lundqvist. Jamie Chadwick, who previously tested the team's FE car, is also an option.