Formula E: Here to Stay – Lucas di Grassi to Race for Abt Lola

Lucas di Grassi will also compete for Abt in the new season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, which begins in early December in São Paulo. The Brazilian and the German team extended their decade-long collaboration and are now embarking on a new era together: from next season, Abt will form a team with Lola Cars and use a powertrain developed by the traditional brand in collaboration with the Yamaha Motor Company. With 47 podium finishes, Lucas di Grassi is the most successful driver in the World Championship founded in 2014.

“We are happy to continue our journey in Formula E with Lucas. He is not only a great ambassador for our team and the entire series, but like all of us, he is also eager and fully motivated to finally be successful again,” says Abt CEO Thomas Biermaier. “We know that collaborating with a new manufacturer brings many challenges. It is all the more important for us to have not only stable constants in the team but also the most experienced driver on our side with Lucas.”

Lucas di Grassi has competed in 131 Formula E races – more than any other driver.

“Having a driver with as much experience, talent, and passion as Lucas is a great asset for a new manufacturer entering the series. These qualities, combined with his long relationship with Abt, make Lucas the ideal driver for our return to motorsport,” says Mark Preston, Motorsport Director of Lola Cars. “His knowledge and feedback during tests have already proven invaluable, and we are looking forward to hitting the track together next season.”

First Drive of the New GEN3-EVO Design by Lola Yamaha

“Abt is my family. I have experienced the best moments of my career there and have full confidence in the people who work hard every day for success – that's why I'm happy that we are tackling the new challenges together,” emphasizes Lucas di Grassi.

The first steps into the new era were taken by the Brazilian himself: In mid-June, he drove the Lola Yamaha race car’s shakedown in the UK. It was the first drive of the new GEN3-EVO design with the newly developed powertrain.

“It is a very exciting project with people who know what it takes to compete in Formula E, and two renowned brands like Lola and Yamaha, which have a rich tradition in motorsport and a high level of technical know-how,” explains Lucas di Grassi. “Now we have intense weeks ahead of us. Together, we will do everything possible to be successful as quickly as possible.”

Second Cockpit Still Vacant

After a year-long break, Abt returned to Formula E at the beginning of 2023 with Cupra as its partner and has since been racing with a powertrain from Mahindra Racing. Even in the new configuration, Abt will leverage his extensive experience to support the racing team, with Lola as a manufacturer providing special assistance – the British brand is collaborating with Yamaha on the development of the powertrain and associated software.

The agreement between Lola and Abt to compete in Formula E is just one element of a joint venture between the two companies, which aims to explore various areas of sustainable motorsport. This is part of Lola's strategy to re-establish itself as an industry leader, focusing on three areas: electrification, hydrogen, and sustainable fuels and materials.

Abt Lola will decide who will take the second cockpit alongside di Grassi in the coming weeks, before all teams meet at the official test drives in Valencia (Spain) at the beginning of November.