YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan proved to be a winner both on and off the track during the brand's debut season in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
Sebastien Buemi won the penultimate race on the streets of Brooklyn as the season wound up this month in New York. Four straight podium finishes propelled the Swiss driver to second place in the drivers' championship.
After 13 races in 12 cities around the world, Nissan's season highlights included six podiums (including five in a row to complete the year), six pole positions (the most for any team), and 16 Super Pole qualifying appearances combined between Buemi and Oliver Rowland – making Nissan e.dams the best qualifying team in the championship.
Still, the on-track accomplishments are only part of the success story for Nissan.
As the first Japanese company to join Formula E, Nissan used the championship to demonstrate the power and performance of its electric vehicles – a key component of the Nissan Intelligent Mobility vision – and to operate as a testbed for future electric mobility technologies for consumers.
At a team launch event in Japan last November, Nissan also unveiled the Nissan LEAF NISMO RC – a second-generation electric concept racer outfitted with two electric motors from the Nissan LEAF road car.
Nissan showcased Nissan Intelligent Mobility with on-site events at major races across the Formula E calendar. The company also highlighted the link between the Nissan LEAF and the Formula E program in airport and billboard advertising around the world and launched a social media push throughout season five.
"Nissan was very proud to participate in Formula E this season and proud of our first year's results," said Roel De Vries, senior vice president at Nissan and the company's global head of marketing, customer experience and brand strategy. "I want to congratulate Sebastien Buemi on our first win and the entire Nissan e.dams team on six podium finishes and six pole positions in our first season. These great results have helped us demonstrate the power and performance of Nissan Intelligent Mobility."
Buemi set a new series record with 11 appearances in Super Pole qualifying – five more than any other driver.
Rowland scored Nissan's first podium in Sanya, China, and followed that up with another podium on the streets of Monaco. Rowland finished the season in 10th place to become the highest-ranked rookie this season.
"We look back on our debut season with great satisfaction, not only for our on-track results but also for what we've achieved in taking our Nissan Intelligent Mobility message to the world," said Michael Carcamo, Nissan's global motorsports director.
"We knew the launch of the "Gen2' Formula E car in season five provided a perfect opportunity for Nissan, and we've been extremely pleased with the response from our fans and customers around the world.
"From our manufacturing centers, our global offices and our dealer network around the world, internally at Nissan the series has provided us with a brilliant platform to further excite everyone about electric mobility and the huge role it will play in all of our lives in the years ahead."
The countdown has now begun for season six, which starts in November. New races will include the championship's first visit to Seoul and a season-ending double-header in London, where the circuit will include a section inside the ExCel London exhibition center.
Contact
Anna Teslik
Global motorsports communications manager
Phone: +33 7 7614 7286
ATeslik@nissan-europe.com
Paul Ryan
Global motorsports press officer
Phone: +1 678 644 0404
paul@nismosupport.com
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