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Formula E: Get to know DS Techeetah

By Benjamin Kuhl

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 15: The Formula E car arrives on a boat at the Jan Vinckbrug bridge prior to the announcement of Heineken becoming an official partner of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship on October 15, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The five-year partnership will begin in the 2018-2019 season. (Photo by Michel Porro/Getty Images for Heineken)
AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS - OCTOBER 15: The Formula E car arrives on a boat at the Jan Vinckbrug bridge prior to the announcement of Heineken becoming an official partner of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship on October 15, 2018 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The five-year partnership will begin in the 2018-2019 season. (Photo by Michel Porro/Getty Images for Heineken) /
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While DS Techeetah stand as one of the new teams to Formula E, they will be looking to build on previous successes in the fifth season.

DS Techeetah are one of the relative newcomers to Formula E, with the 2016-2017 season being their first full season after taking over Team Aguri. The main addition for the team for the fifth season of competition is DS Automobiles, which will replace Renault as the powertrain supplier. DS Automobiles is no stranger to electronic automobiles, as the company specializes in electric automobile technology development in its road cars and vehicles.

DS Techeetah step into the fifth season after a strong result in the previous season. They came within two points of winning the team championship. The Chinese organization served as a real challenger to the seemingly dominant Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team, and they will look to do the same with their new Gen2 DS e-tense FE.19.

The drivers

Jean-Eric Vergne, #25

Serving as the veteran to the second-year team, Jean-Eric Vergne has competed in Formula E since its first season in 2014 with Andretti Motorsport, Virgin Racing and now Techeetah. He found his stride in the 2018 season with four race wins and six podium finishes, which clinched him the championship.

Like many drivers in the series, Vergne began his career in go-karts and worked up through the junior Formula series. He also boasts a significant level of experience from his days in Formula 1 when he drove for Scuderia Toro Rosso. The Frenchman will be looking to defend his title in the coming season.

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Andre Lotterer, #36

Andre Lotterer is set to begin his second year of Formula E competition with Techeetah. The fourth season of Formula E, Lotterer’s first, was one of learning for the German driver, who is famous for his feats with Audi Sport Team Joest in endurance racing.

After a rough start, Lotterer managed to land on the podium twice, which helped to end his first season of Formula E competition on a higher note than it started. He will be looking to build on his experiences from the 2017-2018 season and compete for race wins. He also boasts experience in Formula 1 after he was called up in 2014 by the Caterham team for the Belgian Grand Prix.

As a team, the DS Techeetah organization will be looking to maintain the performance that Jean-Eric Vergne held last season and continue to develop Andre Lotterer, who is a proven winner in endurance racing. As it stands, they have a driver lineup that includes two drivers who have valuable experience in Formula 1. Will the efforts of DS Automobiles and Techeetah be the right combination in the first season of Gen2 Formula E?

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Both of these drivers are set to be on track soon, as the first round of the 2018-2019 Formula E season is scheduled to kick off on Saturday, December 15 with the Ad Diriyah ePrix at the Riyadh Street Circuit in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Tune into Fox Sports 1 for live race coverage starting at 6:30 a.m. ET.

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