Formula E reportedly loses Lucas di Grassi as development driver

Lucas di Grassi has left his test driver post with the FIA Formula E organization, so that he can be a driver with one of the teams.  The issue is that FIA rules don’t allow a series test driver to also be a participant in the series, and therefore to be in the series he has to join one of the teams.

According to a report on Thursday on German news site, Motorsport-Total, di Grassi is thought to be planning to race with the Audi Sport ABT Formula E team, because of his existing connections with Audi through Le Mans racing.

This leaves an opening at Formula E for a test driver. According to CurrentE, the Formula E office didn’t confirm di Grassi’s departure, but did confirm the rules quandary that would force di Grassi to leave.

Apparently, “The Stig” (Ben Collins) has said he’s going to join Formula E racing – as a development driver

Open the door to the Tesla Destination Charger network using these Tesla-J1772 adapters

Sponsored

Delighted to sign with @FIAformulaE development program & ready to unleash high voltage! @autosportnews @vwmotorsport @ST_Driving #electric
— Ben Collins / Stig (@BenCollinsStig) December 12, 2013

@Current_E @ofux1 @FIAformulaE no premature annunciation – but more official info to follow!
— Ben Collins / Stig (@BenCollinsStig) December 13, 2013

• About the Author
• Latest Posts

About David Herron

David Herron is a writer and software engineer living in Silicon Valley. He primarily writes about electric vehicles, clean energy systems, climate change, peak oil and related issues. When not writing he indulges in software projects and is sometimes employed as a software engineer. David has written for sites like PlugInCars and TorqueNews, and worked for companies like Sun Microsystems and Yahoo.

• Apple using Tesla Megapack energy storage at California Flats solar farm - April 1, 2021
• Tesla Supercharger network finally expanding into Romania - March 31, 2021
• Volkswagen USA LIED about changing its name to Voltswagen - March 31, 2021
• Apple moving 110 suppliers to renewable energy solutions - March 31, 2021
• BMW makes deal for lithium sourced from salt lakes in Argentina - March 30, 2021
• Kia introduces EV6, with 500 km range, ultra-fast 800v charging - March 30, 2021
• Volkswagen renames itself Voltswagen to demonstrate EV embrace - March 30, 2021
• Big Lie: Wind turbines cause Texas to freeze during massive winter storm - February 17, 2021
• Shell announces shift to renewable energy, peak oil production in 2019 - February 16, 2021
• Electric Last Mile Solutions seeks to electrify delivery van market - February 12, 2021