The NIO Formula E Team, formerly NextEV NIO Formula-E Team, has today announced its driver line-up and revealed the new livery for its 2017/18 challenger, ahead of the official pre-season test in Valencia which gets underway today.
NIO confirmed that Oliver Turvey will remain with the team and will also be joined by Italian racer Luca Filippi for the 2017/18 FIA Formula E Championship (pending FIA e-Licence). Turvey enjoyed numerous appearances in Super Pole last season and also claimed a Julius Baer Pole Position in Mexico City.
The NextEV NIO 003 sports an evolution of its familiar teal livery with a new dark, tonal teal contrast for Season 4. The fresh design also features accents of performance red and the team’s social media hashtag #BlueSkyComing – the meaning of the company’s Chinese name, Weilai. The team has also completed 15 full days of private testing at the Calafat Circuit in Spain and exceeded its mileage target.
Oliver Turvey, #16 NIO Formula E Team, said:
“Firstly, I would like to thank NIO for their continued belief and support in me. I am delighted to be continuing for a third season with the NIO Formula E Team. I believe we have grown together over the last two seasons and we have been able to make some good progress together. The whole NIO team has been working extremely hard on the new Season 4 car and in the development testing I have felt some positive changes in the chassis and powertrain. I am confident the team has made a step forward and believe we have gained a greater understanding of the car. The growth and progress of the FIA Formula E Championship is amazing and I am proud to be part of such a strong series with an exciting future. The competition is very high with the level of teams and drivers in the series although I am confident if we continue to build on last year, where I consistently qualified strongly and took my first FE pole position, we can achieve our aims together to challenge for podiums and race wins. I would like to welcome Luca to the team; he brings a lot of experience, and having raced against him previously, I know he will make a strong team mate. I know we will work well together to develop the car and build a stronger team. The new livery is stunning! I really like the contrast between the light and dark teal and the way it represents the NIO “Blue Sky Coming”. I can’t wait to get in the car at Valencia for the official test and for the first race in Hong Kong!”
Luca Filippi, #68 NIO Formula E team, said:
“Let me firstly thank everyone in NIO for the great opportunity given to me to race in the FIA Formula E Championship. It is a new electric world for me and a new racing system oriented to the future that is full of talent and clean technology, so I am extremely excited to become a part of it. During our first test run together in Spain I immediately had a great feeling with the car and all the people in the team. To join NIO for S4 is a dream come true and I am very much looking forward to working with Oliver and Gerry and starting this journey with everyone in the NIO Formula E team.”
Gérry Hughes, Team Principal, NIO Formula E Team, said:
“Two months after the last race event of Season 3, we are delighted to reveal the NextEV NIO 003 chassis in revised livery and with the team being renamed under the NIO Brand for Season 4. Over the summer we completed multiple seasons worth of testing mileage with the NIO 003 development chassis which features an all new rear end, the design of which came under the leadership of Paul Fickers (Engineering Director – Performance Programme). Season 4 sees us welcome Luca Filippi on-board with the NIO Formula E Team and I firmly believe that these two drivers will form a formidable driver pairing for the coming season. Whilst Luca is new to the series he brings with him a wealth of motorsport experience which our young dynamic team will be looking to exploit. I am under no illusions that Season 4 will be any less competitive than last season, however I feel that we are in good shape preparation wise and the whole team is looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead. Bring on Hong Kong which is the home race for NIO!”