Andre Lotterer has bid goodbye to formula racing along with Formula E after leaving Andretti with the focus on sportscar.
The German sportscar legend, multiple Le Mans winner and FIA World Endurance champion hailed a “life-changing” time in Formula E, rating the series as the “most challenging and fun championship” he’s raced in.
Lotterer ‘grateful and proud’ of Formula E career
“I would like to personally thank Alejandro Agag, his team and the FIA for bringing Formula E to life,” says Lotterer. “It has been a fantastic journey, and you have changed the lives of many of us.”
“Formula E was the most challenging and fun championship I have ever taken part in!” continues Lotterer. “I’m extremely grateful and proud to have driven in Formula E, to have promoted sustainable technologies and to have met the amazing people in this paddock, some of whom are now my best friends. Thank you all for the amazing support in all these years.”
Closing a decades-long chapter
“It’s time for me to close my 26 year-long chapter in formula racing,” said the 41-year old on Instagram. “I’ve decided to no longer take part in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in order to fully concentrate on my challenge with Porsche Penske Motorsport at Le Mans (for the fourth time) and in the FIA WEC.”
Andretti confirmed the news via social media, adding “we would like to thank Andre for all his efforts and wish him the very best in his future endeavours.”
“It was a great ride from Formula BMW and Formula Renault to Formula 3, Champ Car, Formula Nippon, Super Formula, Formula 1 and all the way to the Formula family I joined at the start of Season 4 in 2017.
“I would like to thank the people who helped me to join this innovative and exciting championship: Leo Thomas, Julian and Alexander Jakobi, JEV and the TECHEETAH team! The experiences together were great!”
Fond memories, silverware but the win remained elusive
Lotterer started out at TECHEETAH, in the 2017 double-header in Hong Kong and celebrated a maiden podium at just his fourth race in a memorable battle with teammate Jean-Eric Vergne.
Eight podiums, two Julius Baer Pole Positions and three TAG Heuer Fastest Laps were his haul, but he never quite managed to convert the win in electric racing’s top tier. A move to the factory TAG Heuer Porsche squad on the German giants’ Formula E debut in Season 6 followed before Lotterer headed to Andretti for the first GEN3 campaign.
“A big thank you also to TAG Heuer Porsche for giving me the opportunity to lead the team on its Formula E debut in Season 6! Last but not least, I would like to thank my engineer, Fabrice Roussel, who supported me from the start and throughout has been incredibly supportive throughout the three Formula E teams, as well as the Avalanche Andretti for their confidence in Season 9.”
Andretti have yet to announce who’ll race alongside Formula E Drivers’ World Champion Jake Dennis.
Here’s full statement from Andre Lotterer: https://www.instagram.com/p/Cw61xr_rMK6/?img_index=1
[Note: The story is as per press release]