The newest team to the Formula E grid: Citroën Racing. Boasting a driver line-up fuelled with experience and talent, the French team will be hoping to take the field by storm in their debut year.
Citroën Racing
The motorsport history for Citroën lies mainly in rally racing. Having won countless off-road titles in off road racing and in the World Touring Car Championship, the team switches its focus to electric racing.
The team takes over from the Maserati partnership that endured three seasons in the all-electric series but opted to bow out after Season 11.
Having found success in the World Rally Championship with Sebastian Loeb (tallying 80 wins and nine world titles alone) the team enters with a wealth of experience.
Ventures in the World Touring Car Championship also proved fruitful, the team dominating WTCC for three seasons, taking the top three spots in the championship.
Now the team has set its sights to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, partnering with the MSG Racing outfit. The team boasts a dangerous lineup having recruited two-time world champion Jean-Éric Vergne, alongside 11 time race winner Nick Cassidy.
Jean-Éric Vergne
Somewhat of a veteran now to Formula E, Vergne has enjoyed an illustrious career in Formula E. Over 146 race starts the Frenchman has racked up 11 wins, 38 podiums and two world titles.
Having made history as the first back-to-back world champion the Frenchman brings not only a wealth of experience but also knowledge and race winning prowess.
Having spent three seasons in Formula 1 with Scuderia Toro Rosso Vergne (also commonly known as JEV) made the jump to Formula E with Andretti ahead of its debut year.
Despite a stunning debut with the American squad, Vergne made the switch to Virgin Racing for Season 2. Despite adding to his pole tally, victory remained elusive meaning Vergne jumped ship again, this time to TECHEETAH for Season 3.
A first win in Montreal led him on a championship charge and, in his fourth season, Vergne secured his first world championship after four wins and six podiums.
The following season Vergne retained his crown, holding his nerve in the season finale in Brooklyn to beat his three championship rivals.
The following seasons proved turbulent for JEV. Missing out on the title in Season 6 followed by a run in the midfield for Season 7 and a painfully unlucky Season 8 saw a third championship slip out of his grasp several times.
The new GEN3 Era for Season 9 saw JEV paired with the newly rebranded DS Penske and despite being in race winning machinery the Frenchman has failed to compete for the championship in the last few years.
Now at Citroën for Season 12, Vergne will be looking to get back to the form that made him one of Formula E’s most feared competitors.
Nick Cassidy
Up until now, a Formula E world title has eluded Cassidy. The Kiwi has come painfully close on several occasions and, now at Citroën, he will look to finally claim his first title.
Joining the grid for Season 7, Cassidy joined the Envision Racing outfit. 2 podiums met the young Kiwi in his opening year but it was the following season where he secured his first victory in New York.
Season 9 though was where Cassidy mounted his biggest championship challenge. Battling all season with Andretti’s Jake Dennis the championship ultimately was lost following a tangle with his teammate at the final round in London.
His eight podiums and four wins attracted Jaguar and Cassidy jumped ships for Season 10.
Eight podiums and two wins rounded out a promising first campaign with the team and the following season delivered a further five podiums, four of which were wins.
Yet the illusive first world title continued to evade him resulting in his departure after Season 11.
Season 12 will see Cassidy’s third change of scenery as he pairs up with Vergne for Citroën’s debut season in the all-electric series.
Can it be third time lucky for Cassidy as he seeks to secure his first world championship?
Testing provides reason for optimism
Optimism was apparent after the four day testing period in Valencia for Citroën.
On the opening day the team were immediately up to speed, Vergne and Cassidy finishing ninth and tenth respectively with both having spells up in the top five.
Day 2 showed signs of improvement for Cassidy as he slotted comfortably into sixth in the morning session, having clocked laps notably faster than the previous day.
In the afternoon, the Kiwi spent time in the top three, fractionally behind the Mahindra’s who were setting the pace.
Vergne shifted his focus to longer runs as the team began race simulations for their first season.
The team continued to deliver, day 3 providing home that the team can compete at the front of the field as Cassidy continued to run just a quarter of a second off Mortara’s Mahindra at the top of the time sheets.
The final day proved more quiet for the Citroën pairing yet the team ended the four day test briming with confidence that they have delivered a race winning car.
Top ten or wins on debut?
As their debut looms the team’s aims will undoubtably have changed following the Valencia test.
Such strong pace would be associated with a strong, title contender usually, yet a new team to producing such times is unusual.
If the team can deliver on their pre-season pace then wins and podiums should be the aim for the season.
However, settling into the series and developing a championship winning car will also be on their minds as they seek to build on the success they have experienced in previous series.
Feature image courtesy of Formula E