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Zane Maloney Joins Abt Formula E for 2024/25 Season
Formula 2 race victor Zane Maloney is set to make his debut in the world of Formula E as he joins the Abt team for the 2024/25 season. The 20-year-old will take part in his first race at the Sao Paulo E-Prix on December 7 and will kick off pre-season testing in Valencia from November 4-7.
Maloney’s ascension to Formula E follows a successful season in Formula 2, where he is currently placed third in the standings. He began the year with impressive performances, sealing victories in both the sprint and feature races during the inaugural event in Bahrain for Rodin Motorsport. However, his new commitments in Formula E will see him bypass the concluding rounds in Qatar and Abu Dhabi.
This season marks a significant milestone for Maloney, who not only becomes the first driver from Barbados to compete in Formula E but also serves as a reserve driver for Sauber in Formula 1. Prior to this, he held the position of test and reserve driver for Andretti Racing, which provided him with invaluable experience in rookie tests across various circuits such as Berlin, Rome, and Misano. His early exposure to the new Gen3 Evo machine and the powertrain developed through the collaboration of Lola and Yamaha has equipped him with insights that will be beneficial as he ventures into the electrifying series.
“I’m genuinely excited about this opportunity,” Maloney expressed in an interview with Autosport. “Joining Abt, Lola, and Yamaha is a big step in my career and a chance for me to grow professionally under a talented team.” He further mentioned that without specific expectations for his debut season, he aims to focus on continuous improvement and learning.
At Abt, Maloney replaces Swiss driver Nico Muller, who has transitioned to Andretti, and will partner with seasoned racer Lucas di Grassi. The duo’s collaboration is anticipated to bring a fresh dynamic to the team, with Abt CEO Thomas Biermaier highlighting the importance of nurturing young talents. “Zane has already brought a revitalizing energy to our early interactions,” Biermaier remarked, affirming Abt’s long-standing tradition of fostering young drivers in the sport.
The upcoming season also marks the inaugural campaign of the new partnership among Abt, Lola, and Yamaha. Di Grassi has expressed optimism about their development progress thus far. Maloney is enthusiastic about the chance to work with distinguished brands at the onset of this innovative initiative, stating, “I see this as an exciting opportunity. At my age, I am eager to embrace this challenge alongside experienced engineers and learn from Lucas, who has a wealth of knowledge.”
As the only driver on the current grid without prior Formula E experience, Maloney is entering a competitive environment where establishing oneself quickly will be crucial. The only remaining team yet to confirm its driver line-up for the season is ERT, which previously ran drivers Dan Ticktum and Sergio Sette Camara.
Current Formula E 2024-25 Driver Line-up
Abt: Lucas di Grassi, Zane Maloney
Andretti: Jake Dennis, Nico Muller
DS Penske: Maximilian Guenther, Jean-Eric Vergne
Envision: Sebastien Buemi, Robin Frijns
ERT: TBC
Jaguar: Nick Cassidy, Mitch Evans
Mahindra: Edoardo Mortara, Nyck de Vries
Maserati MSG: Jake Hughes, Stoffel Vandoorne
McLaren: Sam Bird, Taylor Barnard
Nissan: Norman Nato, Oliver Rowland
Porsche: Antonio Felix da Costa, Pascal Wehrlein
Source
www.autosport.com