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Techeetah replaces Virgin as works DS Formula E team for 2018/19

Techeetah has confirmed its long-rumoured partnership with DS Automobiles, with the team becoming a works manufacturer squad ahead of the 2018/19 Formula E season.

The Chinese team has been a Renault customer outfit for the last two seasons but will now take over from Virgin Racing as the DS works team.

Jean-Eric Vergne, who clinched the 2017/18 FE drivers' championship in New York last weekend - where the team lost out to Audi in the fight for the teams' title - had already confirmed Techeetah would receive OEM support for 2018/19 ahead of his title-winning season.

"We've had some brilliant battles on track this season with DS and we can't wait to combine the wealth of experience and expertise of arguably two of the best teams in the paddock, as Techeetah becomes a manufacturer team for the first time," said Techeetah team president Edmund Chu.

"I'd also like to thank Renault for the last two years, they have given us an incredibly reliable powertrain, resulting in our driver, Jean-Eric Vergne, winning the drivers' title and the team almost winning the teams' championship, only missing out by two points.

"It's been an incredible feat by the whole team. We're the small customer team that could take on the giants, a team where anything is possible.

"This is the spirit that we're taking into our new partnership with DS and we are looking forward to a very competitive time together.

"Everyone in the team is hungry for the challenge and will be working even harder next year to clinch both championships."

Vergne and his season four team-mate Andre Lotterer were announced as DS development drivers last month, with the pair again testing the manufacturer's Gen2 DS E-TENSE FE 19 in Spain last week.

"Our involvement in Formula E is an integral part of DS Automobiles' commitment to the electrification of our model line-up," said DS Performance director Xavier Mestelan Pinon.

"The DS E-TENSE FE 19's development began several months ago with the objective of being in a position to challenge for the top step of the podium from the opening race of the 2018/2019 campaign.

"Our association with Techeetah, who recently celebrated winning the 2017/2018 drivers' title in addition to coming second in the teams' standings, is geared towards this target.

"Techeetah has demonstrated their exceptional skill and knowledge in electric street-racing over the last season and we're looking forward to combining our expertise to create a championship winning team and I am convinced that our two entities will dovetail perfectly."

A statement announcing the new arrangement explained that "full details of the partnership, including logo, livery, management and driver line up will be revealed October 1 2018."

It is understood at this stage that Vergne and Lotterer will continue with Techeetah for the first season of FE's Gen2 era.

Zdroj: autosport.com