Nissan Formula E Team takes double pole, podium and victory in intense home Tokyo event
Squad regains lead in Teams’ Standings in front of passionate crowd to head all three championships
Tokyo, JAPAN – Nissan Formula E Team entertained its home fans in the first-ever Tokyo double-header, taking two pole positions, a podium and a race win with championship leader Oliver Rowland.
Returning to Tokyo for the second time for Rounds 8 and 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the outfit’s impressive pace in Free Practice 2 on Saturday was rewarded, as the results of the session formed the grid after the cancellation of qualifying due to rain. This meant Rowland would start on pole, ahead of teammate Norman Nato in third.
The British driver held the lead following a Safety Car start in wet conditions, and built a healthy gap before a red flag halted his progress. Rowland took his mandatory Pit Boost just after the resumption of the race, but found himself in second place at the end of the pit window, behind a driver who had taken his stop before the red flag. Rowland pushed hard, but was unable to make a move for the win and secured second, his sixth podium of the season.
Meanwhile, Nato was in points contention during the opening stages, although an issue with his tires meant that he struggled to find grip on the Tokyo track, crossing the line 15th.
Sunday was dry, and both drivers impressed in the Group Stage of qualifying, progressing to the Duels, where they would meet in an all-Nissan Formula E Team quarter-final. Rowland moved on all the way to the final, taking his third consecutive pole position of the season and also his third in Japan, remaining the only driver to start first in the Tokyo E-Prix in its three editions.
Holding the lead off the line again, Rowland’s pace and the team’s excellent strategy paid off. Sitting as low as sixth before taking his final six minutes of Attack Mode, the driver of car #23 made some superb overtakes to move into the lead with a few laps to go, fighting off a stern challenge from behind to clinch his fourth win of the season.
Nato was fighting hard in the points after starting eighth, showing promising pace until contact set him back, eventually finishing in 17th.
The results see Rowland extend his lead in the Drivers’ Championship to an impressive 77 points, currently sitting on 161 having taken four wins and three second-places in the nine races so far. Nissan Formula E Team returns to the top of the Teams’ Standings on 172 points, while Nissan firmly retains its Manufacturers’ lead with 225.
Formula E remains in Asia for the next event, heading across the East China Sea to Shanghai, China, for Rounds 10 and 11 of Season 11 on 31 May – 1 June.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “What a special weekend! It’s such an amazing feeling to perform so well in front of our home fans. Yesterday was a tricky day with the rain, but we battled hard and were proud to take the podium with Oliver. In the end, we were unlucky not to win thanks to the timing of the red flag in relation to our Pit Boost window. Norman struggled to find grip, which was a shame because he had brilliant speed in Free Practice. He worked hard during the race but was unable to clinch the points his efforts deserved.
“And today was even better. We’ve had several Nissan colleagues and top management in attendance supporting us this weekend, so to win the race was fantastic. Oli did a great job to take pole, and then used his second Attack Mode perfectly to fight his way to the front and hold on despite pressure from behind. Norman did well to qualify for the Duels and was looking good within the points, before some contact while battling for position set him back. It’s frustrating for him and we’ll work hard to understand what happened and how we can improve.
“Overall the weekend has been positive – regaining the lead of all three championships at home is a great satisfaction. To hear the Japanese national anthem while standing on the podium in Tokyo is an incredible moment for everyone in the team, and we hope we made everyone at Nissan proud.”
Oliver Rowland, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “I’m thrilled to have had such a strong weekend in front of our home fans here in Japan. The car felt great throughout and the team did a brilliant job. Yesterday we were unlucky not to win the race, a driver from further down the order took a risk on Pit Boost which paid off really well, but second is still a good haul of points. Winning today with all this local support was an amazing feeling. We were stuck a bit further down the field ahead of our second Attack Mode so I knew we had to take a risk. It was intense, but I managed to get ahead and hold on until the end. To have this lead in the Drivers’ Standings is a dream, massive credit goes to the team for the way they’ve re-built the squad over the last few years. Our target is to keep this level of performance heading into Shanghai before we enter the latter stages of the season.”
Norman Nato, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “We started the weekend strongly in Free Practice and lined up P3 yesterday. In the race I found it difficult to find grip in the wet conditions, so that’s something we need to look into ahead of Shanghai. Today began well with FP3 and it seemed like we had turned a corner as I was battling in the points. Unfortunately I was hit by another car, which cost me several positions and I wasn’t able to battle back. Huge congrats to Oliver and the team for the results this weekend and we’ll look to pick up some much-deserved points next time out.”
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Nissan Formula E Team aiming to continue its strong form at home Tokyo E-Prix
Rowland and Nato targeting success at first-ever Japanese double-header
YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan Formula E Team is all set for its home E-Prix around the streets of Tokyo for Rounds 8 and 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, which takes place less than an hour away from Nissan’s global headquarters.
The Japanese outfit heads to its home event with Nissan sitting on top of the Manufacturers’ Championship and Nissan Formula E Team second in the Teams’ Standings.
To mark the occasion, Nissan Formula E Team has launched its first ever video game – ‘NISMO Electric Racer Tokyo’. The retro-inspired arcade game has been created in collaboration with Japanese Illustrator Kentaro Yoshida to celebrate the team’s home race in Tokyo. Additionally, a special edition livery that reimagines the existing Sakura-themed design will be unveiled across the NISMO social channels and during an event on 14 May at Nissan’s Global Headquarters in Yokohama.
Last time out, Oliver Rowland picked up a victory, a second place and a pole position during the Monaco double-header as he continues to lead the Drivers’ Standings. The Brit has fond memories of racing in Tokyo after wrapping up pole position and second in the race during the championship’s maiden outing back in March 2024. Norman Nato will also be aiming for another strong performance in the Japanese capital, after crossing the line in sixth during Season 10’s edition.
The 2.582-kilometer Tokyo Street Circuit awaits the drivers with the track surrounding the Tokyo International Exhibition Centre, the largest of its kind in Japan, also known as Tokyo Big Sight. Featuring 18 turns, the circuit includes a tricky and technical first sector of slow corners before three notable straights, combining all the elements for a challenging race, with overtaking most likely at Turns 1, 10, 15 and 17.
The first race of the weekend will be the third to feature Pit Boost. Nissan Formula E Team has been successful in the first two, taking second and first in Jeddah and Monaco respectively.
Rowland and Nato will be on-track from 16:00 (UTC+9) local time on Friday for Free Practice. Qualifying on Saturday and Sunday gets underway at 10:20, with lights out for both races at 15:00.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “After the success of the race in 2024, it’s very special for the whole team to be back in Tokyo and for a home double-header this time! As the only local team on the grid, this weekend is always very meaningful for us – not only do we get to race in front of the amazing Japanese fans, but also Nissan’s top management who will be in attendance giving us all their support at such an important moment for the company. This race has very quickly become a favorite for both fans and drivers. We’ve got some references from last year when we took pole position and second place, but the slightly updated layout will make the track even faster than before. Plus the Pit Boost on Saturday and then an extra round on Sunday will bring additional challenges. Our main objective for this event and for the remainder of the season is to score points with both cars and ensure that we are consistent. We’re the only team who’ve claimed five podiums this campaign so far, and we’re very determined to add to that tally this weekend.”
Oliver Rowland, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “We’ve had a strong start to the season which has put us in the Drivers’ Championship lead, but I’m still managing it race by race. When it comes to taking risks, we can’t get too conservative when we’re not even halfway through the campaign yet! I really enjoy the challenges and intensity of this track and it’ll be even quicker this year with the layout changes which have been made. The goal for the weekend is to get into the duels and then aim to be in the top five as we look to score positive points. The support at our home E-Prix is incredible and it adds some pressure to perform, but I love that!”
Norman Nato, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “Tokyo is a challenging street track with tight corners and chicanes, making it one of the most difficult to drive but also a fun circuit which I really enjoy. I’m feeling good with the car we’ve got so I’m confident we can score big points. The change to a double-header means there is a lot of preparation and adaptation between the races, as one will be more energy management focused. The aim for this weekend on my side of the garage is to get the podium we’ve deserved with car #17 since the first round of the season. And what better place to achieve this than in front of our amazing home crowd and Nissan fans in Tokyo!”
Sérgio Sette Câmara, reserve and simulator driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “This circuit is one of my favorites in Formula E and I enjoyed the maiden trip here last season. Qualifying will be important as it can be tricky to overtake at such a narrow track. With another double-header we’ve got Pit Boost again, which I think has been a great addition to the sport. It always keeps the race interesting, and we see the cars pushing the limit. I remember the support Nissan Formula E Team had in the grandstands last season, so I’m looking forward to being there as part of the squad this year!
About Nissan in Formula E
Nissan made its all-electric racing debut in Season 5 (2018/19) of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, becoming the first and only Japanese manufacturer to enter the series.
In Season 7 (2020/21), Nissan announced its long-term involvement in Formula E and its commitment to the GEN3 era, which will run from Season 9 (2022/23) through to the end of Season 12 (2025/26) of the all-electric racing series.
In April 2022, Nissan acquired the e.dams race team, with the Japanese automaker taking full ownership of its involvement in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
In June 2022, Nissan announced it would supply its Nissan EV powertrain technology to McLaren Racing for the entirety of the Formula E GEN3 era.
On 28th March 2024, ahead of the first ever Tokyo E-Prix, Nissan announced its long term commitment to Formula E, becoming the first manufacturer to sign up for the GEN4 era, which runs until 2030, reinforcing its pledge to its Ambition 2030 electrification targets.
For Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the Nissan Formula E drivers are Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato.
Nissan races in Formula E to bring the excitement and fun of zero-emission electric vehicles to a global audience. As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations and the life cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify every all-new vehicle offering by the early 2030s in key markets. The Japanese automaker aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the racetrack and road for better electric vehicles for customers.
About Formula E
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship became the first global sport to be certified with a net zero carbon footprint from inception back in 2020, having invested in certified climate-protecting projects in all race markets to offset emissions from every season of electric racing.
All cars in the championship are powered by electricity, with the series acting as a competitive platform to test and develop the latest in electric technology.
The World’s greatest manufacturers race against each other on street circuits and Formula E promotes the adoption of sustainable mobility in city centers in a bid to combat air pollution and lessen the effects of climate change.