"Definitely a highlight of the season" - Formula E drivers with Japan history look forward to Tokyo E-Prix 2024

Formula E will race in Japan for the first time in its history in March 2024. While the country is new territory for most of the drivers, three of the current Formula E drivers are looking forward to their return to a place where they have lived and enjoyed great success in the past.

The inaugural Tokyo E-Prix was preceded by many years of planning until last year, when an initial agreement indicated, that a race could be held in the capital. Then, with the release of the provisional race calendar for 2024, it became official: Formula E is coming to Japan.

With Nick Cassidy, Sacha Fenestraz and Andre Lotterer, there are currently three drivers in the electric series who have already been active in the "Land of the Rising Sun". And all with great successes: Cassidy won the Japanese Formula 3 in 2015, the Super GT touring car series in 2017 and the Super Formula in 2019. Fenestraz also took the Formula 3 title in 2019 and was runner-up in Super Formula in 2022.

Lotterer was even more successful in Japan: in addition to two championship titles and a runner-up finish in Super GT, he also won the title once in Super Formula, which was still called Formula Nippon until 2012. He also finished runner-up four times and third five times.

Cassidy: "Hope we can market the race properly"

"I have a lot of friends there," Envision driver Nick Cassidy describes to Motorsport.com. "To race in a city that I used to really be in every day is really cool. I hope the fans embrace it and we can market the race properly to get attention and lots of spectators. Especially because the racing in Formula E is so good this year. If more people realize that, it can only be good for us!"

"This is very exciting," Andretti driver Andre Lotterer says. "Tokyo is a city that stands for the future and technology, so it's a perfect fit. It will definitely be a highlight of the season! Japan has a great automotive and motorsport culture. We will definitely have a great fan base. I even have Japanese fans who attend my races in Formula E," Lotterer continues. "You can therefore imagine that it will be gigantic. I think it will be a success!"

Fenestraz: "Like a second or third home"

"It's a home race for the team," explains Nissan driver Sacha Fenestraz. "But also for me it's like a second or third home. Since the race was announced, a lot of people have texted me, looking forward to seeing me drive. I really can't wait. I really wish a lot of fans will come because it will be a great race in the heart of Tokyo."

The inaugural Tokyo E-Prix is scheduled to be the seventh race of the 2024 season and will take place on March 30, 2024.