Andretti Autosport special, Part 2: Formula E – current thinking

Adding all-electric racing to its roster is the kind of new challenge that Andretti Autosport relishes.

When Andretti Autosport signed up for the inaugural 2014-’15 FIA Formula E Championship, it was faced with a lot of new and different challenges.

For starters, it was going racing with all-electric racecars (including mid-race car swaps), although this was new territory to almost all of the teams. But that was coupled with a lack of access to the Spark-Renault SRT_01E cars between events (a similar situation to what it had briefly faced during its tenure as Team USA in the A1GP), as well as the potential logistical complications that come with a series that races on four continents.

But uncharted waters have not been a barrier to results. Six drivers shared the team’s two entries over the opening seven races, and so far they’ve combined for three podiums and two pole positions.

Both poles and one podium came courtesy of ex-Toro Rosso Formula 1 racer Jean-Eric Vergne (RIGHT), and the Frenchman believes that the processes Andretti has developed over time in North American racing have been a factor in helping it hit the ground running in a new environment.

“The FIA Formula E Championship is at a very high level, and Andretti is one of the best teams,” he says. “The experience they have from America gives them a really good way of working, from the mechanics to the engineers. There is no secret – if you want to be successful, it’s all down to the work that you do, and so far the work that Andretti is doing has been really good.

“They have a different mentality. Even though there are some English engineers, the heart of the team is American. It’s the first time I’ve raced for an American team, and they are really professional and can compete with the best teams in Europe.”

Scott Speed is one of Andretti Autosport’s Global Rallycross regular drivers, but he earned a Formula E runner-up podium on his Miami debut, and is set to compete in the remaining non-clashing events. He acknowledges that the team’s broad focus can present challenges, but points out that one program can inform another.

“Sure, it’s not easy,” he says. “But on the other hand, it does kind of help everything, too, because you might take what you’ve learned on some IndyCar tests over to the FE side, for example. Or, you can take some technology or technique from the open-wheel side and apply it to the GRC. Of course it’s a challenge to take on so many different series, but I think they all help each other as well.”