Abbi Pulling confirms multi-year contract after F1 Academy championship

Abbi Pulling, who won the 2024 F1 Academy championship title after dominating the season, has secured a multi-year contract with the Nissan Formula E team as a rookie and simulator driver. 

The 22-year-old will take part in rookie tests, simulator sessions, event preparation, and contribute to the setup of the Japanese outfit's state-of-the-art Dynisma simulator. Commenting on her new role, Pulling stated, “I’m really excited to be joining Nissan Formula E Team and extending our collaboration together, after driving for the squad during the all-women’s test in Jarama.

"Everything the team did for me during the test was so professional. The time and effort put in to make sure I was prepared was great to see, and the crew were patient with me as a rookie.

"The GEN3 Evo car is so unique, especially the 350kW mode in all-wheel drive which was very fun to use! It’s different from anything I’ve driven before, and it took some time to adjust to the increased power. I’m looking forward to my work in the simulator and to take the car on track as well when the opportunities arise.”

As well as being one of the standout stars from the all-female racing series, F1 Academy, Pulling also has experience competing in the W Series, Formula Renault Eurocup, and British Formula 4. This year, she is racing with Rodin Motorsport in the GB3 Championship.

The British driver secured the seat with Nissan after an impressive outing in the first-ever women's Formula E session at Circuito del Jarama in Madrid in November. Managing director and team principal Tommaso Volpe noted Pulling's "speed, commitment, and professionalism" as major selling points to the team. 

“We’re very pleased to welcome Abbi to the team as our official rookie and simulator driver on a multi-year agreement," Volpe explained.

Second place and 2024 F1 Academy Champion Abbi Pulling, Rodin Motorsport celebrates on the podium

Photo by: Clive Mason/Getty Images

"We were very impressed with her speed, commitment, and professionalism during the all-women’s test in Madrid last November, and we’re very happy to extend and formalize our collaboration.

"She is very talented – she was able to adapt incredibly quickly to the car and comfortably top the timesheets, which is difficult in every category but even more so in Formula E, so she is the perfect candidate to join us in this role.

"Abbi will have many responsibilities in the position we’ve created for her; we want to give her as much experience as possible and we are confident that this long-term, continued collaboration will be very beneficial both for the team and for Abbi, to keep developing as a more complete driver.”