Breaking news
Formula E
BMW confirms partnership with Andretti Formula E team
BMW has formally confirmed that it is in partnership with the Andretti Formula E team on a long-term basis in the all-electric series.
Sam Smith
Edited: Sep 27, 2016, 10:43 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
The move comes after rumours of a partnership circulated earlier this year, and BMW-contracted driver Antonio Felix da Costa signed for the team before forsaking his role in the DTM to concentrate on his Formula E campaign with the US-based team.
Da Costa and season three teammate Robin Frijns will compete for the Andretti squad in the 2016/17 season, which kicks off with the first ever Hong Kong ePrix next month.
BMW has supplied course cars throughout the first two seasons of Formula E and brings a fleet of its fully-electric and hybrid vehicles to every race. The BMW i8 is used as the Safety Car and an all-electric BMW i3 is utilised as the official Medical Car.
It is understood by Motorsport.com that BMW’s involvement with Andretti includes a view to the German manufacturer entering the championship in a full works capacity in the future. BMW engineers and team members have been working with Andretti since earlier this year.
Motorsport.com revealed in July that BMW was working with a team widely believed to be Andretti after speaking to BMW boss Jens Marquardt.
"Over the coming years, the cooperation with Andretti Formula E will primarily focus on familiarising ourselves with the procedures and processes, and on intensifying our knowledge," said Marquardt.
"Our works driver Antonio Felix da Costa will be in action behind the wheel. A works involvement is then conceivable as of the series’ fifth season.
"The premise for all these steps is the further positive development of the series, which includes increasing the capacity of the batteries, for example.”
The news comes at the same time as BMW's confirmed entry in the FIA World Endurance Championship from 2018, which is part of a major expansion of the marque's global motorsport plans.
Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW, said: “The new motor racing strategy is particularly characterised by a strong ‘brand fit’. The different commitments ideally contribute to the attributes that fans and customers connect with the respective brand.
"We will extend the existing target groups and will – for instance – become even more visible for urban and young customers, as with our Formula E commitment.
"Overall we are very well positioned with this strategy in motorsport and are represented on the most important markets worldwide. BMW and motorsport – they belong together.
"This combination has always shaped the brand.”
BMW’s commitment to Formula E ensures that it joins Audi, DS, Faraday Future, Renault, Jaguar, Mahindra, NextEV and ZF as automotive and/or major electrical engineering manufacturers.
Volvo and Nissan are also known to be looking closely at the championship for potential future programmes.
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Opinion: Is Formula E’s New York odyssey really a game changer?
Next article Renault e.dams launches dynamic, new 2016/17 FIA Formula E Championship livery
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Sam Smith
Formula E won't change roadmap for new manufacturers
Formula E
Formula E
Formula E won't change roadmap for new manufacturers
Didier Artzet: The French F1 talent that slipped through the net
Formula 1
Formula 1
Didier Artzet: The French F1 talent that slipped through the net
Formula E teams warn against manufacturer-led "arms race"
Formula E
Formula E
Formula E teams warn against manufacturer-led "arms race"
More from
Antonio Felix da Costa
Alpine explains decision to drop Antonio Felix da Costa, Fred Makowiecki from Fuji WEC line-up
WEC
WEC
Fuji
Alpine explains decision to drop Antonio Felix da Costa, Fred Makowiecki from Fuji WEC line-up
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
Formula E
Formula E
London ePrix II
Antonio Felix da Costa defends Jaguar, says Pascal Wehrlein took Jake Dennis out “on purpose”
Antonio Felix da Costa joins Alpine’s WEC squad after Porsche exit
WEC
WEC
Bahrain
Antonio Felix da Costa joins Alpine’s WEC squad after Porsche exit
More from
Andretti Autosport
Kyle Kirkwood seals career-best IndyCar season with Laguna Seca runner-up
IndyCar
IndyCar
Laguna Seca
Kyle Kirkwood seals career-best IndyCar season with Laguna Seca runner-up
Will Power crashes hard in second IndyCar Markham practice
IndyCar
IndyCar
Markham
Will Power crashes hard in second IndyCar Markham practice
Marcus Ericsson will remain with Andretti for 2027 IndyCar season
IndyCar
IndyCar
Portland
Marcus Ericsson will remain with Andretti for 2027 IndyCar season
Latest news
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
5 h
Tom Cruise interested in racing ARCA car, per NASCAR CEO Steve O'Donnell
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
7 h
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
8 h
William Byron to run Jeff Gordon throwback Axalta scheme at Phoenix
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
IndyCar
Indy IndyCar 8 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe