Breaking news
Formula E
Porsche Le Mans star Jani joins Faraday Future Dragon squad
Porsche’s World Endurance Champion and Le Mans 24 Hours winner Neel Jani will make his Formula E debut in 2017/18 with Faraday Future Dragon Racing.
Scott Mitchell
Edited: Sep 4, 2017, 5:17 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Jani won the 2016 edition of Le Mans on his way to clinching the WEC title with Romain Dumas and Marc Lieb aboard a Porsche 919 Hybrid.
The 33-year-old, who has tested for the Faraday-backed Dragon team already, replaces Audi’s LMP1-turned-DTM driver Loic Duval alongside Jerome d’Ambrosio. Jani’s LMP1 employer Porsche is due to enter FE with a works team in 2017/18.
Jani has driven for Porsche since its return to the top class of sportscar racing in 2014, and it is likely that the desire for one of its key assets to learn the electric single-seater series was behind Porsche giving him approval to join Faraday/Dragon.
Jani said he was “thrilled” to be joining the American outfit, which is looking to bounce back from an extremely disappointing 2016/17 season.
“An excellent fit”
Dragon had been a leading team in FE but had a poor first campaign aligned with emerging American manufacturer Faraday Future.
After winning a race in each of the first two seasons, it slumped to eighth in the teams’ championship, with a best finish of fifth.
Jay Penske, Dragon team owner, said: “As a team, we have set our target of winning races and competing for the championship in the coming season, and Neel was an essential component of that equation.
“When you look at the best drivers in the world, from both a racing and car development perspective, Neel is at the top of the list. He’s an excellent fit within our programme.”
Jani will make his FE race debut in Hong Kong on December 1-2.
What next for Duval?
It is unknown whether Duval, who claimed his maiden DTM podium last weekend at Zandvoort, will continue in FE.
The Frenchman had driven for Dragon since the fifth race of FE’s inaugural season, but had been expected to leave the team after a tricky campaign.
Duval’s relationship with Dragon was hurt when he endured severe speculation over whether ex-Formula 1 driver Esteban Gutierrez would take his seat – before the Mexican eventually joined Techeetah – and then had to miss the Paris round because of a DTM clash.
2017/18 Formula E grid so far:
Team
Drivers
Renault e.dams
Sebastien Buemi
Nico Prost
Faraday Future Dragon Racing
Jerome d'Ambrosio
Neel Jani
Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler
Lucas di Grassi
Daniel Abt
Techeetah
Jean-Eric Vergne
TBA
Andretti
Antonio Felix da Costa
TBA
Mahindra
Nick Heidfeld
Felix Rosenqvist
DS Virgin Racing
Sam Bird
TBA
NextEV NIO
Nelson Piquet Jr
Oliver Turvey
Jaguar
Mitch Evans
TBA
Venturi TBA
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 Technique - Under the skin of a Formula E car
Next article Jani: Dragon Formula E drive no guarantee of Porsche seat
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Scott Mitchell
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Formula 1
Formula 1
Alfa Romeo must do better in "chaotic" races - Vasseur
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Formula 1
Formula 1
Honda: Verstappen relationship 'like a young Senna'
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
Formula 1
Formula 1
Key team personnel shouldn't be F1 boss - Ferrari
More from
Neel Jani
Estre, Jani praise revisions to "fairer" Le Mans qualifying format
WEC
WEC
24 Hours of Le Mans
Estre, Jani praise revisions to "fairer" Le Mans qualifying format
Jani explains fix for bizarre Porsche door problem while leading WEC Spa race
WEC
WEC
Spa
Jani explains fix for bizarre Porsche door problem while leading WEC Spa race
Daytona 24h: Derani unleashes track record to capture pole for Cadillac
IMSA
IMSA
Daytona 24 Hours
Daytona 24h: Derani unleashes track record to capture pole for Cadillac
More from
DS Penske
How Penske could stay in Formula E after DS’ exit
Formula E
Formula E
Berlin ePrix II
How Penske could stay in Formula E after DS’ exit
DS Automobiles to pull out of Formula E after 2025-26 season
Formula E
Formula E
Madrid ePrix
DS Automobiles to pull out of Formula E after 2025-26 season
Guenther to race alongside Vergne at DS Penske in Formula E
Formula E
Formula E
Guenther to race alongside Vergne at DS Penske in Formula E
Latest news
Gibbs, Spire and Gabehart argue over contempt and injunction
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
52 min
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
1 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 1 h
Alexander Rossi takes over IR-28 testing as IndyCar pushes new chassis to the limit at Sebring
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Charlotte II
1 h
Daniel Suarez will return to Spire Motorsports for 2027 NASCAR Cup season
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