The fourth season of the all-electric Formula E series begins on December 2-3 on the streets of Hong Kong. BMW works driver António Félix da Costa returns to run for the MS&AD Andretti Formula E team.
Félix da Costa is slated to drive the #28 MS&AD Andretti ATEC-003 for the entire season. At Hong Kong the second Andretti car, #27, will be driven by Toyota LMP1 and former Formula 1 driver Kamui Kobayashi. Apparently Kobayashi’s deal is for one event only, but Formula E leadership wants him in the series for the season.
BMW factory driver Tom Blomqvist was named as the second driver when the FIA Formula E entry list was released in early November, but, according to e-racing365.com, which has become the go-to news website for the series, the Andretti team asserted its right to name the driver for the second car. They say that a compromise was reached between the team and BMW Motorsport over driver choice.
BMW’s pre-Hong Kong race press release says “Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi will drive the number 27 car at the season opener in Hong Kong. Plans are also afoot for BMW works driver Tom Blomqvist (GBR) to race with the team during Season Four. He was registered on the FIA entry list. MS&AD Andretti is solely responsible for allocating the cockpit of the number 27 car.”
In Season Five Andretti Formula E will become a BMW factory team with a drivetrain being developed by BMW. BMW’s release states that “The races in Hong Kong represent another important step on the road to Season Five for BMW and MS&AD Andretti Formula E. The cooperation between the BMW engineers and the team has been further intensified in recent months, and this process will continue over the course of the season. In Hong Kong, the team will also call upon the experience it gained during testing in Valencia (ESP) in the runup to the new season.”
The Hong Kong races will be carried live on Fox Sports 1; race one will be aired at 2:00 AM eastern time on Saturday, December 2 and race two will be aired at 2:00 AM eastern on Sunday December 3.—Brian S. Morgan
