Lucas di Grassi said he was “very positively surprised” by the progress the Abt Formula E team is making in testing the brand new Lola/Yamaha powertrain, which can debut in December.
The most experienced driver in Formula E history will proceed his uninterrupted profession within the all-electric championship with Abt, with the German outfit having ditched the Mahindra powertrains it has used since returning to the Gen3 era in favour of newcomers from the Lola/Yamaha team.
The programme represents the primary major motorsport enterprise for Lola since its revival in 2022 by British businessman Till Bechtolsheimer following the storied brand’s bankruptcy in 2012.
Speaking to Motorsport.com, di Grassi said the project “has taken off in a very impressive way” for the reason that first test in June, with preparations for the 2024-25 season, which starts in Sao Paulo on December 7, now in full swing.
“Considering the complexity of the task of developing a powertrain from scratch, software from scratch and an entire team from scratch, I am very positively surprised by the level of organisation and where the team is at,” said di Grassi, who won the title in 2016-17 with Abt when the corporate operated the Audi works team.
“We have done over 2,000 or 2,500 kilometers with the automobile in a really reliable way. There is lots of progress. The automobile runs very easily. From my perspective, it looks very efficient, it looks superb.
Lucas Di Grassi, Abt Lola Formula E
Photo: Lola
“I won't understand how well we compare to the others until we go to Valencia for testing. [from 4-7 November].
“But in terms of the process, the people, how everyone is involved [things are positive].”
Among probably the most significant technical changes for the brand new season, with Formula E introducing its modified Gen 3 Evo automobile, will likely be the introduction of all-wheel drive to Attack Mode, qualifying duels and race starts.
Di Grassi explained that this was a serious focus during testing, adding that he was already impressed with the increased efficiency that comes with sending 50 kW to the front axle.
“Just getting 50kW at the front doesn’t seem like much, but the car changes dramatically, it’s 1.5 to 2 seconds faster,” added the Brazilian.
“So four-wheel drive will change the strategy dynamics in the race massively with attack mode and will massively change the way the car drives, the lines and the approach to it.”
Lucas Di Grassi, Abt Lola Formula E
Photo: Lola
Di Grassi's teammate has yet to be announced, with Nico Muller leaving to hitch the Andretti Porsche team.
Meanwhile, Lola has appointed Peter McCool as technical director, with predecessor Mark Tatham taking up a consulting role.
This is McCool's second season with Lola, having previously worked for the Cambridge-based manufacturer from 2009 to 2012. He reunites with Lola's director of motorsport, Mark Preston, following a spell with the Super Aguri Formula 1 team.
Lola has already committed to following the Formula E Gen4 rules, but Yamaha has not yet done so.
