Kiwis ready for Formula E
THERE will be plenty of Kiwi interest on the grid this weekend as the 2021 Formula E world championship hums into life with a doubleheader season opener in Saudi Arabia.
Longstanding Formula E racer Mitch Evans, sticking with Jaguar Racing for another year, will be joined in the 24car field by fellow New Zealander Nick Cassidy, making his debut in the all electric singleseater category for the Envison Virgin Racing team.
There’s a third Kiwi connection on the grid, too, in the form of BritishSwedish racer Tom Blomqvist lining up for the Chineseowned NIO 333 FE outfit. Son of former world rally champion Stig Blomqvist, Tom grew up in New Zealand, winning eight championship titles in karting here before heading to Europe as a 15yearold.
This weekend also sees the World Rally Championship roar into life for the first time since the seasonopening Monte Carlo Rally last month. Round two, the Finlandbased Arctic Rally, is a new edition to the calendar, replacing the championship’s traditional full winter event, the Swedish Rally.