So a part of Hollywood lands in the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship, as award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who also has established his credentials through various environmental campaigns, has joined forces with the newly-formed, Monaco-based Venturi Grand Prix Formula E Team to reserve the final team place on the list of those that have decided to take the bold step forward with the first 100% electric series.
The team was founded by DiCaprio, along with founder of EV pioneer Venturi Automobiles, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, Bert Hedaya and Francesco Costa. Venturi itself is a pioneer with regards to electric racing, as well as having created vehicles that have been built for the road, along with breaking land speed world records in a car of their own design that has reached 307mph.
Gildo himself, has aspirations of moving into becoming a constructor in the second season, so the planning is already looking at least two to three years ahead of what is already set to come in September next year, when the cars speed into action in Beijing next September. “Formula E gives us the fantastic opportunity to further improve our advanced technologies through motorsport, as well as compete all over the world,” he said. “It also gives us the chance to be part of a new racing programme with a project that really shares Venturi’s values for clean mobility, innovation in the field of electric propulsion and energy efficiency optimisation.”
DiCaprio himself stated that he was happy to be a part of this outfit, especially with the forethought they have shown now and what they are planning for the future, which should also help to impact in the future of the automobile: “The future of our planet depends on our ability to embrace fuel-efficient, clean-energy vehicles.”
Formula E Holding CEO Alejandro Agag said that it was an honour to welcome the final team that will look to compete in ten different cities across the four corners of the globe, as well as showing how much of a resume that Gildo himself has within this field of technology: “Gildo is a true pioneer in electric racing. From the desert of Salt Lake to Antarctica, his passion and vision pushes forward the technology barriers of what can be done with an electric car. But Gildo is not alone in this venture. Global entrepreneurs Francesco Costa and Bert Hedaya bring great experience and energy to the team.”
He also went on to give DiCaprio himself a “special welcome” to the dries itself, especially with the fact that the American actor and Sir Richard Branson are both heavily focused in making the masses aware on sustainability issues, which includes automobile technology.It seems as if the last two entries have brought some form of ecological credentials that many may not have expected, but with the help of the teams, drivers and personalities involved, Formula E may become that “spark” that changes the way racing evolves, from the minute the lights go out…
