Virgin Racing Team have today announced that Sam Bird and Jaime Alguersuari will be their first ever driver pairing in Formula E.
Alex Tai, Team Principal of Virgin Racing Formula E Team, said: “Jaime and Sam are exceptional talents and real fighters on the racetrack, who bring with them experience of Formula One and racing at the highest level. Virgin has always been renowned for its technological innovation and for backing young talent, and we’re looking forward to giving both drivers the equipment they deserve to show just how good they are.”
Both drivers certainly fit the profile of young talent.
Alguersuari was the youngest ever driver to make a Formula One appearance back in 2009 when he raced for Toro Rosso, a team well known for promoting youngsters. While there, he took two top ten finishes in his first season before moving across to become Pirelli’s tyre test driver. It was not only in Formula One where the Spaniard broke young records. He was the youngster driver to take the British Formula 3 title back in 2008. Stunningly, it was also his season debut.
In case of Bird, not only is he the first British driver to be announced in Formula E, but he came extremely close to joining on the back of a GP2 title, but missed out narrowly, finishing the season with five victories. Elsewhere in his career, he has been shortlisted for the McLaren Autosports BRDC Award, performed well in Formula Renault 3.5 and sampled Formula One in testing behind the wheel of the Mercedes and Williams team’s cars.
Upon his announcement, the Brit said: “Formula E is going to be a brilliant experience and I can’t wait to get started on what will be an exciting new challenge in my career. I know I’m going to be driving the latest in electric vehicle technology and I’m looking forward to testing myself around the streets of some of the world’s most amazing cities.”
The founder of Virgin, Richard Branson said: “Jaime and Sam are young yet experienced drivers and fantastic guys off the racetrack to boot. I’m delighted to welcome them both to the Virgin Racing family. Jaime has demonstrated speed and talent at the very highest level whilst Sam is a proven race winner. I am sure they will be a formidable force on the circuits, let sparks fly!”
Fans will get a chance to see those sparks fly in the season opener in Beijing on the 13th of September.
