Andretti Formula E will test former Formula 1 and full time Andretti Rallycross driver Scott Speed alongside two-time IndyCar Champion and Indianapolis 500 winner Gil De Ferran.
The duo will be at Donington Park for the Formula E testing days, with Speed and De Ferran attending on July 3rd and 4th.
Speed was the first American since Michael Andretti in 2006 to compete in Formula 1, and looks forward to his return to a single seater, albeit in a new, pioneering, fully electric car.
“I’m excited to get into a single-seater again,” said Speed. “I expect it to be a very steep learning curve seeing as I haven’t driven anything with downforce in seven years.”
Speed will join Andretti’s only confirmed Formula E driver, Franck Montagny, as he and de Ferran test the Renault-Spark.
“Being an Ambassador and strong supporter of Formula E, from day one I have been very curious and interested in how an electric-powered racing car would behave and handle,” said the former IndyCar Champion.
Further appeal for the experienced Brazilian driver is the unique technical aspects that Formula E represents.
“I am highly interested in the technical side of motorsports so this has been a great curiosity for me,” said the Indy 500 winner. “Obviously I haven’t driven anything feverishly for over five years, so it will certainly be a challenge but something that I am really looking forward to. Hopefully now I will be able to speak about Formula E and its qualities from a first-hand perspective.”
Team principal Michael Andretti is thankful to see the duo in the car, but was quick to stress the team are looking to evaluate their options ahead of choosing Montagny’s partner.
“I’m delighted to see both Scott (Speed) and Gil (de Ferran) in our cars for the upcoming test,” said the team principal. “Scott is one of our contracted drivers with great open-wheel experience, so we’re happy to have him fill the seat while we evaluate options for our second full-time Formula E driver. Gil has been a longtime friend of the team and we look forward to hearing his feedback about the cars.”
Andretti will use the testing days to not only learn the car, but the potential drivers to complete their driver duo. The team will need to announce a second driver swiftly, with Beijing and the season opening race now only months away.
