The start of a new Formula E season is always an exciting time for all the teams and drivers, although this weekend’s season-opening Mexico City E-Prix is a particularly special one for the ABT CUPRA Formula E Team, as it’ll mark their 100th race in the all-electric series.
ABT CUPRA would’ve celebrated their 100th start at the Season 9 finale in London, had they not been forced to withdraw last year from the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix.
The Kempten-based squad head into Season 10 on the back of a challenging return to Formula E, after not competing in Season 8. Unfortunately, they were the backmarker side in the opening year of the Gen3 era.
The team’s highlight was without question their shock front row lockout in Berlin, an occasion they’ll never forget.
However, the team intends to make progress in 2024 and try to score more points, something Lucas di Grassi is also targeting. Di Grassi has returned to ABT CUPRA, who he competed for from Season 1 to the end of Season 7. The Season 3 Champion has replaced Robin Frijns.
Di Grassi has moved to ABT CUPRA from Mahindra Racing, although he’ll still be using the Indian manufacturer’s disappointing powertrain given that ABT CUPRA is their customer outfit. The Brazilian has fond memories of Mexico City, where he claimed pole position and a podium 12 months ago.
In ABT CUPRA colours, Di Grassi has been victorious twice at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, highlighting his success at the venue. The 39-year-old loves Mexico City and how the “drivers are treated like rock stars”, making it the “perfect place” for the team’s 100th race and to kickstart Season 10.
“It would be a dream if the season consisted of 17 races in Mexico: No matter if we had to swap cars or make an extra pit stop, if we had an accident or started from the back – we always ended up with a trophy here,” Di Grassi said.
“A weekend in Mexico is not only different on track, but also in the paddock, where we drivers are treated like rock stars. The fans are more enthusiastic than anywhere else in the world – the perfect place to start the season.”
Whilst Frijns has departed ABT CUPRA, Nico Müller has stayed put for Season 10, after impressing in the second half of the season. Other than his front-row start and top-10 finish in Berlin, the Swiss driver also picked up great points in Rome and London.
However, the recent off-season has been a struggle for Müller, after a shoulder injury forced him to withdraw from the 6 Hours of Fuji. He’s been “trained hard” though, to ensure that he’s in great condition for Mexico City, with him revealing that there is a “growing anticipation and excitement” at ABT CUPRA’s base.
“It’s great that it’s finally starting again,” Müller said. “I’ve been training hard over the last few months to get fit again after my shoulder injury – I’ve achieved that and even a little more. I’m ready and looking forward to the start of the season.
“I’ve just been with my team in Kempten to prepare in the simulator and you can see the growing anticipation and excitement among all the engineers and mechanics there as well.”
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