Zane Maloney has been confirmed as the second ABT-Lola driver for the upcoming 11th season of the FIA Formula E World Championship.
The Bajan, who currently sits third in the Formula 2 Drivers’ standings with Rodin Motorsport, will partner FE veteran Lucas di Grassi, becoming the first and so far only rookie to be announced for Season 11, a move that Lola says proves its “overarching commitment to developing the next generation of motorsport talent and technology.”
Maloney is however already familiar with the paddock, having been Andretti’s reserve driver for Season 10, partaking in rookie tests in Misano and Berlin respectively, alongside fellow F2 racer Jak Crawford.
He is the second driver from the Formula 1 feeder series to make the jump to Formula E, with Taylor Barnard having been announced as a full-time driver with NEOM McLaren in August.
In a statement released by the British manufacturer, Maloney said: “I am delighted to be part of the Lola Yamaha ABT team and looking forward to this exciting challenge.
“Although I already know the championship well, this is a completely new chapter for me, so working with such an experienced team, and alongside such a successful driver, is the perfect next step.
“I’ve followed and admired Lucas’s battles over the past seasons, including when he became champion. I’m sure that I will learn a lot from him and together we will push both ourselves and the development of the car forward.”
With the final rounds of F2 taking place over the final two F1 weekends in December, Maloney has ample time to get to grips with the GEN3 Evo car, and has already been integrated into the team, having joined-up with the Huntingdon-based squad for testing in Varano, and will do so again this week in Spain, spending more time behind the wheel of the codenamed “T-001”.
“We won’t know how good our package is until São Paulo,” said Maloney, adding: “I am confident that I have the raw speed to be competitive, but experience is key in Formula E, so I will do everything I can to catch up here as quickly as possible.”
The 20-year-old arrives after an impressive season so far in which he took victories in the opening Sprint and Feature races in Bahrain, and has followed-up with a further five podium finishes, amassing 135 points so far, keeping him just in-touch with leader Gabriel Bortoleto and second-placed Isack Hadjar.
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