Bringing more big-name appeal to the Formula E program, André Lotterer joins Neel Jani for Porsche’s maiden season in the growing category which starts later this year. His experience in Formula 1 and WEC prepared him well for the technical understanding and multitasking needed to excel in this highly complicated format. To turn quick laps while adjusting all manner of electric motor parameters is what’s required of a Formula E driver, and now he has a car to match his talent.
Lotterer is one of those versatile divers who manages to perform in whichever category they choose. A childhood of karting followed by an adolescence spent in formula cars earned him a role as an F1 test driver in 2002. He then left Europe to compete on Japanese soil in Super GT and Formula Nippon (now Super Formula), where he was immensely successful, then returned to race with Porsche in its WEC program in 2009. Since then, he’s won Le Mans thrice, Super GT twice, Formula Nippon twice, and a WEC title. That level of success in so many top-tier teams, as well as the ability to speak five languages, makes him a strong fit into any category.
Breaking into Formula E
He set his sights on a full season in Formula E in 2017. Techeetah gave him his first stab at the series that year, he achieved two podiums and placed eighth overall. He repeated the same performance for the 2018 season with DS Techeetah, and for the 2019 season, he’s moved into Porsche’s Formula E team.
With nearly two decades of professional racing experience, much of which he spent with Porsche, Lotterer will not have much difficulty adjusting to his new environment. With his ability to drive anything quickly, plenty of experience with complex cars, a bigger budget to play with, and four podiums in Formula E, his future in this series is bright.