August 13, 2021
With Season 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship entering the finale race weekend in Berlin, the Andretti Formula E team has begun to unfold Season 8 plans, where the founding Formula E team will return to independent competition after serving as the BMW works team for three seasons. BMW announced in December 2020 that the German manufacturer would discontinue factory competition at the conclusion of the current season.
Though no longer a works team for Season 8, the outfit led by Michael Andretti will adopt the BMW drivetrain for continued competition and has now confirmed the team’s current driver Jake Dennis returning to pilot the No. 27 all-electric race car.
Andretti Formula E head Michael Andretti said:
“As a founding team of Formula E, we’re as committed as ever to the Series, and everything it stands for. Our participation in Formula E supports our goal of offering exciting racing, in all of its forms, to fans".
“Season 8 will look different for us as we return to an independent team but announcing Jake’s continuation will provide strong continuity and is just the first step in building out a new and exciting direction. We’re excited to welcome back a great deal of the staff and crew, while continuing to give our global fans a place to call home. We look forward to many more seasons of wheel-to-wheel racing and a future of electric mobility.”
Since Season 1 of competition, Andretti Formula E has secured seven pole positions, 15 podiums and seven ABB FIA Formula E wins, and has fielded an array of talented drivers including Scott Speed, Marco Andretti, Simona de Silvestro, António Félix da Costa, Maximillian Günther, Robin Frijns and Jean-Éric Vergne.
Andretti and BMW will continue to collaborate in Season 8 with Andretti using BMW’s drivetrain, while building towards its longer-term manufacturer and partnership infrastructure in preparation for Formula E’s Gen3 era of competition beginning in Season 9.
Andretti Team Principal Roger Griffiths said:
“Jake has shown in his Rookie season he already has what is necessary to win in Formula E and his knowledge of both the BMW powertrain and associated systems along with the Andretti team operations means that this continued relationship should bode well for success in the coming season. Two wins in your Rookie season is impressive by anyone’s standards!"
British racing driver Jake Dennis has been racing since 2007, where he first started karting in the Comer Cadet class, competing in the MSA Cadet British Championship. Dennis won multiple MSA British Karting Championships and the U18 World Karting Championship before moving into single seaters.
Dennis competed in FIA Formula 3 before switching to the GP3 Series in 2016 and more recently he was selected to be a Simulator and Development driver for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing, where he completed two tests in 2018. Outside of single-seaters, he has competed in the some of the biggest worldwide championships such as Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), the Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup and the Intercontinental GT Challenge.
The 26-year-old was announced as a BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver joining for the 2020/2021 season and captured victories at the Valencia and London E-Prix races.
Jake Dennis, Season 8 Andretti Formula E Driver said:
“I’m just super excited, and honoured really, to be staying with Andretti for Season 8 of Formula E.”
“It was my goal to obviously always stay with the team, and I think they had the same intentions after such a strong year. I’m looking forward to investing further on with them into the future and hopefully many great results will come our way.”
Season 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship ends in Berlin with a BMW farewell weekend in the manufacturer’s home country.
Race fans can continue to support and follow the team by tuning in to Andretti Autosport on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and following #AllAndretti across all channels.
