Motor racing-Formula E has eyes on China's Zhou

Liberty Global

03/07/2024 13:51

By Alan Baldwin
       LONDON, July 3 (Reuters) - Formula E would love to have
Zhou Guanyu in the all-electric championship if the Chinese
driver loses his seat in Formula One at the end of the season,
according to chief executive Jeff Dodds.
    The CEO told Reuters that China was a key element of Formula
E's growth strategy and having a Chinese driver was a dream
scenario that could have "an explosive effect".
    "Three markets we are absolutely trying to break into on a
bigger scale would be North America, China and India," said
Dodds.
    "In China alone we have over 100 million fans, which is
absolutely crazy for a 10-year-old business. 
    "Because they are leading the EV revolution out of that
market and we are an EV motor racing series, I would love
nothing more than to have a strong Chinese driver come through
into a team.
    "I think the combination of EV, growth market, strong fan
base already, back in China racing in Shanghai with Chinese
driver, I think would bring even more interest, excitement and
growth to the championship."
    Zhou, the first Chinese Formula One driver, made his F1
debut with Sauber in 2022 but the 25-year-old faces an uncertain
future with the Swiss-based team set to become the Audi factory
outfit in 2026.
    Sauber have already announced German driver Nico Hulkenberg
for one of their two seats and are waiting on Carlos Sainz, who
will be replaced at Ferrari by seven times champion Lewis
Hamilton at the end of the season.
    The Swiss-based team also have Valtteri Bottas in their
lineup, with the experienced race-winner also talking to other
teams.
    "Without being controversial, he'll have a challenge of
retaining a position in Formula One," said Dodds of Zhou. "My
phone is always on and I'd be delighted to receive that phone
call.
    "But there will be other Chinese racing prospects coming
through so it's not a one driver opportunity. I think there
could be a number of drivers." 
    Indian Jehan Daruvala is a Formula E rookie this season with
Maserati.
    Formula E has no North American driver but last weekend gave
Canadian Robert Wickens, paralysed from the waist down since a
2018 IndyCar crash, a test in an adapted car.
    Dodds said Wickens, 35, could also boost his series.
    "Other than it being a brilliant showcase around our ability
to adapt cars to be more inclusive as a racing series, I think
Robert or someone like Robert racing would be brilliant for the
North American market," he added.
    Dodds was speaking as Formula E announced on Wednesday the
appointment of former F1 marketing head Ellie Norman as chief
marketing officer after a stint with Manchester United.
    The series is majority owned by Liberty Global after the
telecoms company last month bought the shares of Warner Bros
Discovery. 
    Dodds said Formula E had nearly 400 million fans globally
and wanted to "dial up the noise" to reach more than 500 million
by 2030 and narrow the gap to Formula One.

 (Reporting by Alan Baldwin, editing by Ken Ferris)
 ((alan.baldwin@thomsonreuters.com; +442075427933;))