Former FIA Formula 2 champion, Théo Pourchaire will return to a single-seater seat: the 22-year-old French driver has been officially announced by the Opel GSE Formula E team for the start of the GEN4 era in six months.
Read more Audi becomes attractive in the transfer market: Mattia Binotto welcomes it
This signing marks a new start for the driver, who was part of the young driver program of Sauber in Formula 1 before gaining experience in IndyCar, European Le Mans Series, and the World Endurance Championship (WEC).
Despite his immense talent and his title in Formula 2, Pourchaire never secured a full-time seat in Formula 1, once again illustrating the difficulty of reaching the top category, even for the most promising drivers.
The beginnings of the GEN4 era
Formula E now offers him the opportunity to relaunch his career. The Frenchman will discover the brand new GEN4 single-seater (photo above), which promises spectacular performances with a top speed of 335 km/h, 0 to 100 km/h in about 1.8 seconds and, for the first time in a single-seater category, permanent all-wheel drive.
Pourchaire expressed enthusiasm about joining Opel: “It is a great pleasure to join the Opel GSE Formula E team and the Opel family, an iconic brand with a rich history in motorsport that is now making a name for itself in the World Championship.”
Read more How to make the most of the summer break?
“This is the next step in my career and the best single-seater opportunity I have had so far, says Théo. The new GEN4 generation perfectly matches my transition after Formula 2: more power, all-wheel drive, and incredible acceleration. It’s exactly the kind of car I love. I want to learn, keep improving, and I will give my best from day one to contribute to Opel’s success.”
Bouncing back in single-seaters
The Frenchman had already shown great potential during his first tests in Formula E, notably by finishing second in the rookie test session in Miami, just 93 thousandths of a second behind the best time.
For Opel, this new era begins with a driver already crowned champion in the gateway to Grand Prix racing. For Pourchaire, it represents above all a real opportunity to relaunch a career that seemed to have drifted away from Formula 1 and finally regain a clear path to the highest level.
After joining Stellantis first as a reserve and then as a full-time driver for the Peugeot team in WEC, the Frenchman had the opportunity to return to single-seaters thanks to the presence of several group brands in FE: tests for Maserati and Citroën ultimately led him to lead Opel’s sporting offensive on the electric racing front next season.
Read more Kimi Antonelli opens up about the downsides of fame: «Sometimes I wish I weren’t recognized»