Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Leonardo DiCaprio involved in Formula E entry

Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has entered into a joint venture with Venturi Automobiles to enter a team for the inaugural season of Formula E

DiCaprio has co-founded the new Venturi Grand Prix Formula E Team, which has secured the 10th and final entry for the 2014/15 electric single-seater championship.

"The future of our planet depends on our ability to embrace fuel-efficient, clean-energy vehicles," DiCaprio said.

"Venturi Grand Prix has shown tremendous foresight in their decision to create an environmentally friendly racing team, and I am happy to be a part of this effort."

Gildo Pallanca Pastor, DiCaprio's partner in the project, is the owner of Venturi Automobiles, a leader in high performance electric vehicles.

It is also the current holder of the world land speed record for an electric vehicle, with its Buckeye Bullet 2.5 clocking a measured 307mph in 2010.

The team plans to become a Formula E constructor from the second season, building its own car using a powertrain based on the 3,000bhp unit used by its new electric land speed record challenger, the Venturi VBB-3.

"Venturi has been a pioneer in electric high performance vehicles for more than a decade and Formula E gives us the fantastic opportunity to further improve our advanced technologies through motorsport, as well as compete all over the world," Pastor said.

"It also gives us the chance to be part of a new racing programme with a project that really shares Venturi's values for clean mobility, innovation in the field of electric propulsion and energy efficiency optimisation."

Leading European single-seater operation DAMS, IndyCar's Andretti Autosport and Dragon Racing, ex-Formula 1 team Super Aguri, Audi-backed Abt and Virgin are among the other nine teams to have submitted entries for the 2014/15 championship.

FORMULA E ENTRANTS SO FAR

Drayson Racing
China Racing
Andretti Autosport
Dragon Racing
e.dams
Super Aguri
Audi Sport Abt
Mahindra Racing
Virgin Racing
Venturi Grand Prix

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Virgin wants a Formula 1 driver to head up 2014 Formula E entry
Next article FIA president Jean Todt says Formula E could race at Macau

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe