Venturi announce technical partnership with ZF

It was announced on Tuesday morning that Venturi GP have announced a technical partnership with ZF ahead of season three.

Using their experience of drivetrain and chassis technology development, ZF will be aiding the team in their powertrain design. The partnership particularly looks towards season five when a new chassis is set to be introduced to the sport, as well as an increase in power to 250kW and the switch to single-car races.

ZF has a strong link in motorsport as it supplies drivelines, clutches and suspension to world championships such as the World Rally Championship, Le Mans prototypes and Formula One.

In a statement to the media on Tuesday morning, Gildo Pallanca Pastor, Venturi's founder and president believes that the partnership is something he wanted to achieve.

“When I first committed Venturi to the FIA Formula E series I had in mind precisely the kind of partnership that we have been able to establish with ZF,” said Pastor.

“My target has always been to enable our team's expertise in EVs to be paired with the resources, manpower and ingenuity of a major automotive organisation and in ZF we have found a willing, capable and highly motivated partner.”

Also in a statement on Tuesday, ZF's CEO Dr. Stefan Sommer believes the new partnership with Venturi is ideal for the company and that the series is the future and believes the expertise they have gained in other series will help them.

“For us, the technology partnership with Venturi in FIA Formula E gives us impetus for new technologies that will ideally also find their way to daily street use,” said Sommer.

“Electrification is the key to individual mobility of the future and, using the exciting Formula E platform, we aim to make a significant contribution to the success of Venturi. Winning will allow us to prove our exceptional competences as a lead development partner and technology leader and winning with Venturi will also strengthen our credentials in motorsports with electric powertrain competition cars.

“The FIA Formula E series, with its forward-looking and sustainability-oriented concept, provides the ideal setting for ZF to showcase our talents.”
Stephane Sarrazin and Formula E newcomer Maro Engel will take the new car to the track for the first time in public at Donington testing.

Sarah Jones- @jonesy_laaa