PARIS, France (October 22, 2024) – Nissan Formula E Team is proud to confirm that Alpine Academy drivers Sophia Flörsch and Abbi Pulling will join the team to take on the all-women Rookie Test in Valencia next month.
The squad is fully embracing this opportunity and has opted to participate with two rookies in the test, fielding a pair of promising young racing drivers.
German racer Flörsch has an impressive racing CV, competing in FIA Formula 3, European Le Mans Series and FIA World Endurance Championship, including three entries into the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Meanwhile, British driver Pulling has enjoyed an excellent 2024, becoming the first woman to win in British F4, while also leading F1 Academy, having taken seven wins in 10 races so far this season.
Flörsch and Pulling will be fully integrated into the team’s testing program, with the duo already working alongside the crew in its Paris workshop, along with gaining experience in the simulator.
The duo will hit the track in the afternoon session on Thursday 7 November at Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “This is a great initiative to give women the opportunity to test Formula E machinery, and we’re delighted to be taking part with two cars. The number of women racing drivers has been increasing in recent years, and we’re proud to be contributing to the acceleration of this process. It’s a fantastic chance for Sophia and Abbi to learn and to help the team iron out any difficulties we encounter during the week. We’re very pleased to have two of the highest-profile women drivers. They’ll be at the workshop and in the simulator before the test, these cars are not easy to drive so we’re giving them plenty of preparation ahead of the day. It should be a productive session, both for the team moving forwards and a great experience for Sophia and Abbi as they look to further their motorsport careers.”
Sophia Flörsch: “I’m very excited to have the chance to drive the most modern Formula E car. It’s going to be very different to my previous motorsport experiences, but I’m always curious to try new things. I’m highly motivated to get the most out of the test and do my all to help the team as they prepare for Season 11. I’ll be spending time in the simulator to be as ready as possible for Valencia and allow me to extract all I can. Looking forward to getting out there and taking on this incredible opportunity!”
Abbi Pulling: “I’ve been wanting to drive a Formula E car for a long time, so to be given the chance to test the Nissan e-4ORCE 05 is a dream! I’m very excited to take on the challenge of learning the car with the guidance of the Nissan crew. There is a lot to learn and much more to manage so we will take it step by step. It’s a completely different environment to what I’m used to, but the focus is on doing what the team ask of me and to enjoy a productive test together.”