Ahead of the pre-season test that starts this week in Valencia, NIO 333 are the latest team to confirm their driver lineup for the 2020-21 season, retaining Oliver Turvey and bringing in experienced Formula E driver Tom Blomqvist.
Blomqvist has many Formula E races under his belt, having competed with Andretti during the 2017-18 season and then covered for James Calado at Jaguar in the final two races in Berlin at the end of the 2019-20 season.
Partnering Turvey and Blomqvist also means that it is unlikely Daniel Abt will be returning to Formula E this season, with Abt racing with NIO 333 during the final six races of last season after being sacked by Audi for a sim-racing controversy.
The re-signing of Turvey, means that it will be the sixth consecutive year the Briton has stayed with the team.
“I am extremely happy to be joining NIO 333 for the 2021 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship season and cannot wait to get started with the team,” Blomqvist said in a team statement.
“I’m very grateful for the opportunity and the trust that the team has placed in me, and I can’t wait to repay them with success on track.
“To be back in Formula E full-time is fantastic as the series has gone from strength to strength over the years and I feel very proud to be back on the grid for Season 7.
“It has been great to get to know the team recently and build those relationships – together we are all highly motivated for the season ahead and the positive atmosphere is brilliant to be a part of.”
As well as being “delighted” to be back for another season, Turvey also talked about how it is a “really exciting time for the championship this season” as it becomes an official FIA World Championship.
“I am proud to be racing in a championship that is not only competitive at the highest levels of the sport, but that promotes the use of sustainable technology in the cities that we race in around the world.
“Everyone in the NIO 333 FE Team has put a huge amount of effort into the new car, and the disruption to the race schedule last season has given the team a chance to focus on the development of the new powertrain.
“We have made progress through testing and I am sure that the hard work everyone has put in will result in a more competitive package for the season ahead.”
The team livery has also had a rebrand, with the car now featuring a slightly darker teal colour scale.
