n a stunning pre-season twist, the ERT Formula E team has secured a deal to run older-spec Porsche powertrains, a bold move aimed at stabilizing the financially beleaguered team’s future. This strategic shift from being a manufacturer to becoming a customer of Porsche could mark a significant turning point, but it comes with high stakes and plenty of unresolved issues.
The deal, reportedly in the works since June, is expected to span two seasons, bridging the team to the Gen4 era. However, the arrangement is far from ironclad, with critical factors still needing resolution just 70 days before the season opener. A primary concern is securing additional investment to cover operational costs for the 2024-25 season, a necessity for the struggling team.
Should the Porsche deal collapse, ERT’s fallback is to continue with an untested 2024-25 powertrain developed by Helix, formerly known as Integral Powertrain, which has long supplied ERT’s hardware. While the new Helix unit has undergone bench testing, it has yet to hit the track, leaving ERT at a disadvantage in the all-important pre-season testing phase.
ERT’s recent track record underscores the urgency of this deal. The team finished dead last in both the teams’ and manufacturers’ championships last season, with a best finish of fourth place courtesy of Dan Ticktum at Misano. The addition of Porsche powertrains could provide a much-needed performance boost and data-sharing benefits that Porsche previously hesitated to offer.
This marks the first time since the inaugural season of Formula E that a manufacturer will supply three teams on the grid, with Porsche’s works team, Andretti, and now ERT utilizing its technology. Interestingly, Porsche’s decision to provide powertrains to a third team comes despite past reluctance due to VW Group politics and economic considerations. However, the opportunity to gather additional data from ERT’s use of the older-spec powertrain appears to have swayed the decision.
Ticktum and his teammate Sergio Sette Camara, both strong performers, are expected to continue with the team into the 2024-25 season. The pair have delivered relatively close results over the past two years, with Ticktum narrowly outscoring Sette Camara in 2022-23, while the Brazilian won the qualifying battle this season. The duo’s consistent performances make them valuable assets as ERT navigates this crucial period.
ERT has also held discussions with Sacha Fenestraz, a former Nissan driver seeking to stay in Formula E, but the likelihood of his joining the team has diminished as Sette Camara inches closer to renewing his contract.
The ERT team, formerly known as NIO 333, has undergone multiple transformations since its inception as Team China Racing in 2014. Financial woes and management missteps have been a recurring theme, most notably during the disastrous 2019 season under Gerry Hughes and Paul Fickers when the team finished last and overspent before being sold to Lisheng Sports.
With the Porsche deal potentially redefining ERT’s trajectory, the team faces a make-or-break moment. Whether this partnership will fuel a resurgence or merely delay the inevitable remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: ERT’s high-stakes gamble could be the last roll of the dice for a team desperately clinging to its place on the Formula E grid.
