Formula E: Andre Lotterer Quits Avalanche Andretti Ahead of Season 10
Andre Lotterer, although achieving a commendable record of eight podium finishes, two Julius Baer Pole Positions, and three TAG Heuer Fastest Laps in Formula E, was unable to secure a victory at the highest level of electric racing.
By Divyam Dubey
Andre Lotterer has announced his retirement from Formula E after an underwhelming 2022/23 campaign with the Andretti Autosport team. The individual, a 41-year-old driver of German nationality, issued a statement through social media wherein he affirmed his intention to dedicate his efforts exclusively to his obligations with Porsche in the World Endurance Championship for the year 2024. This ends his more than two decades of single-seater racing and his six-season run in Formula E, which started when he signed Techeetah for the 2017/18 season. During that period, Lotterer achieved victory in the Formula Nippon championship in 2011 and participated in a solitary Formula 1 race for Caterham at the Spa circuit in 2014. The German sports car veteran, who has won many Le Mans races and the FIA World Endurance Championship, called his experience in Formula E "life-changing," calling it the "most challenging and fun championship" in which he has competed.
Formula E: Andre Lotterer on his Retirement
Announcing his goodbye via social media, Andre Lotterer posted, "It’s time for me to close a 26 year chapter of single seater racing! I have decided not to race anymore in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to fully focus on my challenge with the Porsche Penske Motorsport team to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans (for the 4th time) and the FIA World Endurance Championship."
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The post further read, "It has been a great ride racing in Formula BMW & Formula Renault to Formula 3, Champ Car, Formula Nippon, Super Formula, Formula 1 and finally the Formula E family which I joined at the start of Season 4 back in 2017."
"I would like to thank the people that helped me join this innovative and exciting Championship; Leo Thomas, Julian & Alexander Jakobi, JEV & the Techeetah team! The adventures together were great! A big thanks to TAG Heuer Porsche FE too who gave me the opportunity to lead the team into their Formula E debut in Season 6! Last but not least, my engineer Fabrice Roussel who has shown amazing support since the beginning and all the way through the three Formula E teams, and the Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team for trusting me during Season 9."
Via social media, Andretti confirmed the news, saying "We would like to thank Andre for all his efforts and wish him the very best in his future endeavours."
Formula E: Andre Lotterer’s Career
Lotterer's decision to leave Formula E comes after a disappointing season in which he finished 18th in the standings and tied for fourth in the season opener in Mexico City. After finishing 8th in the inaugural Berlin race, he never scored another point. His teammate Jake Dennis, who finished on the podium 11 times and won twice, served as an additional reminder of how poorly he was doing.
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Following his two years with Techeetah, Lotterer will race for Porsche in Formula E for the 2019–20 season before switching to Andretti for the 2022–23 season while still competing in the World Endurance Championship. Due to a scheduling conflict with the Le Mans test day, he missed the June Jakarta E-Prix and was replaced by David Beckmann.
Lotterer raced in the all-electric series for six years, and during that time, he finished in second position seven times. In his first three seasons, he never finished higher than eighth in the championship. As of now, Andretti has not revealed a replacement for Lotterer for the upcoming 2023–24 season.
