![venturi_susie_wolff_electric_motor_news_04 Venturi Susie Wolff](https://www.electricmotornews.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/venturi_susie_wolff_electric_motor_news_04-678x381.jpg)
Towards the end of 2017, Gildo Pastor, CEO and Founder of Venturi, launched a strategic plan to expand and strengthen the team. This included the recruitment of former F1 driver Felipe Massa for next season, the sale of the Venturi VFE-05 to future Formula E team HWA and the establishment of the Venturi Next Gen motorsport academy for young drivers.
The appointment of Susie Wolff as Team Principal and a shareholder of the Venturi Formula E Team, marks the next phase of this plan. With immediate effect Susie will lead the team’s preparations for season 5 of the ABB Formula E Championship, set to begin on 15 December 2018 in Saudi Arabia.
Commitment and determination
Susie’s appointment as Team Principal represents the next step in a wide-ranging motorsport career. After reaching the role of development and test driver with the Williams Formula 1 team, in addition to competing in the DTM touring car championship for seven seasons with Mercedes-Benz, Susie established the successful platform Dare to be Different. The call to action aims to drive female talent by inspiring the next generation and ultimately increasing female participation in all levels and aspects of motorsport.
Her new role at Venturi Formula E Team marks her first formal step into team management and ownership. Susie will work at Venturi’s Monaco headquarters, collaborating closely with all of the departments working on the group’s Formula E activities, with the clear goal of building on the strong foundations of the team and leading the team forward for Season 5 of the championship.
The coming season presents many exciting opportunities for the team, with the introduction of the new Gen2 Formula E single-seater and the arrival of former Williams Formula 1 team-mate Felipe Massa for his debut season racing in the series. Their shared objective will be to drive forwards the performance of the team and provide healthy competition for the high-profile manufacturer rivals who will join the series from next season.
In their words
When I decided to stop as a professional driver in 2015, I knew that I wanted to continue with the challenge of competitive racing, just not behind the wheel. You can’t just switch off your competitive
instincts when you stop driving and that determination and desire to achieve still burn brightly inside me. I took time to carefully decide the right direction for that challenge and I have now found the perfect next step, with the opportunity to become both a shareholder and Team Principal of Venturi Formula E Team.
I’m really looking forward to working with Gildo, who is rightly recognised as a pioneer in electric automobiles and who saw the potential of the series from the very beginning. He has built a strong team that has earned its place on the Formula E grid and features many talented people who I’m excited to work with. Formula E is the perfect environment for this step into team management: it is full of potential, breaking the mould for traditional racing series, and the series is enjoying an exciting phase of expansion at the moment. I can’t wait to begin this next chapter in my racing career and to tackle all of the challenges ahead.
Susie Wolff, Shareholder and Team Principal of the Venturi Formula E Team.
I am delighted to welcome Susie on board as Team Principal and shareholder. Her energy and expertise will help us to grow by strengthening the team and introducing a new approach to management. Thanks to her personal experience Susie takes a unique strategic view of the team, the championship and motor racing in general. She will certainly lead the Venturi Formula E Team to the top. Her desire to become a shareholder illustrates an unwavering commitment which warms my heart. Venturi and the Venturi Formula E Team are proud to welcome Susie at a key moment in the history of the group.
Gildo Pastor, CEO of the Venturi Formula E Team.
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