Ciao Collet and Gabriele Minì to drive for Nissan Formula E Team at Rookie Test
Nissan Formula E Team will field Caio Collet and Gabriele Minì in the upcoming Rookie Test, which will take place on Monday, May 13 following the Berlin E-Prix doubleheader.
Collet got his first taste of the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 during Free Practice 0 at the Misano E-Prix earlier this month. The Brazilian racer has been working with the team since the beginning of Season 10, helping to prepare for upcoming events in the simulator. Collet has an excellent junior CV, having taken a dominant French F4 title in 2018 and finishing second in the highly competitive Formula Renault Eurocup in 2020. That earned him a seat in FIA Formula 3 for 2021. In the three years that followed, he was a regular feature at the front of the pack, taking three victories and several podiums, alongside his membership of the Alpine Academy. This season, in combination with his reserve and simulator role with Nissan Formula E Team, Collet is tackling the full Indy NXT campaign.
Meanwhile, fellow F3 race winner Minì is part of the current Alpine Academy and will be at the wheel of Formula E machinery for the first time. Victory in the 2020 Italian F4 championship led him to the Formula Regional European Championship, clinching second in 2022. This attracted the attention of the Alpine Academy, which signed him up ahead of his debut F3 campaign in 2023, where he picked up two wins, including the prestigious Monaco Feature Race. The Italian driver currently sits third in the F3 standings after two rounds, having scored points at every race, including a podium finish in Melbourne.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: "We're looking forward to the Rookie Test with two very talented drivers in Caio and Gabriele. After participating in FP0 in Misano, it will be important for Caio to continue developing in the car, becoming more and more comfortable. As our reserve and sim driver, it's vital for him to have as much experience as possible to support the team at his best. This will be a good opportunity to gain confidence and make a step forward with plenty of track time available. The test also presents us with a great chance to introduce Gabriele to the team. He's a very promising driver, part of the Alpine Academy and it's great to count on cross-Alliance synergies to bring young drivers these opportunities. It's very positive for us to work with young, up-and-coming drivers like Gabriele and Caio, so we can not only play a role in their professional development but also build a rapport and set important basis for potential future collaborations."
Caio Collet, reserve and simulator driver, Nissan Formula E Team: "It was my first time in the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 in Misano, so in Berlin, I'm looking to use that experience to help me develop my driving. It's a very different car to what I'm used to, so it takes a while to understand what to do and how to get the best out of it. My target is to learn as much as I can and help the team continue to improve. Having more track time will also be useful for my simulator work, to make the sim more accurate. I'm looking forward to being with the team again and will do my best!"
Gabriele Minì: "I'm very pleased to test the Nissan e-4ORCE 04 for the first time in the Berlin Rookie Test next month. It will be a great chance to discover the car and to challenge myself in a different type of single-seater. I'm looking forward to giving my best and learning more about this category of racing. I would like to thank both Alpine and Nissan for their trust and for this exciting opportunity."