New face in BMW i Andretti Motorsport’s driver line-up: for Season 6 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, Maximilian Günther (GER) will represent the team. The 22-year old contested his first Formula E season as a rookie last year – and impressed. The BMW i Andretti Motorsport team also bids farewell to António Félix da Costa (POR).
New addition Maximilian Günther contested ten races for GEOX Dragon in 2018/19, finished in fifth place twice and was involved in the Super Pole competition for the fastest six drivers in qualifying twice. Günther is no stranger to BMW Motorsport having begun his career in single-seater racing in 2011 in the Formula BMW Talent Cup – BMW’s youth development programme at that time – and finishing second. He followed that with various levels of single-seater racing.
“I am looking forward to Maximilian Günther returning to the BMW family,” said BMW Group Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt. “We followed his performance last season very closely. Maximilian regularly managed to get the maximum out of his car package. That saw him achieve some impressive results. Having a driver with a history of BMW single-seater racing is a great fit.”
“It is fantastic to be part of BMW i Motorsport now,” said Günther. “BMW i Andretti Motorsport had a strong maiden season in Formula E, won the very first race and was involved in the fight for the title down to the wire. That is why this switch is definitely a fantastic step for me. It is great to compete for BMW again. That’s where everything started for me in single-seater racing in 2011.”
Marquardt commented on the farewell to Félix da Costa: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank António very much for the good collaboration this past Formula E season and in the six years overall as a BMW works driver in the DTM, the WEC, in GT racing and in Formula E. We had a great time together but agreed that a change would be good for both parties. Now we wish him all the best on his new journey.”
“I have always been happy and proud to be part of the BMW family,” said Félix da Costa. “BMW Motorsport gave me the opportunity to drive many different race cars, and to learn an incredible amount. I would also like to thank BMW i Andretti Motorsport for a great and intense time together in Formula E. Although I am now moving on to face new challenges, I will always look back fondly on my time at BMW.”
The second BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver alongside Maximilian Günther in Season 6 will be announced in the coming weeks before the official test drives at Valencia (ESP) in October.
