Victor Martins' Formula E Rookie Test with Nissan: a first step towards a full-time seat?

In Madrid, the newcomers will have their chance in Formula EFollowing the Spanish E-Prix, twenty newcomers to the category will take the wheel of a GEN3 Evo, with each team fielding two drivers in a new Rookie Test. Nissan will be represented by Victor Martins and Abbi Pulling.

One man's misfortune is another man's gain. By postponing its Prologue, initially planned for Qatar, to Imola in April, the WEC has freed up a weekend for its drivers. As luck would have it, it falls exactly at the same time as the Formula E Rookie Test at Jarama (March 22nd), on the sidelines of the Madrid E-Prix. Martins will thus be driving the GEN3 Evo for the first time. It's been a while since I've driven a Formula E car, but I'll draw on my previous experience with the team in Berlin. "He says.

A future in Formula E for Victor Martins?

An opportunity to showcase his abilities before securing a full-time position at Nissan next season? The test is indeed crucial for the driver of...Endurancewhose future is uncertain following the announcement of the removal of the "A" badge from WEC circuits next year. While Oliver Rowland's contract with Nissan is guaranteed until 2028, Norman Nato's is only a renewable agreement from one season to the next. An opportunity therefore seems to be there, especially since the Frenchman has had a mixed 2025-2026 season so far, scoring only one point.

With his future uncertain, Victor Martins returns to Nissan, for whom he secured a strong second place in the 2023 Berlin tests and a disappointing 19th position in Valencia the same year. He brings valuable experience as a development and test driver with Williams en F1Victor Martins would prove to be an undeniable asset for Nissan.

However, with his hopes of a permanent Formula 1 seat seemingly fading, the Frenchman's interest in Formula E could now be renewed. I consider it to be the second best category in motorsport. " he slipped into The Race after its first steps in Formula E three years ago. It's always important to keep an eye on this sector and maintain good relationships with a manufacturer. »

A move to Formula E next season would allow Victor Martins to capitalize on the always tricky transition to a new generation of cars, a move Nissan has already committed to. It remains to be seen whether the Madrid test will prove successful.

Abbi Pulling with Nissan

The Frenchman will rediscover the group's brand Renault during the Rookie Test at Jarama (Spain) alongside British driver Abbie Pulling, the 2024 F1 Academy champion, who finished second in the Formula E women's test held in Valencia last year. A simulator driver for Nissan, the British driver already knows her stuff. I feel comfortable in the car after my recent outings and simulator work, so my goal is to keep improving. I was able to get up to speed quickly in Miami, and Jarama is a circuit I've already raced on with Nissan., she recalls. It will therefore be interesting to compare myself to the benchmark established last time. »

For his boss Tommaso Volpe, his progress is undeniable. Abbi is making great progress; she has accumulated a lot of mileage in the car, and her impact on race preparation continues to grow. She is becoming more and more comfortable and improving as a Formula E driver. "For the young woman, the challenge is to get closer to the times of her male counterparts.

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