Venturi Automobiles announced a joint venture with U.S. actor and environmental activist Leonardo DiCaprio to enter a team in the new FIA Formula E Championship.
Based in Monaco, the new Venturi Grand Prix Formula E Team has been co-founded by DiCaprio and EV manufacturer Venturi Automobiles Founder Gildo Pallanca Pastor, together with Bert Hedaya and Francesco Costa. Venturi Grand Prix will now be put forward to the FIA for approval as the 10th and final team to enter the new zero-emission series (Formula E). DiCaprio said, "The future of our planet depends on our ability to embrace fuel-efficient, clean-energy vehicles. Venturi Grand Prix has shown tremendous foresight in their decision to create an environmentally friendly racing team, and I am happy to be a part of this effort" (REUTERS, 12/9). AUTOSPORT's Sam Tremayne reported Venturi Automobiles is the current "holder of the world land speed record for an electric vehicle," with its Buckeye Bullet 2.5 clocking a measured 307mph in '10. The team "plans to become a Formula E constructor from the second season, building its own car using a powertrain based on the 3,000bhp unit used by its new electric land speed record challenger, the Venturi VBB-3" (AUTOSPORT, 12/9).
