Dan Ticktum will make his Formula E debut at the Diriyah E-Prixs in January after signing a deal to race with the NIO 333 team.
The 22-year-old former Red Bull and Williams Formula 1 junior will line up alongside Oliver Turvey, who will begin his seventh season with the team, which has had several previous iterations in its history since it began operating as Team China Racing in 2014.
Ticktum is the final name to be confirmed on the 2021-22 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship entry list, which is set to be formally released after the official deadline on Friday December 3.
The Race revealed last month that the twice Macau Grand Prix winner and multiple F2 race victor Ticktum has been in the market for a seat in Formula E since the summer and had spoken to at least two other teams ahead of signing for Silverstone-based NIO 333 earlier this week.
Discussions between Ticktum’s representatives and Dragon Penske Autosports ground to a halt last month, while a late approach to Andretti also led to some talks taking place.
NIO 333 was also in discussions with Harry Tincknell and Louis Deletraz.
However, Ticktum was chosen in recent days and will get his first time in one of the NIO 333 001 cars at Valencia next week over the course of the only available unlimited running that teams have prior to the first round in Diriyah on January 28.
“It’s going to be quite a big challenge as I have not had long to prepare for the test next week, and Formula E is complicated, but it’ll be very exciting,” he said.
“There are quite a few different tools you can use as a driver but it’s a totally different experience to Formula 2, so I’m really looking forward to it, both mentally and physically.
“I’ve had a great few days with the team at Silverstone this week and hopefully we can try to make some progress next season and get further up the grid.”
Turvey meanwhile believes that the team’s new facility at Silverstone will help galvanise NIO 333 as it looks to end its run of last place finishes in the points standings.
“It’s fantastic to have the whole team together at the new facility in Silverstone,” said Turvey.
“Everyone has worked extremely hard, from management taking the steps to move the team forwards, the engineers on development testing, and the mechanics with the preparation of the cars.
“Although we know the standard in Formula E is very high, I feel we have taken some positive steps forwards and I can’t wait to get out on track in the official test next week in Valencia.”
The team’s CEO Vincent Wang confirmed that Ticktum’s two Macau F3 victories were a significant attraction to his new team, which selected him through a committee decision.
“His race results that impress me the most are the two victories in the Macau Grand Prix,” said Wang.
Wang also alluded to Ticktum’s often turbulent career to date saying that “though he has shouldered some difficulties during his career, I believe that his experience will pave the way to success.
“He is a young, bright new star who will shine on the Formula E racetrack.”
NIO 333 also announced the continuation of Adam Carroll’s services as a development and reserve with the former Jaguar driver scheduled to attend most of the races in that capacity, as he did in 2021.
2022 Formula E driver line-up
Mercedes: Nyck de Vries, Stoffel Vandoorne
Jaguar: Mitch Evans, Sam Bird
DS Techeetah: Antonio Felix da Costa, Jean-Eric Vergne
Envision: Robin Frijns, Nick Cassidy
Avalanche Andretti: Jake Dennis, Oliver Askew
Venturi: Edoardo Mortara, Lucas di Grassi
Porsche: Pascal Wehrlein, Andre Lotterer
Mahindra: Oliver Rowland, Alexander Sims
Nissan e.dams: Maximilian Guenther, Sebastien Buemi
Dragon Penske Autosport: Sergio Sette Camara, Antonio Giovinazzi
NIO 333: Oliver Turvey, Dan Ticktum
