Paffett confirmed at HWA Racelab; livery unveiled

British racer Gary Paffett has been announced at the HWA Formula E team, which will be named ‘HWA Racelab’, ahead of its maiden season in the all-electric series.

Paffett, the 2005 Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters champion, had been linked with the incoming HWA squad for a number of months following Mercedes’ withdrawal from DTM and his outing with Venturi in the season four Marrakesh rookie test.

The team, who also unveiled the livery that will adorn the VFE-05, will enter the sport as a customer of Venturi.

Looking ahead to his debut season, Paffett can not wait to be back behind the wheel of a Formula E car but acknowledged the challenges of returning to single seaters having spent many years in touring cars.

Paffett already has experience in Formula E machinery

“I am really excited about driving for HWA in the fifth season of Formula E,” said the 37-year-old. “This is basically the first time for 15 years that I will have switched series and cars. It will be a major challenge – for me, and for the team. Most of them – like me – are moving over from the DTM. As such, we have a lot to learn.

“It will certainly not be easy at first, but we are ready and are all looking forward to it. Formula E is a very promising series with great prospects. It is great to be a part of it. I watched the race in Marrakech at the start of the year and was impressed by the atmosphere. It was totally different to the DTM and anything else I’ve seen before.”

“We must adapt to this new format and adjust our approach to the race weekends accordingly. The standard of the drivers and teams is definitely very high.”

The identity of Paffett’s team-mate is yet to be announced, but according to a report by e-racing365 the favourite is understood to be current McLaren Formula 1 driver Stoffel Vandoorne.