DS Techeetah explained

DS Techeetah
Founded:	2013
Base:	Shanghai, China^[1]
Former Series:	Formula E
Website:	http://www.dstecheetah.com
Driver Titles:	FIA Formula E 2017–18 Jean-Éric Vergne 2018–19: Jean-Éric Vergne: 2019–20: António Félix da Costa
Team Titles:	FIA Formula E 2018–19 2019–20
Folded:	2022

DS Techeetah was a Sino-French^[2] ^[3] ^[4] motor racing team under ownership of SECA - China Media Capital that competed in the electric racing series, Formula E.^[5]

Formula E

Team Aguri principal Aguri Suzuki announced he would leave the team in April 2016 as senior personnel entered "a period of consultation" over a future change in ownership.^[6] In the week before the 2016 London ePrix, the Chinese public equity and venture capital firm China Media Capital announced its purchase of Team Aguri and established a new entity named Techeetah in its place.^[7] ^[8] Senior personnel from Team Aguri, including team principal Mark Preston, retained their jobs with Techeetah,^[9] and the cars ran a custom Renault powertrain.^[10]

2016–17 season

The team entered the sport following the acquisition of Team Aguri in 2016.^[11] In July 2016, Jean-Éric Vergne and Qinghua Ma (who competed with Team Aguri in the final rounds of the previous season prior to CMC's takeover) were confirmed as the team's drivers.^[12] With Renault providing powertrains for Techeetah's debut season, Vergne scored the team's maiden podium with a second place at the Buenos Aires ePrix. In March 2017, Techeetah announced former F1 driver Esteban Gutiérrez would replace Ma from round four onwards.^[13] However, after Gutiérrez left the team after only three races after being given an opportunity with Dale Coyne Racing to compete in the IndyCar Series, the team then signed Stéphane Sarrazin to compete with the team for the remainder of the season.^[14]

2017–18 season

Techeetah signed André Lotterer to partner Vergne for its second season in the series.^[15] Vergne was supremely consistent over the whole course of the season, finishing on points in every race, accumulating 198 points and winning the Drivers' Championship.^[16] ^[17] The team got overtaken by Audi at the last second, missing out on Teams' Championship by only two points.^[18]

2018–19 season

In July 2018, Peugeot Sport with DS Automobiles-rebadged partnered with Techeetah and the team renamed to DS Techeetah.^[19] Techeetah switched powertrain from Renault to DS Automobiles powertrain,^[20] which also makes Techeetah a manufacturer team with its own DS E-TENSE.^[21] In October 2018, DS Techeetah introduced its new headquarters in Versailles. James Rossiter and Zhou Guanyu were announced as the development drivers for Techeetah the 2018/2019 season.^[22]

Techeetah's other line-up remained unchanged for the 2018–19 season. After the first race in New York City, Jean-Éric Vergne secured enough points to become the Drivers' Champion, winning his second Formula E championship.^[23] ^[24] Techeetah won their first ever team championship in Formula E.^[25] Lotterer subsequently left the team, switching to Porsche.^[26]

2019–20 season

In September 2019, it was announced that António Félix da Costa would replace Lotterer in the team (as he had departed for the new Porsche Formula E Team).^[27] Vergne was set to continue with the team as he signed a long-term contract back in 2018.^[28]

2021-2022

In the 2021-2022 season DS Techeetah was registered as a French team, though the ownership were still under SECA and China Media Capital.

Records

DS Techeetah has earned various record results following the 2019/2020 season.

Team records

Most pole positions in a row in one season!Driver!Race!Round
DAC	Marrakesh	S6RD5
DAC	Berlin	S6RD6
DAC	Berlin	S6RD7
JEV	Berlin	S6RD8
JEV	Berlin	S6RD9

First team to do two front row lock outs!Season!Race!Team
S2	Beijing	Renault e.DAMS
S2	Punta del Este	Dragon Racing
S3	Hong Kong	NEXTEV NIO
S5	Paris	Nissan e.DAMS
S6	Berlin RD6	DS Techeetah
S6	Berlin RD9	DS Techeetah

It's the first time a team get the most points on 5 consecutive races in a single season.
It’s the first time that team has led with more than 64 points
First team to score a 1-2 finish (Santiago 2018)
Second team to score all possible points in one race (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler did previously in Berlin 2018)
Second team to win it twice
Second team to win it twice in a row
Only team to have two champions
First team to score 48pts in a single race
5 poles in a row
Only team to have two 1-2 finishes / Santiago 18 (with Renault) and Berlin 20 (with DS)
Only team to win both championships twice
Only team to win both championships back to back
Third team to do 3 consecutive wins for a team/manufacturer (shared with Audi and Renault)
Only team to win Drivers and Teams championships before the last race (RD9 out of 11).
Team with the largest lead to 2nd in the championship: 77 points

Season six saw the largest end of season gap in both Drivers (71 points) and Teams (77 points).

Driver records

António Félix da Costa

Is the only driver to win a race for three different Formula E teams.
Is now the first driver to win the Formula E championship with two races remaining.
Is the only driver to have won the championship with two races to go
Is the driver with the largest lead to 2nd : 71 points
3rd driver to do a hat-trick (Berlin RD 6 2020) shared with Sébastien Buemi and Daniel Abt
3 consecutive pole positions in a single season
3 consecutive wins (Season 6) shared with Sébastien Buemi
First driver to receive an Order of Merit as a result of winning a championship

About Antonio's 2019/2020 Formula E season

Wins: 4 (3 consecutive)

Podiums: 9 (7 consecutive)

Pole positions: 5 (consecutive)

Fastest in qualifying groups: 4

Lap lead: 174

Jean-Éric Vergne

First back to back champion
Only driver to win the championship twice
Was the only driver to have won the championship with one race to go before Jake Dennis achieved the feat in the 2022-23 Formula E season

Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy

Techeetah became the first Formula E team to join the Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy support series, fielding one car for the inaugural 2018–19 season with Stefan Rzadzinski behind the wheel. The team competed under the name TWR Techeetah and was part of the Pro class.^[29] The eTrophy entry included an arrangement with Ryan Walkinshaw to return his late father Tom's TWR brand to international motorsport.

2018–19 season

A plain white livery was used during the first round in Ad Diriyah. Before the second round in Mexico City, a retro Silk Cut-based livery was introduced, which has been in use ever since.^[30] Rzadzinski's deal with the team came to end before the Berlin ePrix. Former Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver and 2008–09 A1GP champion Adam Carroll was announced as his replacement.^[31] The team, however, completely withdrew from the following round held in New York City.^[32]

The team's best result came at the Paris ePrix, where Rzadzinski finished second. For the majority of the season, the TWR Techeetah team was consistently behind the likes of Jaguar Brazil Racing and Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, whose drivers were regularly competing for wins. It was also the only team in the Pro class to not win a race during the season.

Results

Formula E

2015–16 Team Aguri
valign=middle	Year	valign=middle	Chassis	valign=middle	Powertrain	valign=middle	Tyres	valign=middle	No.	valign=middle	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	Points
Techeetah
2016–17	Spark SRT01-e	Renault Z.E. 16				HKG	MRK	BUE	MEX	MCO	PAR	BER		NYC		MTL						156	5th
				25	align=left	Jean-Éric Vergne	Ret	8	2	2	Ret	Ret	8	6	2	8	2	1
				33	align=left	Ma Qinghua	Ret	15	16
					align=left	Esteban Gutiérrez				10	8	12
					Stéphane Sarrazin							11	14	3	12	3	8
2017–18	Spark SRT01-e	Renault Z.E. 17				HKG		MRK	SCL	MEX	PDE	RME	PAR	BER	ZUR	NYC						262	2nd
				18	André Lotterer	DSQ	13	Ret	2	13	12	3	6	9	4	7	9
				25	Jean-Éric Vergne	2	4	5	1	5	1	5	1	3	10	5	1
DS Techeetah
2018–19	Spark SRT05e	DS E-TENSE FE19				ADR	MRK	SCL	MEX	HKG	SYX	RME	PAR	MCO	BER	BRN	NYC					222	1st
				25	Jean-Éric Vergne	2	5	Ret	13	13	1	14	6	1	3	1	15	7
				36	André Lotterer	5	6	13	5	14	4	2	2	7	Ret	14	17	Ret
2019–20	Spark SRT05e	DS E-TENSE FE20				DIR		SCL	MEX	MRK	BER		BER		BER							244	1st
				13	António Félix da Costa	14	10	2	2	1	1	1	4	2	Ret	9
				25	Jean-Éric Vergne	Ret	8	Ret	4	3	Ret	10	3	1	18	7
2020–21	Spark SRT05e	DS E-TENSE FE20 DS E-TENSE FE21				DIR		RME		VLC		MCO	MEX		NYC		LDN		BER			166	3rd
				13	António Félix da Costa	11	3	Ret	7	DSQ	22	1	6	Ret	12	3	8	Ret	7	Ret
				25	Jean-Éric Vergne	15	12	1	11	9	7	4	Ret	8	2	Ret	12	12	6	11
DS Techeetah
2021–22	Spark SRT05e	DS E-TENSE FE21				DIR		MEX	RME		MCO	BER		JAK	MRK	NYC		LON		SEO		266	3rd
				13	António Félix da Costa	Ret	12	4	6	13	5	8	6	4	2	Ret	1	7	5	9	10
				25	Jean-Éric Vergne	8	6	3	4	2	3	2	9	2	4	18	Ret	14	Ret	6	6

Notes:

– Driver was fastest in group qualifying stage and was given one championship point.
† – Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy

TWR Techeetah
valign=middle	Year	valign=middle	Car	valign=middle	Class	valign=middle	Tyres	valign=middle	No.	valign=middle	Drivers	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Points
2018–19	Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY	P				ADR	MEX	HKG	SYX	RME	PAR	MCO	BER	NYC
				18	Stefan Rzadzinski	12	Ret	Ret	3	5	2	10		WD	WD	43	6th
				77	Adam Carroll								5	WD	WD	6	7th

Notes:

† – Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Notes and References

Web site: About DS Techeetah. DS Techeetah. 27 October 2020. 23 January 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210123101046/https://www.dstecheetah.com/team/meet-the-team/. live.
Web site: OME PREVIEW: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW AS FORMULA E MAKES ROME RETURN FOR ROUNDS 3 AND 4 OF THE SEASON . FIA Formula E . 9 April 2021 .
Web site: DS Techeetah . FIA Formula E . 4 February 2022 . 3 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220303034054/https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/championship/teams-and-drivers/ds-techeetah-formula-e-team . dead .
Web site: DS TECHEETAH'S FORMULA E FUTURE IN FLUX AS GEN3 DECISION LOOMS . The Race . Sam . Smith . 4 January 2022 . 4 February 2022 . 4 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220204071539/https://the-race.com/formula-e/ds-techeetahs-formula-e-future-in-flux-as-gen3-decision-looms/ . live .
Web site: Techeetah: The inside line on Formula E's newest team. 27 July 2016. 21 August 2016. 6 July 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180706104157/https://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/techeetah-the-inside-line-on-formula-e-s-newest-team-802423/. live.
Web site: Aguri in takeover talks. Smith. Luke. 20 April 2016. Current E. https://web.archive.org/web/20160722052846/http://current-e.com/chatter/aguri-in-takeover-talks/. 22 July 2016. live. 3 August 2017.
Web site: Team Aguri concludes Chinese takeover deal. Klein. Jamie. 28 June 2016. motorsport.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20160702112527/http://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/team-aguri-concludes-chinese-takeover-deal-793253/. 2 July 2016. live. 29 June 2016.
Web site: Formula E Accepts 10 Teams For Third Season 2016–17 And Adds 5 New Cities. Kane. Mark. 7 July 2016. Inside EVs. https://web.archive.org/web/20170112203747/http://insideevs.com/formula-e-accepts-10-teams-third-season-2016-17-adds-5-new-cities/. 12 January 2017. live. 3 August 2017.
Web site: Experience a focus for new kids on the block Techeetah. Waring. Bethonie. 27 July 2016. e-racing.net. https://web.archive.org/web/20161001021234/http://www.e-racing.net/2016/07/27/experience-a-focus-for-new-kids-on-the-block-techeetah/. 1 October 2016. live. 3 August 2017.
Web site: New Formula E outfit Techeetah to run Renault powertrain. Mitchell. Scott. 24 August 2016. Autosport. https://web.archive.org/web/20160827072728/http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/125834. 27 August 2016. live. 3 August 2017.
Web site: Formula E Accepts 10 Teams For Third Season 2016-17 And Adds 5 New Cities. 9 July 2016. 21 August 2016. 12 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170112203747/http://insideevs.com/formula-e-accepts-10-teams-third-season-2016-17-adds-5-new-cities/. live.
Web site: Vergne, Qinghau form Techeetah Formula E line-up. 7 July 2016. 21 August 2016. 10 July 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160710043355/http://www.crash.net/formula-e/news/231886/1/vergne-qinghau-form-techeetah-formula-e-lineup.html. live.
Web site: Gutierrez to Techeetah. 9 March 2017. 9 March 2017. 12 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170312034009/http://current-e.com/chatter/gutierrez-to-techeetah. dead.
Web site: Sarrazin joins Techeetah from Venturi, replaces Gutierrez. Scott. Mitchell. 3 June 2017. 15 June 2017. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 9 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171009143534/https://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/sarrazin-techeetah-venturi-gutierrez-dillmann-formula-e-913770/?s=1. live.
Web site: Lotterer Signs for Techeetah. Smith. Sam. e-racing365. 26 September 2017. 17 September 2019. 21 June 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190621052941/https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/exclusive-techeetah-sign-lotterer/. live.
Web site: Di Grassi Leads Audi 1-2; Vergne Clinches Title in Race 1. Dagys. John. e-racing365. 14 July 2018. 17 September 2019. 10 September 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180910165218/https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/di-grassi-leads-audi-1-2-vergne-clinches-title-in-race-1/. live.
Web site: Jean-Éric Vergne Crowned Formula E Champion in New York City . DS Techeetah . 14 July 2018 . 16 May 2022 . 15 January 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230115193721/https://www.dstecheetah.com/cgi-sys/suspendedpage.cgi#:~:text=Jean%2D%C3%89ric%20Vergne%20Crowned%20Formula%20E%20Champion%20in%20New%20York%20City,-By%20MaroonBalloon14&text=Jean%2D%C3%89ric%20Vergne%20was%20crowned,one%20race%20left%20to%20run. . live .
Web site: Vergne Wins Race 2; Audi Claims Teams' Title in New York. Dagys. John. e-racing365. 15 July 2018. 17 September 2019. 12 April 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412085444/https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/vergne-wins-race-2-audi-claims-teams-title-in-new-york/. live.
Web site: DS汽车将与钛麒车队合作，征战电动方程式赛事. DS Automobile. 24 July 2018. 27 October 2020. 25 February 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210225195042/http://www.ds.com.cn/web/cn/spirit/dsworld/news/16382. live.
News: Vergne, Lotterer to Test DS Performance Gen 2 Car. 5 June 2018. en-US. 13 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210513200038/https://sportscar365.com/formula-e/vergne-lotterer-to-test-ds-performance-gen-2-car/. live.
Web site: 'Only a good thing' for Techeetah to supply customer team, boss says . autosport . 18 March 2021 . 10 May 2021 . 12 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210512060236/https://www.autosport.com/formula-e/news/good-thing-ds-techeetah-supply-customer-team/5785745/ . live .
Web site: DS Techeetah Opens its Doors to New Factory in Versailles and Announces Jean-Éric Vergne and André Lotterer as Drivers . 1 October 2018 . DS Techeetah . 16 May 2022 . 16 May 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220516105829/https://www.dstecheetah.com/news/ds-techeetah-opens-its-doors-to-new-factory-in-versailles-and-announces-jean-eric-vergne-and-andre-lotterer-as-drivers/ . live .
Web site: Frijns Wins Race 2; Vergne Crowned Champion in NYC. Dagys. John. e-racing365. 14 July 2019. 17 September 2019. 13 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190913124826/https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/frijns-wins-race-2-vergne-crowned-champion-in-nyc/. live.
News: Jean-Eric Vergne Clinches Formula E World Championship in New York City. Jerry Perez. The Drive. 18 October 2019. 8 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210508011806/https://www.thedrive.com/accelerator/22172/jean-eric-vergne-clinches-formula-e-world-championship-in-new-york-city. live.
News: Da Costa joins championship-winning team DS Techeetah. Formula E. 18 October 2019. 30 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201030125804/https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2019/september/da-costa-joins-ds-techeetah. live.
Web site: Lotterer joins Jani at Porsche for season six. e-racing.net. Smith. Topher. 17 July 2019. 19 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211219045219/https://www.e-racing.net/2019/07/17/lotterer-joins-jani-at-porsche-for-season-six/. live.
Web site: Da Costa's Move to DS Techeetah Confirmed. Smith. Sam. e-racing365. 17 September 2019. 17 September 2019. 20 September 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190920064110/https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/da-costas-move-to-ds-techeetah-confirmed/. live.
News: Kalinauckas. Alex. Formula E champion Jean-Eric Vergne's Techeetah contract extended. 17 September 2019. Autosport.com. Motorsport Network. 14 December 2018. 21 December 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181221134657/https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/140671/vergne-techeetah-fe-contract-extended. live.
Web site: TWR name revived as Techeetah enters Jaguar I-PACE eTrophy. Alex. Kalinauckas. 14 December 2018. 30 January 2019. Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 30 January 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190130220643/https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/140656/twr-name-revived-for-techeetah-jaguar-series-entry. live.
News: TWR Techeetah Launches Retro Livery. e-racing365. Sam. Smith. 11 February 2019. 12 February 2019. 13 February 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190213005901/https://e-racing365.com/i-pace-etrophy/twr-techeetah-launches-retro-livery/. live.
News: Carroll to Replace Rzadzinski at TWR Techeetah in Berlin. e-racing365. Sam. Smith. 23 May 2019. 27 May 2019. 29 May 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190529113949/https://e-racing365.com/i-pace-etrophy/carroll-replaces-rzadzinski-at-twr-techeetah-for-berlin/. live.
News: New York City Friday Notebook. e-racing365. Sam. Smith. 12 July 2019. 13 July 2019. 13 July 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190713103537/https://e-racing365.com/formula-e/new-york-city-friday-notebook-2/. live.