Could this be the year of the takeover for NEXTEV?

The Chinese team NEXTEV is led by Barry Mortimer, former director of the Aguri team. The structure is part of the eco-friendly new technologies group. The team’s first season was good with two victories in Long Beach and Moscow and three podiums (Punta del Este, Buenos Aires, and Monaco). The outcome was a driver’s championship title for Nelson Piquet Jr, who was solely responsible for these performances. In the constructor’s championship, the Chinese team took fourth place with 152 points. The team’s second season was nightmarish with a completely failed package after the opening of engine development. The team’s best performance was a sixth place in Beijing for Turvey. Logically, the team ended up in last place in the standings with 19 points. The structure can logically expect to do better this season given the catastrophic performances of season 2. The team’s position in the standings is uncertain due to the great difference between the first two seasons.

3 more testing days = 3 galleries! 📷
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— NextEV Formula E (@NextEVFETeam) 8 septembre 2016

Nelson Piquet Jr: The 31-year-old Brazilian, son of three-time F1 world champion Nelson Piquet, has been present in Formula E with NEXTEV since its inception, initially under the name China Racing. His first season was prolific with two victories, three podiums, and ultimately, the first drivers’ title in the discipline. Notably, the championship came down to the final race with a one-point difference with Sébastien Buemi. His second season unfolded quite differently, with his best performance being an eighth place in Putrajaya. Severely hampered by a car that was not really competitive, he finished fifteenth and last in the drivers’ standings among those who competed in all the championship races. The Brazilian has the British F3 title from 2004 on his record. He raced in Formula 1 from 2008 to 2009 but was dismissed by Renault mid-season after testifying against the team in the “Crash Gate” affair in Singapore. Since then, he has gone through several disciplines and participated this year in several WEC races alongside Nick Heidfeld and Nicolas Prost with Rebellion. He is returning with NEXTEV this season and hopes to regain form after a challenging season, aiming to get closer to the standards of his first season if his car allows it.

Oliver Turvey: The 29-year-old Briton, a member of the McLaren team, is entering a new season after participating in the last two races of season 1 in London and a full season with the team in season 2. His stint in London was satisfactory with two ninth-place finishes, not far from his more car-experienced teammate. His team’s issues didn’t allow him much exposure during his first true season in 2015/2016, but he still achieved the best performance for his team with a sixth place in Beijing. He finished fourteenth in the championship ahead of Piquet with one more Top 10 finish and 11 points to 8. His record includes a victory at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014 in the LMP2 category. His program is coupled with a season in the Japanese Super GT. His goal for this season will be to compete more frequently with the rest of the pack, unlike last season when the team’s two single-seaters often remained isolated at the back of the field.

Confirmed: Our boys Nelson Piquet Jr and Oliver Turvey are back for season 3. 🙌 👌 #NextEVolution#FormulaE pic.twitter.com/brP0keG00m

— NextEV Formula E (@NextEVFETeam) 23 août 2016