History is in the making as Fortescue Zero prepares to become the first Australian owned outfit to race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The team will join the grid from the start of the upcoming 2026/27 season, though the move remains subject to FEO and FIA approval.
Now, this is far from Fortescue’s first time around the paddock. With roots in Williams Racing through Williams Advanced Engineering, the outfit has grown into a high-performance engineering business working at the cutting edge of electrification, serving as the Official PIT BOOST supplier of Formula E. To lay the groundwork for this new chapter, Fortescue has acquired the Penske Formula E operation.
Formula E is far more than a racing series, it’s an incubator for peak performance and ground-breaking technology, and Fortescue Zero exemplifies both.
When they hit the track, they will be competing with a Jaguar GEN4 powertrain. And what a machine that is. The GEN4 car is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 335kph, accelerating from 0-100kph in approximately 1.8 seconds, and hitting 200kph in just 4.4 seconds, making it 1.5 seconds faster than its predecessor. It delivers 50% more power in race mode than the current GEN3 Evo race car, and an average of 10 seconds faster per lap than the GEN3 car in qualifying mode. In ATTACK MODE, the GEN4 produces up to 600kW of power, marking a 71% increase in base output over the GEN3 Evo while featuring permanent all-wheel drive.
Gus Pichot, Fortescue Growth and Energy CEO, shared his thoughts on the massive step: "For more than a decade Fortescue Zero has been the brains behind some of the groundbreaking technologies powering and transforming electric racing. Now, we’re going to show the world how we can compete on the track as well." He added, "Progressing from the pit lane to the grid is the next chapter in our motorsports story. We’re here to race, to win and to innovate."
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds also welcomed the news, stating: "Fortescue Zero has been a vital technology partner for Formula E from day one, standing alongside us since the inception of the Championship." Dodds continued, "Formula E is far more than a racing series, it’s an incubator for peak performance and ground-breaking technology, and Fortescue Zero exemplifies both."
