Barbados’ racing sensation Zane Maloney has reached another major milestone on the international racing circuit.
The 20-year-old Red Bull Formula 2 driver has been named as Andretti’s Global reserve driver in Formula E next season.
The announcement was made in a press release issued on Wednesday, where it was also revealed that Maloney will serve as a development driver for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Formula E, officially the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars.
It is the highest level of racing for single-seater electric cars.
The series was conceived in 2011 in Paris by then-FIA president Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag, who is also the current chairman of Formula E Holdings.
The inaugural championship race was held in Beijing in September 2014. Since 2020, the series has FIA World Championship status.
Maloney joins full-time teammates, reigning world champion Jake Dennis and Formula E race winner Norman Nato, to complete Andretti Formula E’s Season 10 lineup.
He made his Formula E debut with Andretti at the 2023 Sabic Berlin E-Prix rookie session, finishing the day with the third-quickest time overall.
Maloney earned another opportunity with the team in a free practice session at the 2023 Hankook Rome E-Prix, as well as a rookie outing at the official Season 10 test in Valencia just a month ago.
He will actively support the team in his official role with simulator development work at Andretti Formula E’s Banbury headquarters and will attend race events throughout Season 10, starting at the Formula E season opener in Mexico City on January 13.
An ecstatic Maloney said he was eagerly looking forward to joining the Andretti team.
“Joining Andretti Formula E as the official reserve and development driver is an incredible opportunity. I’m grateful for the trust the team has placed in my abilities, and I’m determined to support Jake and Norman as best I can.
“The Andretti name has such a rich history in motorsport, so it’s a pretty surreal moment for me in my career. I’m looking forward to contributing to the team’s continued success in Season 10,” Maloney said.
Team principal at Andretti Formula E, Roger Griffiths said the team was impressed with Maloney’s drive and skill, which eventually led to his signing.
“We’ve had the pleasure of working closely with Zane, and his dedication, talent and enthusiasm really stood out to us.
“Not only has he proven himself in other racing series, but also on multiple occasions during the rookie sessions where he demonstrated an excellent understanding of our Gen3 car. We are delighted to have Zane join us as our official reserve and development driver and look forward to working closely with him throughout the coming season,” Griffiths said.
It is the most recent accomplishment for Maloney, who won the F4 British Championship in 2019 and finished second in the FIA Formula 3 Championship in 2022, before joining Red Bull as a junior driver in 2023. (PR/RB)
Credit: Barbados Today