Joel Eriksson has arrived in the Mexican city of Puebla, where he is poised to make an exciting debut in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship this weekend.
In doing so, 22-year-old Eriksson becomes the first Swedish driver to contest a world championship event for all-electric motorsport.
Eriksson is representing U.S.-based squad DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT, where he stands in for regular driver Nico Müller in this weekend’s two races at the Puebla E-Prix. The team’s second car is driven by Brazil’s Sérgio Sette Câmara.
“This is a dream coming true,” says an excited Joel Eriksson. “Formula E has been on my wish list for several years, and I’ve been working to get myself to this very point, about to contest my first couple of races. To do so in a season where the series has received official world championship status makes it even sweeter.
“I’m incredibly happy to be back in a race mode and I will give it everything I’ve got to pay back the team’s faith in me.”
Eriksson has prepared for the weekend ahead primarily through extensive simulator work, and enters the stage at a venue not only new to himself, but in fact to all of Formula E.
While the championship has previously raced in Mexico, the country’s E-Prix events have so far all been staged in Mexico City. 2021 duly marks the first time Puebla – located in the shadows of the mighty Popocatépetl volcano – plays host to all-electric single-seater racing.
Action takes place at the city’s Autodromo Miguel E. Abed, a 2.98 km permanent track situated some 2175 metres above sea level and featuring 15 winding turns.
“It’s a new circuit for everyone, which will probably help me a little bit, but on the whole I’m obviously aware that I’ve got a big task at hand this weekend,” says Joel Eriksson. “I have barely sat in a racing car in six months, and I jump straight in halfway through an on-going season. I’m realistic and I have a lot to learn in a very short time frame, but of course I will push to my limits and try to bring home a good result.”
The two Puebla E-Prix races mark rounds eight and nine in a 15-race season. DRAGON / PENSKE AUTOSPORT are currently 11th in the teams’ standings.
Action in Puebla plays out across Saturday and Sunday, with each day featuring practice, qualifying and one race. Both races have a duration of 45 minutes plus one lap, demanding a blend of raw pace and efficient energy management; a Formula E trademark.
Formula E is carried on Eurosport and Eurosport Player in several countries, including Sweden. For a full list of global broadcast providers, please click here.
Check out Formula E’s full preview for the Puebla E-Prix here.
TIME TABLE
ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
CBMM Niobium Puebla E-Prix (MEX)
All times local (GMT-05:00)
Saturday 19 June
Free Practice 1: 08.00-08.45
Free Practice 2: 10.15-10.45
Qualifying 1: 12.00-13.00
Race 1 (45 min + 1 lap): 16.00
Sunday 20 June
Free Practice 3: 09.15-10.00
Qualifying 2: 12.00-13.00
Race 2 (45 min + 1 lap): 16.00
