Written by Sofia Costantino, Edited by Umut Yelbaşı
We are just a few months away from the 10th season of Formula E, with teams finalising their driver lineups and preparing for the months ahead. There’s one particular driver who has caught everyone’s attention with his indescribable talent, determination, and the way he has improved so much in so little time: Sacha Fenestraz.
Fenestraz is a Nissan Formula E driver with a track record of victories and titles in some of the world’s most prestigious racing championships.
He was born in France in 1999, and grew up in Argentina. He dominated the national karting scenes in both countries before moving into French Formula F4, Formula Renault and FIA Formula 3, where he continued to find success in the junior categories.
He made his competitive debut at just seven years old and went on to race at the highest levels of international karting. Graduating to single-seaters, Sacha asserted his dominance in a variety of junior categories where he fine-tuned his racecraft. In each series, he achieved a long list of podiums, race wins, and pole positions, building himself a solid CV.
Thanks to his talent and dedication, he demonstrated some street racing prowess in his early days with victories at Monaco, Pau, and the gruelling barrier-lined roads of Macau.
In 2019, he moved to Japan and won the Japanese Formula 3 title, joining current Formula E rival Nick Cassidy as another driver to take the championship in their rookie season.
After winning the title, he immediately attracted the attention of Toyota, who signed him as a professional racing driver in 2020. Representing the iconic Japanese brand, his run of success continued, regularly finishing on the podium and competing for race wins in Super GT500 and Super Formula in his debut year.
Later on came 2021 with the pandemic, COVID regulations, and more. Sacha’s 2021 plans were put on hold due to difficulties in obtaining a Japanese visa amid the ongoing pandemic. But this didn’t deter him from his quest for glory: He made his comeback to racing after more than nine months out, this time in Argentina, to compete in the 200 kilometres of Buenos Aires in the Super TC 2000 Championship for Toyota.
At the end of September, Sacha made his highly-anticipated return to Japan, racing in the final three rounds of Super GT and the final two rounds of Super Formula.
His never-give-up attitude was rewarded as he finished on the podium in the Super GT500 finale at Fuji despite missing the majority of the season, showing his time away had little impact on his incredible level of performance.
Sacha’s motorsport career hit new heights as he became the vice-champion in Super Formula, as well as taking his maiden Super GT500 victory with Toyota.
2022 marked Sacha’s best year to date in both of Japan’s leading motorsport categories. Building even more on the experience he had already built up, Sacha’s incredible consistency and lightning speed helped him become the vice champion in Super Formula, taking his first win at Sportsland Sugo.
His success didn’t stop there as he bounced back from a tricky start to the Super GT season by taking a podium at Suzuka, and claiming his maiden victory at Fuji.
Since then, the French-Argentine driver has made an impressive name for himself in Japan, with success across both the Super Formula and Super GT500 championships, with 12 podium finishes across single-seater and sports car categories, ultimately showcasing his versatile skills behind the wheel.
The Frenchman has also dipped his toe into the world of all-electric street racing, having completed the 2020 Marrakesh Rookie Test for Jaguar, ending the sampler session with the 10th quickest overall time and earning a full-time role as the British manufacturer's test and reserve driver. He also made a brief appearance in Season 8, answering a call from Dragon to replace the injured Antonio Giovinazzi, which led to a full-time seat in Season 9 with Nissan.
Sacha continues to show his versatility, his unbelievable talent, persistence, dedication, signing his new 2024 contract with Nissan for the 10th season of Formula E.