F3 racer and Williams Racing Academy member Alessandro Giusti will drive for Lola Yamaha ABT alongside Australian-Japanese driver Hugh Barter in Berlin later this month.
Barter is the Lola Yamaha ABT Simulator Test Driver, who is used in real time over EPrix weekends.
Frenchman Giusti will make his Formula E debut at Berlin Tempelhof and is midway through his maiden FIA F3 campaign with the MP Motorsport team, with who he scored a season best of second place at the Red Bull Ring last weekend.
The 18-year-old has had a noteworthy career to date, making his car racing debut in the French F4 Championship in 2021 before winning the series in 2022 and then joining the Williams Racing Driver Academy in 2024.
Speaking to Formula E Notebook earlier this week, Giusti said that the deal to test with the Lola ABT Yamaha team occurred quickly.
“I saw the rookie test was July 14 and I said to my manager (Jeremy Satis) it’s really good to do one test in Formula E soon.
“He talked to Williams, and then started talking with Lola. It went quite, quite quickly, like in one week it was done. I’m happy to be with Lola.”
Giusti believes that Formula E could open up a career for him in the future, after his attempt to make it to F1, which is his clear objective at the present time as he tackles FIA F3.
“For now, I’m quite focused on Formula One, as I’m part of the Williams Racing Academy,” said Giusti.
“I’m in F3, so the road is for Formula One, but (current Lola Yamaha Lola driver) Zane Maloney, he went to Formula Two, and then he didn’t close the door on Formula E, and he went to the Formula E Championship, which can be an idea if F1 does not happen.”
Giusti is known for his strong race craft and he also expanded upon the attractiveness of Formula E in a racing context, something that he watches frequently on the live TV coverage of the races.
“I will say it looks way closer between all the cars in Formula E and the quali is super tight as well,” he said.
“I love the format of quali, which is only one lap driver, one versus one. It looks quite cool and also the battles look quite strong, so it looks enjoyable.
Giusti’s former 2022 French F4 series title rival Barter will join him at the team for the test in Berlin. The pair finished 1-2 respectively, despite winning three more races than Giusti, who was much more consistent.
Barter previously competed in the Berlin Rookie Test in 2023 for the Maserati MSG team. Prior to that he also finished runner-up in the French F4 Championship in 2021 to Toyota affiliated driver Esteban Masson, who recently finished second in in LMP2 at the Le Mans 24 Hours.
As Lola Yamaha ABT’s Simulator Test Driver, Hugh has worked closely with the team, helping to optimise car setup and strategy, and will now be able to build upon his racetrack experience.
Outlining Lola’s choice of drivers for the test in Berlin, Motorsport Director at Lola Cars, Mark Preston said: “We are thrilled to welcome Alessandro and Hugh to the team. Both drivers have achieved impressive results in their careers, and their collective experience is an ideal combination which will give helpful feedback as we enter the final rounds of Season 11 and look forward to next season.”
