The Porsche customer team that has initially been entered for a slot on the GEN4 Formula E grid as ‘New Co Formula E Team’ will be the 12th and final team on the 2026-27 grid ensuring a full grid for the first time since 2021.
The plans are initially entered under the Fusion Formula E Team name, with that company having been registered in the UK last week via offices in Jersey and with a holding company named as SAJ Finance Limited.
Its founder, director and majority owner is Dan Richards, who is one of the key investors in the Lando Norris’ inspired LN4 Fusion entity that was announced last month. It is understood that there are other minority stakeholders in the project also.
Formula E Notebook discovered earlier this month that Norris’ name had been previously discussed as potentially being involved in the new Formula E team but this is believed to have been largely dismissed in late September.
FEN can also reveal that the all-new team has submitted an entry ahead of last Friday’s deadline and is planning on being at the pre-season test at Jarama next month, after making an audacious, last minute bid to join the field. It is believed that an investment group, including at least one well-known motorsport stakeholder, is behind the ambitious project.
It will mean that there will be six Porsche GEN4 cars on the grid with the two extra customer cars now joining the brace of factory cars for Pascal Wehrlein and Nico Mueller, and the two CUPRA Kiro entries for Pepe Marti and Jake Hughes.
In a sensational twist, the operation, which is set to be based in the UK, will be launched and managed by former Jaguar and DS Penske technical leader Phil Charles, who is set to be Team Principal of the as yet unnamed operation.
Charles left the DS Penske operation in late August and has since been working with Porsche to get the two initially allocated satellite factory cars on to the GEN4 grid.
The late deal is only believed to have been completely signed last week and the necessary paperwork filed and vetted by Formula E Operations and the FIA to guarantee the entry. This followed the initial expression of interest and registration procedure last month with the team initially being filed as ‘New Co Formula E’.
Readiness for the Jarama test in three weeks’ time is extremely tight with the team recruiting some staff and also getting assistance from Porsche in ensuring the cars are in a running state for the Jarama test days.
The Fusion Formula E Team is being constructed in new premises in Oxfordshire, UK under Charles’ command, who has been recruiting staff for the new venture for several weeks.
Charles advertised for ‘short term contracts available for a Race Engineer, Systems/Control Engineer and a Strategy Engineer’ on the LinkedIn platform late last week.
Who will drive the Porsches?
Fusion Formula E Team that will run the pair of Porche GEN4 cars is talking to several drivers right now, although at present it is unlikely to confirm precisely who will race its cars in 2026/27 until after the Jarama test.
Ayhancan Guven is considered a favourite for one of the seats, although his confirmation will be dependent on if he can collate the necessary points to gain an e-licence for competition.
Speaking to FEN at the Barcelona WEC race last weekend, Guven said that he “couldn’t say so much about it, but in general, still that’s the plan (to race in Formula E).
“This is what I’m working towards. I’m just trying to follow the plan, let’s say like this, and I’m just doing my best in the areas I can do, and the rest we will find out.”
Although Porsche is not believed to have direct attorney on drivers at the team, David Beckmann may also be another option, after having completed a season with the CUPRA Kiro team in 2025.
Other drivers who could race for the team are Joel Eriksson and Cian Shields. The former is looking for a drive after being let go by Envision in August, while Shields has tested for the CUPRA Kiro team at Jarama last March and is known to be looking to a new series for 2027 after completing two largely fruitless seasons in F2.
Shields though is believed to have already committed to a European Le Mans Series team is now highly unlikely to combine with a double programme.
Another driver that may be in the frame are former F2 race winner Joshua Durksen, while current GB3 points leader, Nikita Bedrin, may also be considered due to his links with Charles and previous tests and simulator role with DS Penske.
The team is not believed to have yet approached Sebastien Buemi, who had been speaking to Fortescue Zero recently. The new Jaguar customer team is yet to confirm a teammate alongside the already confirmed Taylor Barnard, although Dan Ticktum is considered the favourite candidate.
