Stefano Coletti has competed in a number of single-seater categories including GP2 and more recently IndyCar. Following his test outing with Team Aguri at Donington Park last week, will Coletti soon be adding Formula E to his list?
How did the opportunity to test with Team Aguri come about?
“Well I know the guys pretty well, they are from Monaco and they own a simulator in Monaco. I used to do all my simulator work for GP2 over there, so I know the guys since like three or four years. When I heard about a chance at Formula E I jumped in. I was like, ‘hey why don’t you give me a ride?’”
You have a lot of experience across a number of single-seater categories, how does Formula E differ?
“It’s completely different from anything I have been driving till now. The cars are heavier and with less power so it’s a different way of driving. You can’t stop the car, rotate and go like in a GP2 car because you have 620bhp. Here it’s more about keeping the momentum all the time and keeping the speed into the corners. The driving style is completely different and it certainly takes some time to get used to.”
The circuit around Donington Park isn’t necessarily representative to the city street circuits we visit, how do you think the car will handle in different conditions?
“It’s a really fun car to drive, it’s a strange feeling when you drive it as you can’t compare it to anything else. You carry a lot of speed into the corners, you don’t want to brake too hard and make it roll into the corner. It must be fun on the streets in the middle of the walls. When there’s risk involved the speed gets higher!”
Is it something that appeals to you, to join the series?
“We are working on it, that’s the goal. I want to try to be here for this coming season and I hope it’s going to happen.”