14 DAY TRIAL // EV manufacturer Venturi Automobiles has rolled out a Venturi Grand Prix Formula E Team and, according to a press release issued earlier today, actor Leonardo DiCaprio is no stranger to its endeavor.
On the contrary, it appears that the Hollywood sweetheart is one of the Venturi Grand Prix Formula E Team's co-founders.
“Based in Monaco, the new Venturi Grand Prix Formula E Team has been co-founded by DiCaprio and Gildo Pallanca Pastor, founder of pioneering EV manufacturer Venturi Automobiles, together with Bert Hedaya and Francesco Costa,” Venturi writes on its website.
Like all other teams entered in the Formula E FIA Championship, the one that Leonardo DiCaprio co-founded is made up of two members.
The team is the tenth and last to enter the Formula E championship, and is now waiting to be cleared by FIA.
“The future of our planet depends on our ability to embrace fuel-efficient, clean-energy vehicles. Venturi Grand Prix has shown tremendous foresight in their decision to create an environmentally friendly racing team, and I am happy to be a part of this effort,” Leonardo DiCaprio commented on his decision to back get behind Venturi Automobiles' initiative.
“Venturi has been a pioneer in electric high performance vehicles for more than a decade and Formula E gives us the fantastic opportunity to further improve our advanced technologies through motorsport, as well as compete all over the world,” added Gildo Pallanca Pastor.
The inaugural Formula E championship will take place in 2014 – 2015. As part of this competition, electric single-seater race cars that can reach speeds of up to 225 kilometers per hour will compete in 10 host cities across the world.
According to a recently confirmed calendar, these 10 host cities are as follows: Beijing, Putrajaya, Rio de Janeiro, Punta del Este, Buenos Aires, Los Angeles, Miami, Monte Carlo, Berlin and London.
The Formula E championship is intended to do more than just provide motorsport afficionados with some entertainment. Thus, the series is expected to help make electric cars more popular, and thus promote sustainability.