The technology arm of Australian mining giant Fortescue officially unveiled its debut team, car, and livery for the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, which gets underway next month.
Fortescue Zero, an electrification technology company, was born out of the 2022 acquisition of Williams Advanced Engineering (WAE), the technology and consulting arm of the Williams Formula 1 team. Though WAE’s history and pedigree were based in the world of Formula 1 racing, Fortescue Zero has expanded its remit to tackle everything from batteries to powertrains, wind technology to charging.
This led to Fortescue Zero being announced as the official “Pit Boost Provider” of the Formula E World Championship for its 11th season, utilising technology that is capable of adding a 10 per cent boost to total battery capacity in just 30 seconds.
Fortescue Zero announced in September that it would enter its own team into the Formula E World Championship, powered by a Jaguar GEN4 powertrain, after it acquired the Penske Autosport Formula E operation.
This will be the first Australian-owned and entered outfit to take to the track in the all-electric series.
Following the announcement, Fortescue Zero quickly filled out the headline roles in its new team, announcing experienced motorsport executive Jim Wright as Team Principal, as well as Taylor Barnard and Dan Ticktum as its driver line-up for its debut season.
The car’s livery boasts Fortescue’s distinctive electric green and black and the usual proliferation of sponsors – including several Fortescue brands such as Elysia Battery Intelligence and Nabrawind. The car is also fitted out with a design featuring a topographical map of Fortescue’s first green mine in the Pilbara, as well as nods to the respective founders that made Fortescue Zero, Dr Andrew Forrest (from Fortescue) and Sir Frank Williams (from Williams).
Team Principal Jim Wright is bullish about the team’s chances, explaining that the team is not competing to “blend in” but “to build a team that competes, does things differently and earns its place on the grid.”
“This is the world’s first look at who we are,” said Wright. “But the real work is well underway, to be ready, push hard and deliver as a team when we begin running on-circuit next week.”
“Launching a new racing outfit is a significant challenge, and that’s exactly what makes it exciting. We have strong foundations, an experienced, talented and highly motivated group and we’re ready to compete.”
Wright comes to Fortescue Zero Racing with decades of executive experience across both Formula 1 and Formula E, holding senior roles with Williams F1, Scuderia Toro Rosso, Virgin Racing, Mahindra Racing, Venturi Formula E and Andretti Global, as well as steering the Formula E Teams & Manufacturers Association for the first ten seasons.
