Sacha_Fenestraz

Sacha Fenestraz

Sacha Fenestraz

French-Argentine racing driver

Sacha Fenestraz Jules (born 28 July 1999) is a French-Argentine racing driver who is currently racing in Formula E[4] with Nissan Formula E Team. He is the 2017 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 champion.

Quick Facts Nationality, Born ...

Early career

Karting

Born in France to Argentine and French parents, but raised in Córdoba, Argentina,[5] Fenestraz began karting in 2006 at the age of seven, partaking in events across France and Argentina.

Formula 4

In 2015, Fenestraz graduated to single-seaters. He partook in the French F4 Championship, where he claimed three victories and eleven junior victories. As a result, he finished as Junior F4 champion and vice-champion in the overall standings.

Formula Renault 2.0

Fenestraz driving in Formula Renault in 2016

In 2016, Fenestraz switched to Formula Renault 2.0 with Tech 1 Racing. He claimed his first pole position at the Monaco round, following the exclusion of former pole sitter Lando Norris,[6] and subsequently took his first victory in the race. He followed that up with a second pole and victory at the final race at Estoril to finish fifth in the overall standings. He also claimed a victory and finished fifth in the Northern European Cup.

After testing with them in the post-season test at Estoril, Fenestraz signed with team champions Josef Kaufmann Racing for 2017.[7] Fenestraz won the championship with a race to spare.[4] He won seven races and had finished another eleven races on the podium position. After he became a champion he was included into the Renault Sport Academy.[8]

FIA European Formula 3 Championship

Sacha Fenestraz during the FIA Formula 3 round at Norisring in 2018.

In September 2017, Fenestraz joined Carlin for the eighth round at the Nürburgring.[9] In 2018, he contested with the team full-time.[10] He scored his first podium and victory of the season during the second race in Pau. He started this race from pole position and also managed to set the fastest lap of the race, but could only manage eleventh in the championship.[11] At the Macau Grand Prix, Fenestraz came away with third in the race.[12]

GP3 Series

Fenestraz partook in the final two rounds of the 2018 GP3 Series with Arden International.[13]

Japanese Formula 3

After losing his backing from Renault, Fenestraz moved to Japan to contest the Japanese Formula 3 Championship with B-Max Racing with Motopark.[14][15] Fighting throughout the season with TOM'S racer Ritomo Miyata, Fenestraz claimed eight wins and secured the title at Motegi with a round to spare, thus becoming the first rookie driver to win the title since Nick Cassidy in 2015.[16]

Super Formula

In 2020, Fenestraz moved up to Super Formula with Kondo Racing.[17] He continued to compete with Kondo Racing, but could only drive in the last three rounds given that Fenestraz had been unable to enter Japan because the government had closed its borders due to the pandemic. Fenestraz continued racing with the same team, but this time he had his best season in Super Formula, where he clinched his maiden win in Sportsland SUGO, and adding a couple of podiums to his name.

Super GT

In addition to his 2019 Japanese Formula 3 campaign, Fenestraz also partook in the GT300 class of the Super GT championship with Kondo Racing, finishing sixth overall.[15] The following year, Fenestraz graduated to the GT500 class with Lexus rebranded Toyota Gazoo Racing replacing Kazuki Nakajima at TGR TOM'S au and partnering Yuhi Sekiguchi.[18] Four podiums to his name alongside Sekiguchi placed 4th in the standings. Fenestraz stayed with the same team, but nmove to the KeePer car pairing up with Ryo Hirakawa. Unfortunately he was denied entry to Japan for long time due to border restriction caused by the pandemic. He raced in the fifth round of the series, and by end of season clinched 1 podium. He continues to compete same team, but with new teammate of Ritomo Miyata. In that season, Fenestraz and Miyata clinched their GT500 maiden win in Fuji Speedway.

Formula E

In February 2020, Fenestraz was named as one of Panasonic Jaguar Racing's entrants into the rookie test in Marrakesh.[19] In the test, Fenestraz set the fourth fastest time of the morning session and finish tenth overall in the afternoon session and overall classification.[20][21] The following year, Fenestraz was named as Jaguar's reserve driver for the 2021 season opener at Riyadh.[22]

Dragon / Penske Autosport (2022)

2021–22 season

In August 2022, Fenestraz made his Formula E debut in the second Seoul ePrix, replacing Antonio Giovinazzi who suffered a hand injury in the previous race.[23]

Nissan Formula E Team (2023–)

2022–23 season

Fenestraz at the 2023 Berlin ePrix.

Fenestraz entered into Formula E on a full-time basis for the 2023 season, partnering Norman Nato at Nissan.[24] The year began promisingly, with the Frenchman getting into the knockout stage of qualifying for the season-opening Mexico City ePrix, although he would fall back during the race.[25] At the next event in Diriyah, Fenestraz scored his first points in the series with an eighth place in the second race, which he stated he was "pleased" about.[26] The French driver qualified in fourth for the Hyderabad ePrix two weeks later, but would miss out on a chance at points after becoming stuck between the two Jaguar Racing cars, which had crashed just in front of Fenestraz.[27] During the following round in Cape Town, Fenestraz took his maiden pole position in the series, beating Maximilian Günther in the final stage and setting the fastest ever Formula E lap in the process.[28][29] During the race however, Fenestraz fell down to third before being collided into by Nick Cassidy on the final lap, hitting the barriers which would result in a 14th-placed finish.[30][31] At the Monaco ePrix, Fenastraz initially took pole position but was later demoted to second position for exceeding his power limit in his final run.[32]

2023–24 season

Fenestraz was kept by Nissan for the 2023–24 season and partners Oliver Rowland.[33]

Personal life

Fenestraz shared a flat in Guildford with fellow racing driver Lando Norris.[34]

Racing record

Career summary

More information Season, Series ...

† As Fenestraz was a guest driver, he was ineligible to score points.

Complete French F4 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Pos ...

Complete Formula Renault Eurocup results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Team ...

Complete FIA Formula 3 European Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Entrant ...

† Driver did not finish the race, but was classified as he completed over 90% of the race distance.

Complete Macau Grand Prix results

More information Year, Team ...

Complete GP3 Series results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Entrant ...

Complete Japanese Formula 3 Championship results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Entrant ...

Complete Super GT results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Team ...

‡ Half points awarded as less than 75% of race distance was completed.

Complete Super Formula results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Entrant ...

Complete Formula E results

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

More information Year, Team ...

Notes

  1. Fenestraz has previously competed under a French racing licence through all his career. He is set to switch to an Argentine licence in 2024.[1][2]

References

  1. [1]
    Regueira, Leo (24 August 2022). "Fenestraz correrá en Formula E con licencia argentina". Carburando (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  2. [2]
    "Ahora si estamos, licencia Argentina". Twitter. Sacha Fenestraz. 23 February 2023. Retrieved 23 February 2023.
  3. [3]
    "Sacha Fenestraz Career History | FIA Results and Statistics". fiaresultsandstatistics.motorsportstats.com. Retrieved 25 July 2020.
  4. [4]
    Waring, Bethonie (29 October 2017). "Sacha Fenestraz crowned Eurocup champion as Shwartzman wins again at Barcelona". formulascout.com. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  5. [5]
    "Quién es Sacha Fenestraz, el cordobés que deslumbró en Monaco (Who is Sacha Fenestraz, the Cordovan who dazzled in Monaco)". 30 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  6. [6]
    "Sacha Fenestraz on pole in the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 at Monaco". 28 May 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2016.
  7. [7]
    "Fenestraz firms up Kaufmann switch for 2017 Formula Renault season". 14 December 2016. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  8. [8]
    "SACHA FENESTRAZ WINS THE 2017 FORMULA RENAULT EUROCUP TITLE". Renault Sport Academy. Renault Sport. 29 October 2017. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
  9. [9]
    "Formula Renault leader Fenestraz to make F3 debut". 4 September 2017. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  10. [10]
    Simmons, Marcus (15 January 2018). "Formula Renault champion Fenestraz joins Carlin for Euro F3 2018". Autosport. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
  11. [11]
    "HOME HERO SACHA FENESTRAZ WINS AT PAU". 13 May 2018. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  12. [12]
    "Sacha Fenestraz scores a podium finish in Macau!". 19 November 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  13. [13]
    Hewitt, Chloe (25 September 2018). "SACHA FENESTRAZ JOINS ARDEN INTERNATIONAL GP3 TEAM". thecheckeredflag.co.uk. The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  14. [14]
    Simmons, Marcus (17 December 2018). "Fenestraz dropped by Renault junior scheme". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  15. [15]
    Brierty, William (15 February 2019). "Sacha Fenestraz finalises Japanese F3 and Super GT programmes". FormulaScout. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
  16. [16]
    Thukral, Rachit (18 August 2019). "Ex-Renault junior Fenestraz crowned Japanese F3 champion". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 15 October 2019.
  17. [17]
    "Cassidy absent from Toyota's Super Formula line-up". www.motorsport.com. 7 February 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  18. [18]
    Klein, Jamie (21 November 2019). "Fenestraz set to replace Nakajima at TOM'S". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  19. [19]
    "Panasonic Jaguar Racing with Jamie Chadwick and Sacha Fenestraz in Formula E test". 28 February 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  20. [20]
    Soulsby, Chris (1 March 2020). "Van Der Linde tops morning session of Marrakesh rookie test". Motorsport Week. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  21. [21]
    "Nick Cassidy sets fastest time for Envision Virgin Racing in Rookie Test". 1 March 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  22. [22]
    Thukral, Rachit (24 February 2021). "Fenestraz joins Jaguar Formula E team as reserve driver". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  23. [23]
    "Giovinazzi ruled out of final Formula E race with hand injury". The Race. 14 August 2022. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
  24. [24]
    Klein, Jamie (23 August 2022). "Fenestraz, Nato join Nissan for 2022-23 Formula E season". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 23 August 2022.
  25. [25]
    Golding, Nick (22 January 2023). "Sacha Fenestraz: "We definitely had the potential to score points"". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  26. [26]
    Golding, Nick (30 January 2023). "Sacha Fenestraz: "If you make one small mistake in qualifying it can be really costly"". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  27. [27]
    "Bird takes full responsibility for Jaguar clash in Hyderabad". The Official Home of Formula E. Retrieved 25 February 2023.[permanent dead link]
  28. [28]
    Golding, Nick (25 February 2023). "Cape Town E-Prix: Rookie Sacha Fenestraz Makes History as Safety Concerns Overshadow Qualifying". The Checkered Flag. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  29. [29]
    "Fenestraz fires to fastest ever Formula E lap for maiden pole in Cape Town". The Official Home of Formula E. Retrieved 25 February 2023.[permanent dead link]
  30. [30]
    "Outrageous sends seal memorable da Costa win in Cape Town". The Official Home of Formula E. Retrieved 25 February 2023.[permanent dead link]
  31. [31]
    ""Echt optimistisch" - tragischer Held Fenestraz erklärt Cassidy-Kollision, die ihn 1. Formel-E-Podium kostete - e-Formel.de". e-formel.de. Retrieved 26 February 2023.
  32. [32]
    Mackley, Stefan (6 May 2023). "Monaco E-Prix: Hughes handed pole after Fenestraz penalised". www.autosport.com. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  33. [33]
    "Nissan retain Fenestraz after impressive rookie campaign". motorsportweek.com. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  34. [34]
    "This Kid is Tipped to be the Next Lewis Hamilton". YouTube.
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