Lotterer: No Japan return while I'm in Formula E

ByMotorsport.com

Published 23/05/2019 at 06:20 GMT

Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andre Lotterer says he couldn't realistically consider a return to racing in Japan while he is racing full-time in the ABB FIA Formula E series.Lotterer first moved to Japan in 2003 and became one of the most successful drivers in the country’s domestic championships over the next 15 years, winning two titles in Super GT and another in Super Formula. However, the German was

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Le Mans 24 Hours winner Andre Lotterer says he couldn't realistically consider a return to racing in Japan while he is racing full-time in the ABB FIA Formula E series.

Lotterer first moved to Japan in 2003 and became one of the most successful drivers in the country’s domestic championships over the next 15 years, winning two titles in Super GT and another in Super Formula.

However, the German was forced to leave Super Formula shortly after securing a Formula E drive with Techeetah in 2017/18. The 37-year-old had already backed out of Super GT after 2011 due to increasing commitments with Audi in the FIA World Endurance Championship.

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All Super GT races are streamed live and for free on Motorsport.tv.

During last week's Spa WEC round, Lotterer suggested it was unlikely he would be prepared to consider another season of racing in WEC with his Rebellion Racing squad without the ability to challenge the dominant Toyotas.

But, when asked if that meant he could consider a return to Japan alongside his FE drive, the German downplayed the prospect.

“When I started racing FE I still had my drive in Super Formula, but I quickly understood there are too many clashes - it’s not doable,” Lotterer told Motorsport.com.

“I had been combining it [with other series] a lot in the last 10 years and it costs a lot of energy. It’s nice to focus much more on one championship and FE is a championship where you have to work a lot on harder than others. I’m focussed on that, and it’s paying off.

Super GT is also a great championship, who knows. But combine it, difficult. It’s getting more and more difficult.

t was OK to combine [FE] with WEC because there’s not much testing, no sim at all with the Rebellion team."

Lotterer: FE giving me same satisfaction WEC used to

and quit the WEC due to lack of competition, but at Spa he said he "doesn't know" whether he will stay on for 2019/20.

He said that his FE programme is giving him similar satisfaction to what he got from racing with Audi, and then Porsche during the WEC's LMP1 heyday.

“Let’s see what the future brings.

"I’m not against [staying in the WEC] if there’s a good plan. Competition is what brings this sport alive, and it’s what I have in Formula E now.

“Everyone is competing on the same level and that’s what’s fun, and what we’re missing here. In ’14, ’15, ’16, we were all on the same level, competing for six hours. It was mega.”