Ex-Audi chief Gass joins Formula E as technical, sporting advisor
Former Head of Audi Motorsport Dieter Gass will join Formula E as senior technical and sporting advisor, assisting the promoter in defining the championship’s long-term plans.
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In his new role, Gass will help develop the Gen4 regulations – planned for the 2026-27 season once the Gen3 package completes its four-year cycle.
Gass, formerly the chief engineer of the Toyota F1 team, joined Lotus in 2010 before joining Audi two years later, becoming head of motorsport there in 2017. Last month he was appointed as Jota’s new team principal for the customer’s Porsche LMDh program and will dovetail this role with his work in Formula E.
The German will work for Formula E to help shape the future regulations for the all-electric championship and to oversee all developments in the technical and sporting working groups.
“As the championship matures, we get to a point where we need to strengthen the technical and sporting skills of the people we have in-house,” Formula E Chief Championship Officer Alberto Longo told Autosport.
“It is such a pleasure to welcome someone like Dieter into the Formula E family. Having someone with such a large background in motorsport, both in technical and sporting roles in Formula 1 and in Formula E in the past, it’s definitely been the right decision on our part.
“This is a joint decision with the FIA to examine a position like Dieter’s now. We have a technical working group, we have a sporting working group and Dieter will be the Formula E representative in these groups.”
“These two groups report to the FIA and Formula E committees, of which Dieter will also be a member. We support the FIA with another fantastic addition to the team.”
Gass will oversee the transition from FE to Gen4 after completing his current Gen3 machines
Photo by: Sam Bagnall / Motorsport Images
Gass, who was previously involved in Formula E through Audi’s support of the Abt team, reiterated that his role will focus on advising Formula E and the FIA on the future of the championship and acting as a facilitator for the Formula E and all other working actors in the championship.
He added that he was particularly impressed by the “continuous development” in the championship and that he relishes the opportunity to help drive that development in the coming seasons.
“I will be working on behalf of the promoter to interact with the FIA and provide advice on the future direction of Formula E,” Gass told Autosport.
“A large part of my engagement will be in very close contact with everyone involved and seeing what the thoughts are on their side. Then we will bring everything together, everyone together with Formula E and the FIA, and then hopefully make the best decisions going forward.”
“What I find impressive is that there has been continuous development right from the start. There was never a standstill, it just kept going.
“Obviously I’m looking from the outside now at this time because I haven’t been involved for the last two years, but I think when you look at the situation, the move to Gen3 and how the cars look on the track, I think that was probably the most impressive step for me at the end of the day.
“We’ve seen quite a few races in Gen3 now and they’re all very spectacular.”
“Now I’m really looking forward to being part of it [Formula E] immediately and may have a chance to contribute to the technological development in the championship.”