The Electric GT Championship, the world’s first 100 per cent zero emissions GT championship, today confirms Stefan Wilson and Vittoria ‘Vicky’ Piria as the inaugural members of the EGT Driver’s Selection Club.
First announced in April 2016, the Electric GT Driver’s Selection Club is a prestigious selection of professional drivers with backgrounds at the highest level of international motorsports, who support and project the values of sustainability on which the championship is based. These “Electric Heroes”, admitted for their courage, outstanding achievements and noble qualities, will play an important part in accelerating towards a new era, "The Age of Light" when the series gets underway in 2017.
The Driver’s Club will consist of 20 male and female racers competing in identical race-prepared EGT Teslas, based on the fastest zero-emissions production car in the world, the Model S P85+. The rear-wheel drive EGT race car is fully equipped with the most advanced competition safety systems available today, developed by OMP, as well as high performance tires exclusively manufactured for EGT by world leading brand Pirelli.
GP3 graduate Piria, aged 22 from Italy, and Indy 500 starter Wilson, an advocate of solar energy usage and former winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, aged 26 from the UK, are both excellent additions to the EGT series and will be joined by further exciting names to be announced in due course.
Mark Gemmell, Electric GT Championship CEO, said: “We are delighted to announce Stefan and Vicky as the first members of the Electric GT Driver’s Selection Club. It means a lot to us to allow professional racing drivers to join our quest to promote sustainable transport with our innovative zero emissions GT championship, so to have such talented and distinguished pilots on board from the very start is a very positive step.”
Agustín Payá, Electric GT Championship ESVP, added: “We are happy to have Stefan and Vicky on board as our first EGT drivers. Both have proven themselves extremely capable in other forms of racing and we look forward to seeing them get the best out of the EGT Tesla Model S, which has completed extensive testing already.”
The championship will race at seven permanent European circuits including the Nurburgring (Germany), Circuit Paul Ricard (France) and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Spain), as well as competing at three non-championship race events in the Americas.
About Electric GT Championship, a new zero emissions motorsport category promoting sustainable mobility
The championship was announced on 9 March 2016, a year in advance of its first planned event, with the Tesla Model S P85+ chosen for the first season of the Electric GT Championship. There will be 10 teams and 20 drivers, who will compete across seven races during season one. Weekends will comprise of a 20-minute practice session, 30 minutes of qualifying, and a pair of 60km races with one taking place in the daytime and one at dusk. Each round will be a weekend-long festival of technology and innovation for sustainability in and around the circuits. Fans will be able to stream races via Periscope, Twitch and YouTube, as well as interact directly with the teams using social media platforms.
About Stefan Wilson
Born into a racing family, it was no surprise to see Stefan Wilson don the firesuit and helmet at an early age. Like his late elder brother Justin, who raced in Formula 1 and IndyCar, Stefan showed a natural flair at the wheel of a Formula Palmer Audi that was recognised by winning the prestigious 2007 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, and a prize test in a McLaren Formula 1 car. Wilson latterly graduated to the Indy Lights championship, winning twice in 2011, before making his debut in the Indianapolis 500 in May 2016. You can follow his progress on Twitter: @stef_wilson or on Facebook: @OfficialStefanWilson, or visit his website at stefanwilson.co.
About Vittoria Piria
Half English, half Italian Vittoria ‘Vicky’ Piria started racing karts at the tender age of eight and gave up horse riding to pursue her passion. After rising through the ranks of the Formula Abarth, GP3 and Star Mazda, Piria is hoping to make a name for herself in the first season of the Electric GT Championship. You can follow her progress on Twitter: @VickyPiria or on Facebook: @vickypiriaofficial or visit her website at www.vickypiria.com.
