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Da Costa ‘perfect’ for Andretti’s Formula E team

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FIA Formula E Second Pre-Season Testing Event. Donington Park Racecourse, Derby, United Kingdom. Wednesday 7 September 2016. Photo: Adam Warner / LAT ref: Digital Image _L5R3105

Formula E

Andretti Autosport executive vice-president JF Thormann believes that Antonio Felix da Costa is “perfect” for its Formula E operation ahead of the all-electric series’ third season.

The MS Amlin Andretti team announced over the summer that da Costa would be joining for season three, replacing the Supercars-bound Simona de Silvestro.

Da Costa impressed throughout his stint with Team Aguri, claiming the team’s only victory in Buenos Aires in season one and taking a number of other big results in season two despite using a year-old powertrain.

Like Aguri, Andretti was also unable to run an in-house powertrain for season two, putting it on the same page as da Costa heading into the new campaign that starts in Hong Kong on October 9.

“He’s perfect for us,” Thormann told NBC Sports when asked about da Costa’s arrival at the launch of the New York City ePrix earlier this week.

“From the competitive side, it’s good for that reason. Plus our sponsor, MS Amlin, sponsored him just before.

“He’s very good and astute technically, he’s very good friends with Robin Frijns, good team chemistry.

“I think he’s been a really good find for us.”

With an in-house powertrain now fitted to the car and da Costa on-board, Thormann says there is more optimism at Andretti for season three.

“Certainly quite a bit more. We knew we’d be in trouble last year having to use the season one car,” Thormann said.

“Now we’re back up to speed. We felt in Donington we had slight gremlins but we should be there at Hong Kong.”

Earlier today, BMW confirmed that da Costa would be leaving DTM at the end of the season to focus fully on his commitments in Formula E.

Follow @LukeSmithF1