Veloce Racing has announced that Lance Woolridge will join Christine GZ in its full season driver line-up for the 2022 Extreme E season.
Woolridge replaces Stéphane Sarrazin at the team, having served as its male reserve for the 2021 campaign.
“This is a great opportunity to continue with the team after a really promising race in Dorset at the end of last season,” said Woolridge.
“Although we didn’t make it to the final, I think it was clear to see that the pace was there, and we have some solid foundations to build on in 2022.
“Veloce Racing is a great team with a really dedicated group of people behind the scenes so I’m happy to be working with them again. Christine GZ did a great job last season so I’m confident that we can achieve great things together at Veloce.”
Woolridge made his debut in the all-electric off-road series in December’s Jurassic X-Prix, partnering Jamie Chadwick at the team. The duo finished the event in sixth place, equalling the team’s second-best result of the season.
The regular partnership of Sarrazin and Chadwick claimed a best result of second in the attritional round two final at the Ocean X-Prix in Senegal.
“As with any motorsport series – and especially Extreme E due to its unpredictable nature – it’s important to have some level of consistency from one season to another, so it’s great to have Lance onboard after a really impressive showing in Dorset for us last year,” said Veloce team principal Rupert Svendsen-Cook.
“We’ve both had to be patient with each other and I want to recognise Lance’s commitment to Veloce throughout his time as reserve driver for us, where we’re very happy to finally honor him with the full-time race seat.”
Woolridge’s promotion comes a week after the signing of GZ was announced, with her moving over from Xite Energy Racing for the category’s second season.
GZ replaces Chadwick who had to sit out two rounds in 2021 due to W Series commitments. For the races in Greenland and Italy, Chadwick was replaced by Emma Gilmour, who has subsequently joined McLaren for the upcoming campaign.
Veloce is the third team to confirm its driver line-up for the 2022 season. Andretti United was the first team to do so back in August, retaining both Timmy Hansen and Catie Munnings, while McLaren signed Tanner Foust to partner Gilmour for its maiden XE voyage.
