Formula E twelfth team finally official as Fusion arrival confirmed

Fusion Formula E has been confirmed as the 12th team on the grid for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, joining the series ahead of its new Gen4 era in 2027.

The British-based squad will field two Porsche 975 RSE cars as part of a 24-car grid, with the new generation of machinery marking what the championship is billing as its biggest technical leap yet.

Phil Charles has been appointed team principal, with Chris Bluett taking on the role of Sporting Director. 

Charles previously worked in Formula 1 with Renault and Toro Rosso before moving into Formula E with Jaguar in 2017, most recently serving as deputy team principal at DS Penske.

The new outfit is part of the wider Fusion Racing Group, which has been expanding its international motorsport portfolio, and this marks the group's first entry into FIA World Championship competition.

Charles and Bluett have been recruiting engineers, mechanics and operational staff from across Formula E and the broader motorsport industry as they build the team from scratch.

No drivers were confirmed in the announcement of the team becoming official, although Ayhancan Güven and Nikita Bedrin are expected to drive for the outfit across pre-season testing in Madrid.

Fusion not in Formula E 'to make up numbers'

Chiko Nanji, group executive vice chairman of Fusion Racing Group, said Formula E offered the right platform for the group's ambitions.

"Formula E represents a tremendous opportunity for Fusion Racing Group," said Nanji. "It's a world championship that combines elite competition, technological innovation and a truly international racing calendar, and we believe it has an exciting future ahead.

"The introduction of Gen4 marks an important moment for the championship, and we're delighted to be joining at the beginning of this new chapter. We're committed to building something meaningful here, with the leadership, ambition and long-term vision needed to succeed."

Fusion Racing Group CEO Dan Richards said assembling the right personnel had been the priority since the project began.

"Building the right team has been our priority from day one. In Phil Charles and Chris Bluett, we have two highly experienced people who understand what it takes to compete at this level, and we've been fortunate to attract some exceptional talent to join them.

"I'm incredibly proud of the team we're putting together. There's a huge amount of work ahead, but I couldn't have more confidence in the people leading that effort."

Charles, speaking as team principal, said building an outfit from nothing brought its own rewards.

"There's something special about building a racing team from the ground up. You have the opportunity to bring together people you believe in, establish the right culture and create an environment where everyone can perform at their best.

"We know exactly how competitive Formula E is, and we're under no illusions about the challenge ahead. But we've assembled a fantastic group of people, we have a strong technical partner in Porsche, and everyone is working incredibly hard to get us ready.

"We're not here simply to make up the numbers. We want to build a team that can compete at the front, and that's what we're working towards."