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Oliver Rowland

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Oliver Rowland
Rowland in 2024
NationalityUnited Kingdom British
Born (1992-08-10) 10 August 1992 (age 32)
Barnsley, South Yorkshire, England
Formula E career
Debut season2015–16
Current teamNissan
Racing licence FIA Platinum
Car number23
Former teamsNissan e.dams
Mahindra
Starts78
Championships0
Wins3
Podiums13
Poles8
Fastest laps3
Best finish4th in 2023–24
Finished last season4th (156 pts)
Previous series
2017
201516
201415
201213
2013
2011
201011
FIA Formula 2 Championship
GP2 Series
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC
Formula Renault UK
FR2.0 UK Winter/Finals Series
Championship titles
2015
2011
Formula Renault 3.5 Series
FR2.0 UK Finals Series
Awards
2011
2011
McLaren Autosport Award
BRDC SuperStar

Oliver Eric Rowland (born 10 August 1992) is a British racing driver. He currently competes in Formula E driving for Nissan Formula E Team. He has previously competed for Manor Motorsport in the 2018 WEC season, and he was also previously the young driver of Williams F1 Team during the 2018 Formula 1 season.

Early career

[edit]

Karting

[edit]

Born in Barnsley, Rowland began karting at the age of seven, and spent a successful decade racing in the various classes around the United Kingdom. After finishing second in the Super 1 National Cadet Championship in 2002, Rowland won the championship for the next two years. In 2005, Rowland moved into the JICA class series, and again finished as a championship runner-up, finishing just two points behind Will Stevens. Rowland also narrowly missed out on the title in 2006, finishing one point behind champion Jack Harvey, and was also second in the Monaco Kart Cup driving for Zip Kart, behind Millennium Motorsport's Scott Jenkins. He also finished 20th in the European Championship for the class. After his two previous runner-up campaigns, Rowland took the Super 1 JICA title in 2007, 30 points clear of nearest rival Tom Joyner. Joyner did however take the British Open Championship, where Rowland finished in third position. In the continental races, Rowland could only finish 25th in Monaco, and 37th in the European Championship. Rowland moved up to the KF2 class in 2008, and became a member of the Tony Kart Racing Team. Rowland won the CIK-FIA World Cup event in, and also placed third in the WSK International Series and fifth in the European Championship. He also competed in the KF1 Asia-Pacific series, where he finished eleventh.

In 2009, Rowland competed for most of the season in Super KF, competing for Chiesa Corse. He finished sixth in the European Championship, ninth in the World Cup, and twelfth in the World Championship; his best result came at the South Garda Winter Cup, where he finished in fourth position. Rowland remained in Super KF in 2010, where he won his second World Cup crown, and also finished 16th in the KZ1 version of the series.

Formula Renault

[edit]
Oliver Rowland in Motorland Aragon 2014

Rowland left karting and stepped into Formula Renault, contesting the 2010 Formula Renault UK Winter Series with CRS Racing. He also received sponsorship from the Racing Steps Foundation, which funded his graduation into car racing.[1] He took two twelfth-place finishes in his first car racing meeting at Snetterton, but eventually took his first win in the final race of the championship, at Pembrey.[2] The victory helped to move up into seventh place in the championship standings, finishing tied on points with Luke Wright but ahead on countback.

Rowland moved to Fortec Motorsport for a full British championship campaign in 2011.[3] Rowland took his first podium of the season, with third place at Donington Park, starting a run of four consecutive podiums – all third places – before a run of just two podium finishes in seven races. Rowland's last seven races were his best in the championship, taking four wins, four fastest laps, three pole positions and three second places. As a result of the strong run, Rowland became the winner of the Graduate Cup for young drivers, and finished as runner-up to teammate Alex Lynn in the main championship; the runner-up position was only sealed on the final lap of the final race, setting the quickest lap to score two bonus points in order to move him into a tie on points with Tio Ellinas, but with four wins to Ellinas' two, he placed ahead on countback.[4] He also contested the Formula Renault UK Finals Series with the team, and comfortably won the championship with four race wins from six races.[5] Rowland was nominated for the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award due to his performances in the main series.[6] On 4 December 2011, after the evaluation tests held at Silverstone, Rowland was named as the winner of the award, taking the £100,000 cash prize and a Formula One test with McLaren.[7] He led the Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Championship after taking his third victory of the 2013 season at the Red Bull Ring, eventually finishing the season second in the standings.

He was part of the McLaren young driver programme in 2007–2010[8]

Formula Renault 3.5

[edit]
Rowland in 2012

Rowland signed a contract with Fortec Motorsport in July 2013 to race the Formula Renault 3.5 Series in the 2014 season. He finished fourth overall with two wins and seven podiums.[9]

Rowland continued with Fortec Motorsport in the 2015 Formula Renault 3.5. He won eight races out of 17, becoming champion in the penultimate round.[10]

Rowland won a test with Red Bull F1 at Silverstone for leading the series in 2015.[11]

GP2 Series

[edit]

In 2015, Rowland made his GP2 debut at Silverstone with MP Motorsport. He finished in the points in both races. He contested in three other rounds with MP and Status Grand Prix.

In February 2016, it was announced that Rowland would compete in the series full-time with MP, with whom he finished ninth.

For the 2017 season, Rowland switched to the DAMS squad, finishing third in the championship.[12]

Formula One

[edit]

In February 2016, Rowland was confirmed as a member of Renault's young driver program,[13] and in April 2017 Rowland was signed to the role of development driver to the Renault F1 Team.[14]

In February 2018 Rowland was confirmed as Williams Martini Racing's official Junior Driver.[15]

Formula E

[edit]

Mahindra Racing (2015)

[edit]

Rowland competed in the 2015 Punta del Este ePrix with Mahindra Racing, in place of Nick Heidfeld, who had to undergo surgery for ligament damaged that he sustained during the Putrajaya ePrix.[16] Rowland started the race 16th on the grid, and managed to finish in 13th place. He did not race again in Formula E for the rest of the season, but he served as a studio pundit for the television broadcast at some of the remaining races.[17]

Nissan e.dams (2017–2021)

[edit]

2016–17 season

[edit]
Rowland with Nissan

During the 2016-17 season, Rowland was hired by Renault e.Dams as a standby replacement for Sébastien Buemi for the 2017 Mexico City ePrix.[18]

2018–19 season

[edit]

In November 2018, Rowland joined the championship full-time with the newly re-branded Nissan e.Dams following the departure of Alexander Albon to Toro Rosso.[19] He claimed his first pole in Formula E in Sanya ePrix and finished in second place in the race, which was his first podium in Formula E.

2019–20 season

[edit]

He took his first Formula E win at the 2020 Berlin ePrix, leading every lap after starting on pole position.[20]

2020–21 season

[edit]

Return to Mahindra (2022–2023)

[edit]

2021–22 season

[edit]

Rowland moved to Mahindra for the 2021–22 Formula E season.[21] He took his first points finish for the team at the 2022 Diriyah ePrix. Rowland retired from the inaugural Jakarta ePrix after losing one of this tyres on the second lap.[22]

2022–23 season

[edit]
Rowland driving for Mahindra at the 2023 Berlin ePrix

Rowland remained with Mahindra for the 2022–23 season alongside Lucas di Grassi, who replaced Alexander Sims.[23] Ahead of the Jakarta ePrix, Rowland was announced to have parted ways with Mahindra with immediate effect, and Roberto Merhi was drafted to replace him.[24]

Return to Nissan (2024—)

[edit]

2023–24 season

[edit]
Rowland at the 2024 Tokyo ePrix

Rowland reunited with Nissan, the team he drove from 2018 to 2021, for the 2023–24 season alongside Sacha Fenestraz.[25] Rowland had the best season of his Formula E career, scoring 7 podiums, 2 pole positions and 2 wins, finishing the season in 4th with 156 points, beating Fenestraz who finished 17th with only 26 points.

2024–25 season

[edit]

Rowland remained with Nissan for the 2024–25 season alongside Norman Nato, who replaces Sacha Fenestraz.[26]

Racing record

[edit]

Career summary

[edit]
Season Series Team Races Wins Poles F/Laps Podiums Points Position
2010 Formula Renault UK Winter Series CRS Racing 6 1 0 0 1 95 7th
2011 Formula Renault UK Fortec Motorsport 20 4 3 4 13 475 2nd
Formula Renault UK Finals Series Fortec Competition 6 4 0 3 6 190 1st
2012 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Fortec Motorsport 14 1 0 0 3 109 3rd
2013 Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 Manor MP Motorsport 14 3 2 2 8 179 2nd
Formula Renault 2.0 NEC 8 4 4 4 8 208 4th
Pau Formula Renault 2.0 Trophy 1 0 0 0 0 N/A 4th
2014 Formula Renault 3.5 Series Fortec Motorsports 17 2 3 1 7 181 4th
2015 Formula Renault 3.5 Series 17 8 7 4 13 307 1st
GP2 Series MP Motorsport 4 0 0 0 0 3 21st
Status Grand Prix 3 0 0 0 0
2015–16 Formula E Mahindra Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 21st
2016 GP2 Series MP Motorsport 22 0 0 0 4 107 9th
2017 FIA Formula 2 Championship DAMS 22 2 1 2 10 191 3rd
Formula One Renault F1 Team Development driver
2018 Blancpain GT Series Endurance Cup Strakka Racing 2 0 0 0 0 6 41st
24 Hours of Le Mans CEFC TRSM Racing 1 0 0 0 0 N/A DNF
Intercontinental GT Challenge Mercedes-AMG Team Strakka Racing 1 0 0 0 0 6 22nd
Formula One Williams Martini Racing Development driver
2018–19 Formula E Nissan e.Dams 13 0 3 0 2 71 10th
FIA World Endurance Championship CEFC TRSM Racing 1 0 0 0 0 0 NC
2019–20 Formula E Nissan e.Dams 11 1 1 1 1 83 5th
2020–21 Formula E Nissan e.Dams 15 0 1 1 2 77 14th
2021–22 Formula E Mahindra Racing 16 0 1 0 1 32 14th
2022–23 Formula E Mahindra Racing 9 0 0 0 0 9 21st
2023–24 Formula E Nissan Formula E Team 14 2 2 1 7 156 4th
2024–25 Formula E Nissan Formula E Team

Complete Formula Renault 2.0 UK Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 Pos Points
2011 Fortec Motorsports BRI
1

5
BRI
2

Ret
DON
1

3
DON
2

3
THR
1

3
THR
2

3
OUL
1

4
OUL
2

2
CRO
1

3
CRO
2

Ret
SNE
1

4
SNE
2

7
SIL1
1

5
SIL1
2

2
ROC
1

1
ROC
2

2
BHGP
1

1
BHGP
2

1
SIL2
1

2
SIL2
2

1
2nd 475

Complete Eurocup Formula Renault 2.0 results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pos Points
2012 Fortec Motorsports ALC
1

6
ALC
2

8
SPA
1

26
SPA
2

4
NÜR
1

8
NÜR
2

Ret
MSC
1

3
MSC
2

3
HUN
1

16
HUN
2

6
LEC
1

15
LEC
2

6
CAT
1

5
CAT
2

1
3rd 109
2013 Manor MP Motorsport ALC
1

10
ALC
2

3
SPA
1

1
SPA
2

33
MSC
1

2
MSC
2

1
RBR
1

5
RBR
2

1
HUN
1

8
HUN
2

3
LEC
1

6
LEC
2

3
CAT
1

2
CAT
2

28
2nd 179

Complete Formula Renault 3.5 Series results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 Pos Points
2014 Fortec Motorsports MNZ
1

6
MNZ
2

10
ALC
1

3
ALC
2

1
MON
1

5
SPA
1

Ret
SPA
2

3
MSC
1

Ret
MSC
2

5
NÜR
1

4
NÜR
2

Ret
HUN
1

3
HUN
2

4
LEC
1

13
LEC
2

3
JER
1

2
JER
2

1
4th 181
2015 Fortec Motorsports ALC
1

1
ALC
2

3
MON
1

6
SPA
1

5
SPA
2

1
HUN
1

3
HUN
2

1
RBR
1

1
RBR
2

2
SIL
1

2
SIL
2

1
NÜR
1

1
NÜR
2

10
BUG
1

1
BUG
2

8
JER
1

1
JER
2

2
1st 307

Complete GP2 Series/FIA Formula 2 Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position) (Races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 DC Points
2015 MP Motorsport BHR
FEA
BHR
SPR
CAT
FEA
CAT
SPR
MON
FEA
MON
SPR
RBR
FEA
RBR
SPR
SIL
FEA

10
SIL
SPR

7
HUN
FEA
HUN
SPR
SPA
FEA

NC
SPA
SPR

Ret
MNZ
FEA
MNZ
SPR
SOC
FEA
SOC
SPR
21st 3
Status Grand Prix BHR
FEA

22
BHR
SPR

Ret
YMC
FEA

15
YMC
SPR

C
2016 MP Motorsport CAT
FEA

10
CAT
SPR

6
MON
FEA

3
MON
SPR

7
BAK
FEA

4
BAK
SPR

15†
RBR
FEA

6
RBR
SPR

2
SIL
FEA

3
SIL
SPR

3
HUN
FEA

11
HUN
SPR

6
HOC
FEA

5
HOC
SPR

5
SPA
FEA

10
SPA
SPR

6
MNZ
FEA

9
MNZ
SPR

9
SEP
FEA

12
SEP
SPR

8
YMC
FEA

Ret
YMC
SPR

11
9th 107
2017 DAMS BHR
FEA

5
BHR
SPR

3
CAT
FEA

3
CAT
SPR

2
MON
FEA

1
MON
SPR

9
BAK
FEA

7
BAK
SPR

Ret
RBR
FEA

4
RBR
SPR

3
SIL
FEA

3
SIL
SPR

17
HUN
FEA

1
HUN
SPR

2
SPA
FEA

DSQ
SPA
SPR

8
MNZ
FEA

Ret
MNZ
SPR

11
JER
FEA

2
JER
SPR

3
YMC
FEA

DSQ
YMC
SPR

7
3rd 191

Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Complete Formula E results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Team Chassis Powertrain 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Pos Points
2015–16 Mahindra Racing Spark SRT01-e Mahindra M2ELECTRO BEI PUT PDE
13
BUE MEX LBH PAR BER LDN LDN 21st 0
2018–19 Nissan e.dams Spark SRT05e Nissan IM01 ADR
7
MRK
15
SCL
Ret
MEX
20†
HKG
Ret
SYX
2
RME
6
PAR
12
MCO
2
BER
8
BRN
Ret
NYC
14
NYC
6
10th 71
2019–20 Nissan e.dams Spark SRT05e Nissan IM02 DIR
4
DIR
5
SCL
17
MEX
7
MRK
9
BER
14
BER
7
BER
6
BER
5
BER
1
BER
Ret
5th 83
2020–21 Nissan e.dams Spark SRT05e Nissan IM02 DIR
6
DIR
7
RME
12
RME
16
VLC
DSQ
VLC
4
14th 77
Nissan IM03 MCO
6
PUE
DSQ
PUE
3
NYC
7
NYC
19
LDN
DSQ
LDN
18
BER
13
BER
2
2021–22 Mahindra Racing Spark SRT05e Mahindra M7Electro DRH
Ret
DRH
8
MEX
16
RME
Ret
RME
Ret
MCO
Ret
BER
11
BER
7
JAK
Ret
MRK
10
NYC
13
NYC
14
LDN
Ret
LDN
Ret
SEO
2
SEO
Ret
14th 32
2022–23 Mahindra Racing Formula E Gen3 Mahindra M9Electro MEX
13
DRH
19
DRH
Ret
HYD
6
CAP
WD
SAP
15
BER
10
BER
14
MCO
Ret
JAK
JAK
POR
RME
RME
LDN
LDN
21st 9
2023–24 Nissan Formula E Team Formula E Gen3 Nissan e-4ORCE 04 MEX
11
DRH
13
DRH
3
SAP
3
TOK
2
MIS
1
MIS
Ret
MCO
6
BER
3
BER
3
SHA
4
SHA
10
POR
WD
POR
WD
LDN
15
LDN
1
4th 156
2024–25 Nissan Formula E Team Formula E Gen3 Evo Nissan e-4ORCE 05 SAO
14
MEX JED JED MIA MCO MCO TKO TKO SHA SHA JKT BER BER LDN LDN 15th* 0*

Did not finish, but was classified as he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.

Complete FIA World Endurance Championship results

[edit]

(key) (Races in bold indicate pole position; races in italics indicate fastest lap)

Year Entrant Class Chassis Engine 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Rank Points
2018–19 CEFC TRSM Racing LMP1 Ginetta G60-LT-P1 Mecachrome V634P1 3.4 L Turbo V6 SPA
WD
LMS
Ret
SIL FUJ SHA SEB SPA LMS NC 0

24 Hours of Le Mans Results

[edit]
Year Team Co-Drivers Car Class Laps Pos. Class
Pos.
2018 China CEFC TRSM Racing United Kingdom Alex Brundle
United Kingdom Oliver Turvey
Ginetta G60-LT-P1-Mecachrome LMP1 137 DNF DNF

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Drivers set for RSF FRUK seat battle". racingsteps.co.uk. Racing Steps Foundation. 27 October 2010. Archived from the original on 10 March 2012. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  2. ^ "Thrilling Victory For Oliver Rowland At Pembrey". CRS Racing. CR Scuderia. 15 November 2010. Retrieved 5 December 2011.[permanent dead link]
  3. ^ "RSF confirms 2011 driver line-up". racingsteps.co.uk. Racing Steps Foundation. 11 January 2011. Archived from the original on 25 August 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  4. ^ "Champion Lynn and Rowland share the spoils at Silverstone". Renault Sport UK. Renault Sport. 16 October 2011. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  5. ^ "Rowland and Jiminez Takes the Titles". Renault Sport UK. Renault Sport. 12 November 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  6. ^ Turner, Kevin (6 October 2011). "McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award nominees for 2011 announced". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  7. ^ O'Leary, Jamie (4 December 2011). "AUTOSPORT Awards McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC: Oliver Rowland". Autosport. Haymarket Publications. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  8. ^ Simmons, Marcus. "McLaren AUTOSPORT BRDC Award winner Oliver Rowland profile". Autosport.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  9. ^ Arnau Viñals Vendrell, FormulaRapida.net "Rowland sings for Fortec Motorsport in Formula Renault 3.5 Series" "Rowland signs for Fortec Motorsport in Formula Renault 3.5 :: FormulaRapida.net". Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 9 December 2014. Retrieved 21 October 2013.
  10. ^ "International Racing - FR3.5: Rowland claims title as Orudzhev wins". Archived from the original on 28 September 2015.
  11. ^ Mills, Peter. "FR3.5 leader Oliver Rowland to run Red Bull F1 car at Silverstone". Autosport.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  12. ^ "DAMS reveal 2017 line up". 13 February 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2017.
  13. ^ "Renault Sport Racing launches Renault Sport Academy". Renault Sport. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  14. ^ Kalinauckas, Alex. "Renault F1 team signs Oliver Rowland to development role for 2017". Autosport.com. Retrieved 1 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Oliver Rowland gets Williams F1 young driver role". formulascout.com. 23 February 2018. Retrieved 24 January 2021.
  16. ^ Smith, Luke (4 December 2015). "Rowland to replace Heidfeld for Punta del Este ePrix". MotorSportsTalk | NBC Sports. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  17. ^ "Rowland "completely different person" after three Formula E seasons with Buemi". www.autosport.com. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  18. ^ Mitchell, Scott (22 February 2017). "Rowland, Lynn set for Mexico Formula E duties". Motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  19. ^ "Nissan e.dams confirms driver lineup for Formula E championship". 30 November 2018. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2018.
  20. ^ "Rowland takes first Formula E win in Berlin finale opener". The Race. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  21. ^ "Oliver Rowland". www.mahindraracing.com. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Jakarta E-Prix: Evans beats Vergne to win thriller in Indonesia". www.autosport.com. Retrieved 4 June 2022.
  23. ^ "Mahindra Racing Signs Lucas Di Grassi For Gen3 Era". The Official Home of Formula E. 12 August 2022. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  24. ^ Mackley, Stefan (28 May 2023). "Mahindra splits with Rowland, signs Merhi for Jakarta Formula E". Motorsport.com. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  25. ^ "Oliver Rowland Makes Nissan Return". The Official Home of Formula E. 29 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Nato rejoins Rowland to complete Nissan's Season 11 driver line-up". The Official Home of Formula E. 10 September 2024. Retrieved 11 September 2024.
[edit]
Sporting positions
Preceded by Formula Renault 3.5 Series
Champion

2015
Succeeded by
Tom Dillmann
(Formula V8 3.5)
Awards
Preceded by McLaren Autosport BRDC Award
2011
Succeeded by