Q&A: Norman Gears up for Valencia

Hear from new ROKiT Venturi Racing recruit, Norman Nato, on the eve of pre-season testing…


How have you been preparing for your first season in Formula E?

“The run-up to Valencia has been pretty intense for me. I’ve been at the team workshop nearly every day and I’ve spent a lot of time in the simulator and in meetings. I already know quite a lot about the car because of my Reserve Driver role but things are quite different now because I’m jumping in the car and racing for real. The days I’ve spent at the HQ have been so important. In motorsport, if you want to achieve, you need the team behind you and I’m extremely grateful for how helpful the team has been in getting me ready for my debut season in Formula E.”


How will you approach pre-season testing as one of Formula E’s rookies?

“I’ve been working flat out in the simulator so I can arrive in Valencia in the best possible position, especially because we have limited test days. When I arrive in Spain and jump in the car for the first time, I want to feel familiar with everything and for me, that’s the most important thing. I’m not going to look at the times – I just want to get used to every aspect of the car so I’m ready for every possible scenario and feel comfortable for the season-opener.”


What are your personal targets for your first season in Formula E?

“At the moment, I’m not trying to set myself any objectives for Season 7. For sure, if I wanted to dream, I would say that I want to fight for the top three, but for now, I don’t want to fix any targets. Before I look at others, I need to think about myself and everything needs to be clear in my mind so I can help the team improve the car. The target I will fix to myself though is to work as hard as I can, do the best that I can, and most importantly, have no regrets at the end of the season – that’s key for me.”


What are you most looking forward to in Season 7?

“As a Monegasque racing team, I’m really looking forward to the Monaco E-Prix in May. This event is not only very important for the team but also for me because I live there – it’s my home race. I’ve had the chance to drive on the circuit before and finished on the podium there in Formula 2 and won in World Series by Renault. It would be very special if I could repeat this success in Formula E!”


How will your existing relationship with ROKiT Venturi Racing aid you in your debut campaign?

“Being ROKiT Venturi Racing’s Reserve Driver in Seasons 5 and 6 was a great opportunity for me to get to know the team and understand the championship. Formula E is entirely different to what I’m used to, not just in terms of the car but the format of the series itself. Because I’ve been involved in briefings, completed a lot of work in the simulator, and participated in two rookie tests in Marrakesh, I’ve been able to build a good relationship with everybody. Most importantly, I already know the improvements we’ve made since 2018 and how we can develop in the future. When we arrive in Valencia for testing, we can immediately focus on running and then translating that into performance for the Santiago opener.”