Joel Eriksson says this weekend’s Puebla E-Prix represents a ‘dream coming true’, as the Swede makes his ABB FIA Formula E World Championship debut for Dragon/Penske Autosport.
The twenty-two-year-old is stepping into the seat of Nico Müller for this weekend’s double header in Mexico as the Swiss racer competes in the DTM Series.
And for Eriksson, it is the realisation of a dream that he has been wanting for several years.
“This is a dream coming true,” said Eriksson. “Formula E has been on my wish list for several years, and I’ve been working to get myself to this very point, about to contest my first couple of races.
“To do so in a season where the series has received official world championship status makes it even sweeter. I’m incredibly happy to be back in a race mode and I will give it everything I’ve got to pay back the team’s faith in me.”
Eriksson knows it will be a difficult weekend around the Autódromo Miguel E. Abed as he learns how to get the best out of the car, particularly as he has not driven anything in anger in several months.
However, he hopes the fact it is a new circuit for everyone will make it a little easier to bridge the gap to his rivals.
“It’s a new circuit for everyone, which will probably help me a little bit, but on the whole I’m obviously aware that I’ve got a big task at hand this weekend,” said the Swede.
“I have barely sat in a racing car in six months, and I jump straight in halfway through an on-going season. I’m realistic and I have a lot to learn in a very short time frame, but of course I will push to my limits and try to bring home a good result.”