Oliver Rowland is bidding to maintain his momentum in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship when the pioneering all-electric single-seater series travels to Tokyo this weekend (17-18 May), with the early-season pace-setter targeting a popular triumph on Nissan Formula E Team’s home turf.

In last year’s race – Japan’s maiden appearance on the Formula E calendar – Rowland fell barely three-quarters-of-a-second shy of reaching the top step of the rostrum, but he and Nissan return in a fine vein of form in 2025, with redemption on their mind.

BIG SIGHT – AND BIG STAKES

Winding around Tokyo’s International Exhibition Centre – the largest venue in Japan, also known as Tokyo Big Sight – the 2.575km, 18-turn Tokyo Street Circuit challenges competitors with its blend of technical sectors and high-speed blasts set against a stunning cityscape backdrop.

Having thrilled fans on its debut in 2024, the event has been expanded to become a double-header for Season 11, offering twice as many points and meaning Saturday’s E-Prix will include the championship’s innovative Pit Boost feature, requiring all protagonists to make a mandatory 30-second pit-stop for a 10% energy boost (3.85kWh) via a 600kW booster.

“Following Tokyo’s successful introduction to the schedule last season, the FIA’s sporting and safety departments have worked closely with Formula E Holdings and the local ASN to bring further improvements to the track, taking into account feedback received from drivers and teams,” commented Benoit Dupont, FIA Head of Circuit Operations in Formula E.

“We have duly made some changes to the downhill section after Turn Two to iron out the bump there and have removed the chicane at Turn 16, and we are confident these modifications will produce an even more spectacular show this weekend.”

ROWLAND RISING

As Formula E heads to the ‘Land Of The Rising Sun’ for the second time, there is little doubt who is the series’ own rising son in Season 11, with Rowland holding a commanding 48-point advantage over his nearest pursuer in the chase for the coveted crown approaching the midway stage of proceedings.

The Briton has won three of the opening seven races and twice scooped the runner-up spoils – a trend he will be keen to continue in Tokyo. Last year, he qualified on pole position and led the majority of the E-Prix, only to have to give best to Maximilian Günther with just ten laps to go.

With Nissan based less than an hour down the road in Yokohama, hopes for a home soil celebration will be high.

CHASING PACK POISED TO POUNCE

While Rowland might be the driver to beat in Formula E right now, he has not had things all his own way. Defending champion Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team), Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans, DS Penske star Günther and most recently Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing) have all similarly prevailed this season – the latter for the first time in almost six years, catapulting the 2015/16 champion into the top ten in the title table. 

Günther was the winner of the inaugural Tokyo e-Prix for Maserati MSG Racing, after managing his energy usage to perfection. Andretti Formula E’s Jake Dennis rounded out the rostrum in third in the Japanese capital that day, with António Félix da Costa and Wehrlein completing the top five. The Porsche pair are currently Rowland’s closest competitors in the standings – evenly-matched at just one point apart, and determined to reel their runaway Nissan rival back in.

THE 2025 TRACK

MEDIA CENTRE

Opening Hours of the Media Centre 
Thursday 15th May: 07:00 - 18:00
Friday 16th May: 07:00 - 18:00
Saturday 17th May: 05:30 - 18:00
Sunday 18th May: 05:30 - 15:35

2025 TOKYO E-PRIX TIMETABLE

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

2025 TOKYO E-PRIX ENTRIES

ABB FIA FORMULA E WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
 
The 2024-2025 FIA Formula E World Championship standings can be accessed here.