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By Riccardo Tafà| Posted July 31, 2023 | In Formula E, MotoGP
Jake Dennis: who is the new Formula E World Champion?
The just concluded season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship was a rollercoaster of excitement, high-speed racing and technological advances. This ninth season was characterised by 16 intense races with new generation Formula E Spark Gen3 cars, which brought more power and battery capacity to the fore.
Fundamental changes such as the open-wheel design, the entry of Williams as battery supplier and Hankook as rubber supplier reshaped the dynamics of the sport. The introduction of the ‘Attack Charge‘ mode and new qualifying added excitement and unpredictability to the races.
Jake Dennis: the new Formula E world champion
Jake Dennis, an example of consistency and grace under pressure, made history by becoming the first British Formula E world champion. After the Mexican triumph and several podiums during the season, his dominant performance in race two in Rome marked a significant step forward, gaining a 24-point lead in the championship standings. Arriving confidently at the London final, he showed remarkable concentration despite immense pressure from rivals such as Nick Cassidy, Mitch Evans and Pascal Wehrlein.
Dennis’ triumph in the Hankook London E-Prix Round 15, where he finished second in race one, sealed his victory and Andretti’s first Formula E title. The chaotic race, with Cassidy’s collision, Nato’s aggressive move, red flags and challenges, tested Dennis’ mettle. His victory was celebrated with applause from the home crowd, making the occasion memorable. On Sunday Dennis again had a positive race, finishing third and setting the fastest lap of the race, a sign that the previous day’s championship victory had by no means caused him to lose concentration.
Jake Dennis: from karting to Formula E world champion
Early years and rise through the ranks
Born in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, Jake Dennis began his motorsport career with karting championships, quickly excelling in single-seater racing. His successes included those in the InterSteps Championship and the Formula Renault Northern European Cup, where he demonstrated his formidable talent.
Recognition soon followed with the prestigious McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, which propelled him into the Formula Renault 2.0 Eurocup and the FIA Formula 3 European Championship. His CV includes numerous podiums and victories.
Success in multiple series
In 2016, Dennis made an impressive debut in the GP3 Series, finishing fourth overall with important wins at Monza and Sepang. In the following years, he participated in several championships such as the FIA World Endurance Championship and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. His versatility is evident in his participation in Formula 3, the Blancpain GT Series, the ADAC GT Masters and his impressive performances during the BMW Formula E team trials.
He joined Aston Martin for the DTM campaign and managed testing and development roles for Aston Martin Red Bull Racing in 2019 and 2020, before moving to the Red Bull Formula 1 team in the same role in the following years 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Formula E: a new challenge
Entering Formula E in the 2020/21 season, Dennis achieved an impressive third place overall as a rookie, with wins in Valencia and London. With high expectations for season 8, he started well and gained momentum with his home fans in London, scoring two podiums, including a win. He ended the season with another podium in Seoul and 2023 went down in history with a championship triumph and wins in Mexico and Italy.
The Andretti Formula E team’s journey
Andretti’s journey in Formula E has been a story of grit, determination and innovation. The team has been a part of Formula E since its inception and Dennis’ title represents his best result in the series.
The success of the team is a testament to the team’s collaboration, support and continued pursuit of excellence.
Andretti Autosport’s 2023 racing season was characterised by strategic decision-making and a deep understanding of the new technological dynamics of Formula E.
Their efforts paid off as Dennis became World Drivers’ Champion with one race to spare. The celebration of their first title marked a new chapter in the team’s legacy.
Future perspectives
With Dennis’ contract extension for 2023-24, Andretti Autosport’s future in Formula E looks promising.
Furthermore, after securing Cadillac’s support, Andretti is looking to find a place in Formula 1 and Dennis could be a prospect for one of the seats.
Conclusion
The crowning of Jake Dennis as the new Formula E world champion marks a milestone in a career full of versatility, determination and exceptional talent. His story from karting enthusiast to world champion is inspiring. Formula E has evolved into a compelling motorsport, pushing the boundaries of electric vehicle technology and sustainable racing. The integration of innovations such as Gen3 cars and ‘Attack Charge’ mode demonstrates the series’ commitment to improving both entertainment and technological advancement. The fierce competition between leading teams, including Andretti, Porsche, Maserati, Jaguar TCS Racing and Envision Racing, reflects the growth and promise of the sport.
The 2022-2023 season, with its intense competition, team dynamics and technological advancements, has set the stage for an exciting era in electric motorsport, and fans eagerly await the next electrifying chapters, which are expected to include the introduction of a ‘quick charge’ stop during the race in 2024.
A year to remember
The victory of Dennis, a relatively new face in Formula E, points to opportunities for emerging talent in this evolving sport. It paints an optimistic picture for the future, in which young drivers can aspire to make their mark. With growing interest and investment in electric vehicle technology, FE is a platform that not only entertains, but inspires and drives change towards a sustainable tomorrow.
Also, seeing a number 27 -who reminds me so much of the great Gilles Villeneuve– win a world championship gives me goosebumps, so viva Jake Dennis.
Riccardo Tafà
Managing Director for RTR Sports, Riccardo graduated in law at the University of Bologna. He began his career in London in PR, then started working in two and four-wheelers. A brief move to Monaco followed before returning to Italy. There he founded RTR, first a consulting firm and then a sports marketing company which, eventually, he moved back to London.
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Read MoreWhy choose RTR Sports Marketing
In an era where it is possible to get anywhere with a click, there is a strong temptation to approach teams and properties directly for sponsorship projects.
By doing so, we are convinced that we are shortening the value chain, saving time and money. However, these DYI methods are anything but risk-free and what initially appears to be a competitive advantage soon turns into a problem that is difficult to resolve. That’s why there are agencies. And this is why you should rely on us for your sponsorships.
Save time and money
When first approaching a sponsorship or sports marketing project, it is difficult to know immediately which stakeholders are correct, what the decision flow is, and what the right timelines are for each process. Sports is a very specialized field of action, and fitting effectively into its paths can take a lot of time and therefore money. We, on the other hand, know referents and spheres of action and know who to talk to, when and how. So you are also more effective.
The right information, the right choice
Sports is an immense passion, and for our heart colors we would be willing to do anything. But business is a different business, and it is important to make the best possible strategic decisions based on independent research, statistics and reliable data. A sports marketing and sports sponsorship agency like RTR has an objective, 360-degree picture of the scenario and can tell you what is really best for you: which sport, which athlete, which team. This is because we possess a great deal of data and information on ratings, segmentation and attitudes. Because the numbers don’t lie. Never.
Activations are the beating heart
Activations are the real heart of sports sponsorship. Without them, there remains only a blank sticker on a motorcycle, car or uniform and no contact with the public, no emotional connection, no impact on the bottom line. Then how do you do it? It certainly won’t be the teams or the athletes who will help you leverage sponsorship and enjoy the many marketing rights you have paid for. To bring out the best in a sports marketing project you need an agency that knows how to use sponsorship to engage the fanbase on the Web, to reach out to Shopping Centers, to organize hospitality, to develop B2B and B2C opportunities, and to get “your” athletes in front of millions of potential consumers.
Objective measurements for a certain return
Would you ever go to the dealer who sold you the car and ask if the competitor’s car is better? No, of course. So, how do you expect to get firm measurements of the effectiveness of your sponsorship if you do not rely on someone super partes? At RTR, we have always worked with independent third-party agencies that allow us to know the return on any exposure of your brand on TV and in the media. In addition, we believe in calculating ROI as the ultimate measure of your success-so we can tell you for every penny you spend how much you are making.
Sit back, relax, we’ll take care of it
We have been involved in sports sponsorship and sports marketing for more than 15 years. We are consultants in the sense that our goal is to maximize your investment, but we are also an agency that manages the project from start to finish. We have been doing this since 1995 with passion and professionalism, following three principles that have become cornerstones of our business: independence, verticality and transparency.
I would like to highlight the fact that one of the qualities of RTR is its great ability to approach the sponsorship scenario strategically, together with its passionate attitude, its amazing enthusiasm for solving problems, and its high level of professionalism.
Gianluca Degliesposti
Executive Director Server&Storage EMEA
Eurosport is truly delighted with its business relationship with Riccardo Tafà, who has become extremely popular, thanks to his detailed knowledge of the sports marketing sector and his highly diligent attitude to work.
Francois Ribeiro
Commercial Director
Passion and Expertise are the features that I have found in RTR since the very beginning. Serious and reliable professionals but also very helpful, nice and open-mind people, willing to listen and compare different ideas. All the values in which RTR believes make this agency a partner, not just a supplier, a partner with whom we have had the opportunity to achieve significant commercial results in term of success and image.
Luca Pacitto
Head of Communication
We have been working with RTR Sports Marketing for over 10 years. The objectives and the programmes of collaboration continue to be renewed and to grow with mutual satisfaction. I believe RTR is a team of great professionals led by Riccardo Tafà, who I consider a manager of exceptional skills and with a great passion for his work.
Lucio Cecchinello
Team Principal
I have known and worked with Riccardo Tafà since 1995 when we collaborated for the first time on a project for the Williams Formula 1 team. Several clients followed. After leaving Williams to work for Gerhard Berger then owner of the Toro Rosso F1 Team, I turned again to Riccardo to seek his help in finding a tool supplier for the team and Riccardo duly obliged with an introduction to USAG, a partnership with Toro Rosso which endured for five years. I recently started a new role as Group Commercial Director for the renowned Andretti Autosport organisation and I find myself working with Riccardo once again on a number of interesting projects. Why has this relationship with Riccardo endured ? He’s smart, knows the commercial side of sport inside out and back to front and he’s honest and trustworthy. Riccardo Tafà is a “doer” not a “talker”: in over 20 years I have never had a dispute either with him or with a company that he has introduced and each partnership introduced by Riccardo has delivered quantifiable ROI to rights holder and sponsor alike. I can think of no better testimonial of Riccardo’s diligence, knowledge, contact base and hard work than that.
Jim Wright
Group Commercial Director
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