A delighted Oliver Turvey can’t wait for the start of the new Formula E season after his team’s driver line-up was announced this week.

Turvey, from Penrith, remains for a third full season behind the wheel of the squad’s all-electric race car, the NextEV NIO 003.

This year, he will be joined by Italian Luca Filippi who replaces Nelson Piquet Jr at the NIO Formula E team after their driver line-up and season four livery was revealed on Monday.

“Firstly, I would like to thank NIO for their continued belief and support in me. I’m delighted to be continuing for a third season with the NIO Formula E team,” said Turvey, who set the fastest time on the opening day of pre-season testing on Monday.

“I believe we have grown together over the last two seasons and we have been able to make some good progress together.

“The whole NIO team has been working extremely hard on the new season four car and, in the development testing, I have felt some positive changes in the chassis and powertrain.

“I’m confident the team has made a step forward and believe we have gained a greater understanding of the car.”

Brazilian Piquet Jr finished 11th last season with 33 points, with 30-year-old team-mate Turvey a place further back in the drivers’ championship.

Langwathby’s Turvey is pleased with how the sport has progressed in recent years.

He said: “The growth and progress of the FIA Formula E Championship is amazing and I’m proud to be part of such a strong series with an exciting future.

“The competition is very high with the level of teams and drivers in the series.

“Although, I’m confident if we continue to build on last year where I consistently qualified strongly and took my first Formula E pole position, we can achieve our aims together to challenge for podiums and race wins.”

On his new team-mate Filippi, Turvey added: “I would like to welcome Luca to the team; he brings a lot of experience, and having raced against him previously, I know he will make a strong team-mate.

“I know we will work well together to develop the car and build a stronger team.”

The 2017/18 Formula E Championship is due to start in Hong Kong with a double-header race weekend in December.