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Award-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio has joined forces with Venturi Automobiles to enter a team in the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship.

Formula E, which has the backing of the FIA, is a new class of motor racing involving electric single-seater cars. The Venturi Grand Prix Formula E Team completes the team line-up for the 2014-15 season, which gets underway next September.



Speaking with the official FIA Formula E website, DiCaprio said:

The future of our planet depends on our ability to embrace fuel-efficient, clean-energy vehicles. Venturi Grand Prix has shown tremendous foresight in their decision to create an environmentally friendly racing team, and I am happy to be a part of this effort.

The Monaco-based outfit, which is a joint venture between DiCaprio and Gildo Pallanca Pastor, a co-founder of Venturi Automobiles, will be the 10th and final team to enter the new series.

They will be joined by Andretti Autosport, Dragon Racing, China Racing, Super Aguri, Mahindra Racing, Drayson Racing, e.dams, Audi Sport ABT and Virgin Racing, with each team putting forth two drivers.

Each team will be allowed to develop its own cars, while sticking to certain technical specifications.

According to its official site, Formula E is designed “to appeal to a new generation of motorsport fan whilst accelerating the electric vehicle market and promoting sustainability.”

And what better way to promote the new competition than involving DiCaprio, an environmental campaigner and one of the world’s most famous celebrities.

The CEO of series promoters Formula E Holdings Alejandro Agag had some very kind words for DiCaprio, per the official site:

I want to give a very special welcome to our Championship to Leonardo DiCaprio. Very few environmental leaders have helped more than him to spread the message of sustainability around the world. Having people like him and Richard Branson—global ambassadors for the environment—is a privilege for our Championship and will greatly help us to spread the use of electric cars in cities around the planet.

The zero emission series will visit 10 cities on four continents: Beijing, Putrajaya, London, Monte Carlo, Berlin, Rio de Janeiro, Punta del Este, Buenos Aires, Miami and Los Angeles.