It seems that Charles Pic has been dropped permanently from the NextEV TCR team over performance concerns.

While an official statement has yet to be made by either the team or the driver, it looks as though the Frenchman is unlikely to return to the grey and fluorescent yellow car after scoring just four points in four outings for the Chinese team.

The outcome will be a disappointment for the team, who had initially been keen to retain Pic on a long term deal, possibly stretching to the end of season two. Results speak volumes, however, and failing to score points while Nelson Piquet has charged to the top of the championship standings in the same car is reason enough not to continue the relationship.

Pic has been replaced in Moscow by Antonio Garcia, who raced for the team in Punta del Este last year. The deal appears to be for a single race, with no firm indication yet as to what will happen in London.

NextEV TCR looks to have a very bright future. We’re told that NextEV is a start-up firm backed by extremely wealth Chinese investors who have made their money in internet and technology businesses. “Think Zuckerberg or Musk, but in China,” our source told us.

The company has a vision to shake up the automotive sector in China in the same way that Tesla has elsewhere, focusing on electric cars and using the partnership with the Formula E racing team as both a technology test bed and a global marketing platform.

Taking Nelson Piquet to the drivers’ championship would be a huge coup for the Chinese racing team and the new electric vehicle company, putting their name on an even standing with the big OEM and racing names of the series, including Renault, Mahindra and Andretti.

We expect to hear more details about the new company, its involvement with the Formula E racing team and their season two powertrain in the coming weeks.