Derin Adetosoye wins Formula E’s Talent Call for Presenters
– Competition winner Derin Adetosoye revealed as Formula E’s newest presenter when Talent Call judge Maya Jama surprises her with the news.
– Gen Z talent Derin Adetosoye to connect Formula E with new generation of fans as she joins official presenting team for Santiago E-Prix in January.
– Derin Adetosoye becomes the first black female presenter for an international motorsport rights holder.
London, England (December 17, 2020) – Derin Adetosoye has been announced as the winner of Formula E’s Open Talent Call for Presenters. 21-year-old Derin will join the existing Formula E presenting line up for the opening round of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship staged in Santiago on January 16 & 17.
Today Derin Adetosoye was surprised by Formula E Talent Call judge Maya Jama, who delivered the news that Derin will be the latest addition to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s presenting line up.
Launched this August for Gen Zs between the age of 18 and 24 who reside in the UK, France or Germany, Formula E’s Open Talent Call for Presenters targeted diverse young talent with the skills to join an existing presenter and commentator team of Vernon Kay, Nicki Shields, Dario Franchitti, Jack Nicholls and Saunders Carmichael-Brown.
Following over 800 video entries, the judges, radio DJ and presenter Maya Jama, Formula E racing driver Daniel Abt and professional athlete and LGBTQ activist Amazin LeThi narrowed the field to four talented young finalists who headed to Valencia, Spain to complete a series of challenges at Formula E pre-season testing two weeks ago.
Tasks completed, the judges reconvened and selected Derin Adetosoye as the winner. Her prize is a professional role as part of the Formula E presenting team for the first round of the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Santiago on January 16 & 17.
The Open Talent Call for Presenters specifically targeted Gen Z applicants who understand how the next generation of fans think and what they care about. Delivering on the promise of Formula E’s open letter published in July to provide “greater opportunity for under-represented groups in our sport”, raw young talents were encouraged to apply no matter their experience level. Entrants were judged purely on presenting potential.
With equal opportunities a priority, Formula E worked closely with diverse communities to ensure the competition was as accessible as possible from day one. Background blind judging selected 15 diverse semi-finalists with a passion for Formula E and its race for better futures. After expertly navigating a gruelling set of challenges, Derin was chosen as the worthy winner. She will make history as the first black female presenter for an international motorsport rights holder.
FORMULA E OPEN TALENT CALL OFFICIAL JUDGE
Maya Jama
“I am so thrilled to announce that Derin Adetosoye is the winner of Formula E’s Talent Call. She is really a natural at this and I can’t wait to see her grow as a presenter and with the Formula E family. Watching her reminded me of back when I was starting out and I am just so excited to see her out on the track in Santiago!”
Formula E Open Talent Call for Presenters winner
Derin Adetosoye
“It is such an incredible honour to have won the Open Talent Call for Presenters! I am so excited to be joining the remarkable Formula E family next season and make my mark as the first black woman presenter for an international motorsports rights holder.”
Chief Communications Officer of Formula E
Katie Traxton
“The judges had the unenviable task of selecting one winner from an incredible line-up of Gen Z talent. We only hope that the platform Formula E provided for all the finalists will give them the springboard they deserve. Derin is a brilliant choice. We can’t wait to have her join our team in Santiago. Derin will play an essential part in connecting Formula E with the new generation of fans who are integral to our vision and mission as we race for better futures.”
The Open Talent Call for Presenters is the first initiative of the Electric Futures programme announced this summer in Formula E’s #PositivelyCharged open letter as part of the FIA’s #PurposeDriven movement.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will make its Season Seven debut in Santiago, Chile in January with two races, the first staged at 18:00 GMT (15:00 local time) on January 16 and the second at 15:30 GMT (12:30 local time) on January 17.
Audiences can plug in and follow the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube. @FIAFormulaE #ABBFormulaE