Franck Montagny tests positive for cocaine

There was a mystery surrounding the exact reasons why Franck Montagny was absent at the last Formula E round  in Uruguay, replaced by Jean-Eric Vergne at Andretti. Now we know...

The 36-year old driver revealed in French paper L'Equipe the true nature of his absence: he tested positive for a cocaine derivative after the Formula E Putrajaya ePrix in Malaysia in late November. He had started the season off strong with a runner-up finish in Beijing. 

Racing career may be over

Montagny did not request a B-sample and as a consequence, is automatically suspended from motor racing until a sanction is handed down. "Racing may be over for me", the French driver admitted candidly.

The situation went down right after the Putrajaya ePrix: "After the race, I saw the guy who control making a signal to me," he says. "There in my head, I understood immediately. I knew it was over for me. I took the plane. I went shopping for two days. I didn't want to be alone at home. Then I called my parents to tell them. I was ashamed."