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2020 ABB FIA Formula E Championship

McLaren Racing is considering participation in the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship for Season 9 which will take place in 2022/2023. This is when the championship’s Gen3 era begins, meaning that McLaren Racing will be invest only in a brand new Gen3 platform, rather than spend unnecessarily on development at the present time.

The Gen3 racing cars will be used from the 2022/23 season, bringing performance and efficiency advances including more powerful, lighter cars and faster charging as well as a set of technical and financial controls aimed at reinforcing the business case for Formula E’s ecosystem of teams and manufacturers.

McLaren Racing’s interest in Formula E is a validation of the series as the pinnacle of electric racing, both as a proving ground for the top racing teams in the world and as a test-bed for the next generation of electric vehicles.

McLaren has a long history in motor racing, including F1, and is now considering all-electric racing in the 21st century.

Exclusive Gen2 battery supplier
McLaren Racing is one of the most successful operations in motorsport, enjoying a rich history of success in Formula 1 as well as IndyCar and Le Mans. McLaren Applied is Formula E’s exclusive Gen2 battery supplier under a 4-season contract which concludes at the end of the 2021/22 season, after which McLaren Racing will evaluate the potential to deepen its involvement as a one of the 12 competitors in the championship which began in 2014.

“We’ve been closely observing Formula E for some time and monitoring the series’ progress and future direction. The opportunity to take an option on an entry and the completion of the McLaren Applied supplier contract with the FIA at the end of Gen2, gives us the necessary time to decide if Formula E is right for McLaren as a future competition platform,” said Zak Brown, CEO of McLaren Racing.

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In its first 6 seasons, Formula E crowned 5 different champions and celebrated 17 winners in 69 races. With more automotive manufacturers on the grid than any other motorsport, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is not only one of the most compelling racing series on the planet but also an unparalleled proving ground for race-to-road electric vehicle and sustainable mobility technologies.

Formula E Accelerate esports championship
This year, there will also be the Formula E Accelerate esports championship. Over 6 events, 24 rising stars from the world of motorsport and esports will compete against one another in a simulated racing experience using rFactor2 software. Blending the real and virtual worlds, each competitor will score Formula E Accelerate points for a real-life Formula E team. Everyone who participates in all 6 races will receive a share of a minimum prize pool of €100,000 (about RM493,000) with the overall winner earning a test drive in a Formula E Gen2 car.

There will be two additional virtual races, each featuring 12 real-life Formula E drivers, one per racing team, during Round 4 and the Grand Final of Formula E Accelerate. Points from these races will be added to the overall team standings. The first round starts on January 28 and the championship will run up till March 25 this year.

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DS Techeetah’s Antonio Felix da Costa produced another dominant display to tally a third win in a row in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship with a lights-to-flag victory in the Berlin E-Prix yesterday. The win extended the Portuguese driver’s championship lead to 68 points, keeping Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) at arm’s length throughout the encounter, whilst Lucas di Grassi (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler) came out on top in the battle for the final step on the podium.

Da Costa again started well, and immediately covered Buemi into the first corner. Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-Benz EQ) produced a flyer off the line and was late on the brakes into Turn one, passing Alex Lynn (Mahindra Racing) for third in a cloud of tyre smoke, right around the outside.

2020 Formula E Berlin ePrix

Max Guenther (BMW i Andretti Motorsport) had been the big climber in the opening stages, making a trio of moves to find his way into eighth position by lap two. It’s a pity we were denied the opportunity to see the racy German make further progress, however, when his iFE.20 picked up a puncture on lap 9. The team later retired the car – Guenther seeing his championship challenge begin to ebb away.

The lead duo stretched their lead further out front, pulling out 2 seconds on de Vries behind as the Mercedes-Benz driver continued his duel with Lynn – his mirrors full of the Brit’s Mahindra M6Electro. 15 minutes into the race, and none of the Drivers’ Championship top 5, apart from standings leader da Costa, of course, were in points-paying positions.

In the battle for sixth spot that raged all the way through the race, Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams), Sam Bird (Envision Virgin Racing), Lynn and Edo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) all leapt for ATTACK MODE, but the Mahindra man miscued, leaving Lynn exposed as those around him benefited from the extra 35 kW of usable energy.

2020 Formula E Berlin ePrix

Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s Lucas di Grassi had made his way by de Vries for fourth on lap 11, and the pair responded to the group just behind by hitting the activation zone themselves. The Brazilian made it count – getting the jump on third-placed Frijns as the Dutchman was a lap late to the ATTACK MODE party.

The third full-course yellow of the evening was caused by de Vries’ stricken Silver Arrow 01, after two prior cautions for the collection of some rogue debris, forcing the Dutchman out of the action – a real shame for the 25-year old.

2020 Formula E Berlin ePrix

On the restart, da Costa was able to create a 2-second cushion to the Nissan of Buemi behind – enough to see him able to take ATTACK MODE and retain his lead with 20 minutes left to run. It looked a done deal.

Vandoorne, as in Round 6, was quietly going about his business climbing through the field from 13th, this time around. On lap 22, the Belgian pulled off an audacious three-wide move on Rowland and Bird to go right around the outside of the pair of them and into fifth spot with Frijns the next in his sights.

Frijns, meanwhile, was scrapping hard with di Grassi for the final spot on the podium, as the Brazilian employed all of his experience to fend off Frijns’ advances – the pair very evenly matched, both running the Audi powertrain.

The two duelled back and forth as they activated ATTACK MODE one after the other for the second time, and it was a straight fight to the finish with Frijns clambering over the back of the Audi for every one of the final five laps.

2020 Formula E Berlin ePrix

Vandoorne joined the gaggle with two laps left, as did Bird, to make it 4 into one for the final step on the podium. Di Grassi’s experience and guile served him well, however, as he clung on for silverware with Frijns, Vandoorne, Bird and Rowland following.

Vergne’s frustrations were clear for all to hear, with complaints that he was losing his rear tyres ringing around his engineer’s ears with just under ten minutes plus one lap to run. The Frenchman’s pace, as in the first running of the Reverse Berlin Tempelhof Circuit, fell away towards the end of the race, with Mortara pinching eighth and Andre Lotterer ninth with Vergne winding up 10th.

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The reigning champion is yet to unlock the DS Techeetah in the same way his team-mate so spectacularly has so far in Berlin. Da Costa held Buemi at bay to take the win and his dominant performance sees him extend his championship lead to 68 points over both di Grassi and Vandoorne, with 120 left to play for. DS Techeetah’s advantage in the Teams’ running is now 65 points to BMW i Andretti Motorsport.

2020 Formula E Berlin ePrix
As with other motorsports events, new practices have been introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and all participants must wear face masks.

The second double-header of the most intense season finale in motorsport history, Rounds 8 and 9, will see a return of the Traditional Berlin Tempelhof Circuit, set for this weekend. However, the cars will race in a reverse direction this time, providing a new challenge to the drivers.

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DS Techeetah driver and race winner Antonio Felix da Costa and his teammate Jean-Eric Vergne pulled off a double podium for DS in Marrakesh. Splitting the pair in second was BMW i Andretti Motorsport’s Max Guenther after a manic race in Marrakesh. Here’s how it all happened.

Poleman and DS Techeetah driver Antonio Felix da Costa led the way into the 2020 Marrakesh E-Prix, followed closely by the man who replaced him at BMW i Andretti Motorsport Max Guenther in second and Mercedes-Benz EQ’s Nyck de Vries in third.

2020 Formula E Marrakesh

Starting from 11th, reigning champion and DS Techeetah driver Jean-Eric Vergne moved up the order to seventh, desperate to kickstart his third championship title campaign. At the same time, Mercedes’ Nyck de Vries dropped from third to the back while serving a drive-through penalty for being overpowered while regenerating energy.

Moving into third, TAG Heuer Porsche’s Andre Lotterer moved up into third with 28 minutes left on the clock. With Da Costa still leading the way, Guenther followed close behind in second. Still climbing up the order, Vergne moved into third, slipping past his former teammate Andre Lotterer who moved down into fourth. Despite missing the first Practice session, the reigning champion was in a potentially facing a podium finish after starting outside the top ten.

2020 Formula E Marrakesh

Battling hard for the lead, BMW’s Max Guenther and da Costa once again found themselves engaged in close-combat, wheel-to-wheel racing. Reminiscent of the race in Santiago only a few weeks before, the pair went side by side through the turn 11.

ATTACK MODE used
With 19 minutes remaining, Guenther slipped into the lead before da Costa went through the ATTACK MODE activation zone, reclaiming his lead with the added 35 kW. Further down the order, Rokit Venturi Racing’s Edoardo Mortara and Porsche’s Andre Lotterer battled for fourth and fifth, both in ATTACK MODE.

Still climbing his way up the order, Vergne (in third) went for Guenther (in second), taking the German driver on the inside of Turn 1 and moving into second behind his teammate da Costa with six minutes and one lap left of the race. Gunther, now down in third sat ahead of Lotterer in fourth, while the two German drivers jostled for a place on the podium.

Despite starting from the back of the grid, Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver and championship leader Mitch Evans had managed to climb 18 places by the final moments of the race. The Kiwi driver failed to set a time in Qualifying but more than made up for the rough start with a sensational, clean drive through the pack.

2020 Formula E Marrakesh

With the two DS Techeetah’s up front, Vergne fended off a number of attacks from Guenther in third, costing him precious energy, before letting the BMW driver past. Still well ahead, da Costa took the chequered flag, claiming DS Techeetah’s debut win in the 2019/20 season. Despite being depleted of all energy, Gunether made it over the line in second with Vergne close on his tail in third.

Can the next round be held in Italy?
The sixth round of the Formula E championship is to be held in Rome on April 4. However, with the increasing seriousness of the COVID-19 epidemic, especially in Italy, it is almost likely that the venue will not be suitable.

So far, the FIA has not made further moves to postpone or cancel championship rounds other than the F1 GP in China. Formula E has 13 rounds, with 8 rounds remaining between now and July. If the epidemic gets worse, countries may have travel or entry restrictions or, like the Swiss government has done, forbid events with large crowds. Teams may also be reluctant to travel if there is a health risk to their personnel.

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The 2020 Nissan Formula E race car has just been unveiled for the upcoming season of exciting electric street racing series with the goal to demonstrate its technological prowess, power, and performance on EV (electric vehicle) supremacy. (more…)

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