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MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW is the new Formula E Safety Car

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After providing a BMW i8 as the Official Safety Car for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship since 2014, the BMW Group is now providing a new car as the i8 is no longer in production. The i8 was an appropriate car for the all-electric single-seater series as it was world’s bestselling plug-in electric sportscar, with over 20,000 units sold worldwide.

*BMW i8 Safety Car leading Formula E cars during a race.*

For the new Safety Car, the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW will be used. The car was created out of the new MINI Cooper SE as part of an unprecedented collaboration between MINI Design, BMW Motorsport, the FIA and the Formula E. It connects the brand’s electrified future with the rich racing history of John Cooper Works.

The new Safety Car will see action for the first time in Rome on April 10 at the second event (Race 3) of Formula E’s 2021 season.

“We have already shown how well driving fun and electric mobility go together with the MINI Electric,” says Bernd Korber, Head of MINI. “However, the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW goes at least a step further and blends the performance character of the John Cooper Works brand with electric mobility.”

He added that this extreme version of the MINI Electric has been developed as the Safety Car for Formula E, and is clearly not intended for use on public roads. “But it does reveal one of the directions we could take with the electrification of the JCW brand. For me, the message is clear: electrification and John Cooper Works are a good fit,” said Korber.

Dynamism maximised
The exterior of the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW has been purpose-built for life on the racetrack and represents the most dynamic interpretation yet of a MINI with all-electric power. “The design is an exciting symbiosis of technical precision and emotion,” explained Oliver Heilmer, Head of MINI Design. “Here, function dictates form, and many design elements have been shaped by technical considerations. For example, we worked closely with our colleagues at BMW Motorsport to develop the form of the wheel arches and front and rear aprons, and the optimisation programme for them included weight-saving measures. This visually striking, technically precise design language gives the car its pervasive sense of emotional engagement and excitement.”

Signature JCW elements, such as wheelarches adapted to the car’s track width and the deep front apron with additional front splitters to the left and right enhance the sporting visuals of the front end. The blanked off ‘radiator grille’ and MINI Electric logo point to the electric ‘heart’ of the Safety Car.

As virtually no drive system cooling is required through the upper area of the grille, the front end is largely enclosed to aid aerodynamics. The only exceptions are the area below the grille and the eye-catching, almost squared-off apertures for brake cooling. The Safety Car’s white flashing lights are integrated harmoniously into the bonnet. Characteristic MINI bonnet stripes extend over the roof to the rear end.

Showcasing MINI’s racing genes
The interplay of geometrically accentuated spats (with carefully placed aero edges) and sporty side skirts gives the car the appearance of powering forward. Together with the increased-diameter wheels, which almost fill the wheelarches, these elements strengthen the time-honoured MINI ‘stance on the wheels’.

The spats and spoilers are made – or more precisely 3D-printed from recycled. Yellow accent lines and surfaces on the aero elements (eg the spats, skirts and rear wing) provide a nod to the airflow optimisation taking place in these areas and add a visual flourish to the air deflectors and aero edges. The lightweight 18-inch forged wheels in bi-colour black-neon/orange design bring significant visual depth and added intricacy to the 4-spoke items from the MINI John Cooper Works GP.

The respective colour worlds of the MINI Electric and John Cooper Works brand merge into a single statement. The main body colour is a matt silver which extends back beyond the centrepoint of the car. A high-gloss wrap with a 2-stage colour gradient – from Highspeed Orange to Curbside Red – then covers the rest of the body to the rear. The contrast between matt and gloss surfaces brings extra smoothness to the silhouette, while the clear, diagonal separation lines between the different colours injects further dynamism.

On the flanks, a chequered flag-inspired pattern shares the stage with a large MINI Electric logo, which can also be found in the radiator grille, on the roof and at the rear end. The Safety Car brief also brings regulations-specific and sponsor-related graphics, which add further visual intensity to the car’s racing character.

Broad eye-catching rear
The rear end in black and Curbside Red met. uses yellow accent surfaces to extend the eye-catching design language from the front end and flanks. The prominent roof-mounted rear wing with air through-flow and yellow accent lines also integrates the signal light unit and was 3D-printed at the MINI factory in England. The rear apron has cut-outs around the wheels, clearing the view to the higher-grip racing tyres. Between the wheels sits an unadorned diffuser. When the car is viewed from this angle, the accents in Energetic Yellow and lack of exhaust tailpipes identify this as a car powered by an electric drive system.

Maximum reduction inside
As with racing cars, the interior is stripped to the absolute essentials and only the front seats remain. The driver’s area consists of a certified seat with 6-point belt approved for both racing and road use, a steering wheel with minimalist-design carbonfibre impact absorber and a digital instrument cluster. The central information display makes way for a carbonfibre cover here to further reduce weight. The centre console houses the gearshift lever, handbrake and controls for the necessary signal lights – all in exposed carbonfibre. The minimally trimmed carbonfibre door panels with window and door openers contain cloth straps to make closing the doors easier.

Another central feature of the interior is the welded-in roll cage, which maximises safety. And the remainder of the almost bare interior structure is also painted in typical racing white (for functional reasons).

Light and very powerful
Rigorous adherence to lightweight design principles gives the Safety Car a kerb weight of approximately 1,230 kgs – which makes it about 130 kgs lighter than the standard Cooper SE. The drive system – also based on that found in the Cooper SE – produces 135 kW (equivalent to about 185 ps) and 280 Nm, which enables the car to sprint go from standstill to 100 km/h in a claimed 6.7 seconds. As with the Safety Car in Formula 1, the MINI Electric Pacesetter inspired by JCW will have to be capable of a high speed if it is leading the racing cars around the track.

Season 7 of Formula E opens in Saudi Arabia with first-ever night races

Nissan makes long-term commitment to ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

Given its strength in EV technology, it’s not surprising that Nissan has announced a long-term commitment to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship series. The carmaker, which joined the all-electric single-seater series in season 5 as the only Japanese manufacturer, will participate to the end of season 12 which will take place during 2025 and 2026.

“Nissan’s commitment to the Gen3 era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship shows the strength of the all-electric racing series and its pursuit of success in the next phase. The new Gen3 cars will be faster and more powerful, and this constant evolution of racing performance that we continue to see in Formula E is great for the fans and the sport,” said Olivier and Gregory Driot, team principals of Nissan e.dams, added this joint statement:

The Gen3 era of the championship begins in season 9 – the 2022-23 season – and will feature even faster cars. Gen3 will bring performance and efficiency benefits including more powerful, lighter cars, faster charging and cost controls, all increasing the competitive and unpredictable racing Formula E has become known for.

In the first two seasons in Formula E, Nissan focused on its ’Phase One – road-to-track’ technical objectives, which took experience and learnings from the LEAF EV to develop the performance of the Nissan e.dams race car.

In its debut season, Nissan e.dams was the best qualifying team in the championship while, in its second season, the team powered to second place in the teams championship.

As the team races in the current 2020-2021 season 7 and looks toward the future, it embarks on ‘Phase Two – track-to-road’ of its technology transfer goals, where the technically fast-moving championship will help Nissan showcase features that aim to encourage consumer adoption of its EVs.

“We’ve achieved great results during our first two seasons and renewing our long-term commitment to Formula E is a key step,” said Tommaso Volpe, Nissan’s Global Motorsport Director. “We entered the sport with a ‘road-to-track’ technical transfer approach, and by extending our racing program through the Gen3 era, we have the opportunity to close the circle with ‘track-to-road’ technical transfer. We believe that, as one of the most global manufacturers involved in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, this sport is the perfect platform to promote our expertise in electrification and demonstrate our commitment to more sustainable mobility solutions.”

As part of its goal to achieve carbon neutrality across its operations and the life-cycle of its products by 2050, Nissan intends to electrify all-new Nissan vehicle offerings by the early 2030s. The company aims to bring its expertise in transferring knowledge and technology between the racetrack and road for better electric vehicles for customers.

“Nissan’s vision for cars goes far beyond simply modes of transport,” said Ashwani Gupta, Nissan’s Chief Operating Officer. “We aim to design and build electric vehicles that transform the way communities connect and move, and inspire us all to work towards a sustainable society. For Nissan, Formula E helps us bring excitement, energy and the environment to the forefront as we deliver this vision of the future to an ever-growing, new, young and diverse audience.”

The first races of the 2021 season took place in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, as a double- header event at the end of February, where Formula E raced for the first time as an FIA World Championship. It was also Formula E’s first night race, with the cars racing under floodlights. Nissan e.dams took 14 team championship points away from the event.

Season 7 of Formula E opens in Saudi Arabia with first-ever night races

Michelin to introduce Pilot Sport EV for electric sportscars next month

As electric vehicles move into the mainstream, tyremakers are slowly focussing R&D on developing tyres which are more specifically engineered to meet the specific handling and range requirements. This will be especially so with the new generation of electrically-powered sportscars like the Porsche Taycan. Issues like weight and rolling resistance will have a great priority.

Specifically for electric sportscars
Michelin’s Pilot Sport EV is the first tyre from the French company which is designed to address the specific demands made by electric sportscars. It is the result of the unique experience acquired by Michelin’s involvement in the all-electric single-seater Formula E racing series.

*Michelin, as the tyre supplier for the all-electric single-seater Formula E championship, has developed tyres specifically for the racing cars.*

Technological experience from Formula E
A founding partner of Formula E, Michelin proposed a specific solution for the championship’s racing cars that is similar in its concept to a road tyre. The Michelin Formula E tyre is capable of racing in any weather conditions, while its size – 18 inches – is consistent with current road-car norms.

One example of how the Pilot Sport EV benefits directly from the progress Michelin has achieved over 6 seasons in Formula E is the ElectricGrip Compound technology. This features a hard compound for the centre of the tread to provide the grip required to handle high torque characteristics of electric sports cars. The sidewalls carry over the same pattern and velvet-finish markings of Michelin’s Formula E tyre.

Additionally, MaxTouch Construction maximizes the tyre’s contact with the road and evenly distribute the forces of acceleration, braking and cornering – delivering longer tread life without sacrificing performance.

Quieter and further
Electric cars run quietly so the tyres will also have to be as quiet as possible. To achieve this, Michelin engineers have cut out 20% of road noise using the company’s Acoustic technology which takes the form of a custom-developed polyurethane foam that reduces cabin noise.

There is the promise of optimal grip on dry and wet road – irrespective of the tyre’s level of wear – taking into account the higher weight and weight-distribution characteristics associated with electric sportscars. Resistance to wear is also tailored in response to the high torque and acceleration forces generated by electric powertrains.

The tyre’s low rolling resistance is claimed to extend operating range by up to 60 kms. This has been calculated in a Rolling Resistance internal study comparing a 255/45 R19 Pilot Sport EV (6.7 kg/t) with the same-sized Pilot Sport 4 SUV (8.8 kg/t). In the case of an electric vehicle weighing 2,151 kgs with a range of 540 km, the difference (2.1 kg/t) equates to more than 60 kms of additional range, or more than 10% of the original range.

Carbon-neutral throughout
The new tyre is also an eco-responsible product and will be CO₂-neutral at the point of sale. Michelin has cut CO₂ emissions from its industrial sites by 25% since 2010 and aims at their carbon neutrality by 2050.

In order to achieve carbon neutrality throughout the life of its tyre and address the demands of electric sportscar owners, Michelin has pledged to neutralize the CO₂ emissions associated with the tyre’s production and transport to its point of sale. This process includes the financing of projects aimed at offsetting and absorbing the residual CO₂emissions associated with tyre production through the Livelihoods carbon fund until the day comes when it will be possible to eliminate them entirely.

The Pilot Sport EV will go on sale from April 2021, starting with the China market, followed by Europe and North America from the third quarter of this year. By 2024, Michelin plans to increase its sales in the high-growth markets by a factor of eight.

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Jaguar Racing ready for Formula E season-opener in Saudi Arabia this Friday

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With the original opening round in Chile having to be postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions in the UK making it difficult for teams to travel on time to South America, the season-opener for Season 7 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The venue was originally scheduled for later in the year and will have two races, both run at night. This will be the first time the all-electric single seater series is being run after dark.

The first of the two night races will be on February 26 – just 4 days away – and among the teams getting ready for this new season is Jaguar Racing. The British team has much experience in Formula E, having participated in 5 seasons. This year sees one of the strongest pairings on the grid with Sam Bird and Mitch Evans using the new Jaguar I-TYPE 5 racing car. Since the last race in August 2020, development of the new car has centred around an all-new in-house powertrain, suspension and state-of-the-art invertor which uses 24-carat gold.

To control costs the carbonfibre chassis and battery are common components and the same for all 12 teams competing. This allows the focus to be on developing electric vehicle powertrains which are efficient and lightweight, the technology and solutions eventually being transferred to production Jaguar Land Rover models with electrified powertrains.

“The team have worked harder than ever to create the most efficient, state-of-the-art race car and we will be pushing for points, podiums and wins,” said James Barclay, Jaguar Racing Team Director. “We have spent months developing the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 and we are now looking forward to take to the track in Diriyah for the double-header season opener and first ever Formula E night races.”

The engineers have focussed on efficiency gains, reduced weight and lowered the centre of gravity of the powertrain. New suspension will provide greater adjustment from track to track and a more efficient invertor will improve switching speeds and performance.

Jaguar Racing will also debut the use of new sustainable materials called TYPEFIBRE, which the car’s new prototype seat is made from. It will be tested at speed in different temperatures, loads and environments around the world as part of the team’s Race to Innovate mission – sharing the benefits of race technology with road cars and, in turn, Jaguar customers.

During the 3 days of intense pre-season testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Spain earlier, the I-TYPE 5 showed it on-track potential over 370 laps. “We learned a lot about the car – the hardware, the software and the systems – and we’ve understood what works well and how we can make the Jaguar I-TYPE 5 go faster. Overall, it was a really useful test,” said Sam Bird.

This is New Zealander Evans’ fifth season with Jaguar Racing while Britain’s Sam Bird, who has won races in every Formula E season, is new to the British team this season. Both drivers have experienced the Saudi Arabian street track – Evans secured points last year and Bird was victorious in the 2019 season-opener in Diriyah, located on the north-western outskirts of the country’s capital city, Riyadh.

*Start of the race in Diriyah in Season 6 last year.*

The 2021 Formula E season is the first of the series to be granted full world championship status by the FIA in view of its truly global coverage. It will be the third year for the teams to be racing with the futuristic Gen2 race cars.

6-round Formula E Accelerate esports championship for 2021

McLaren Racing considering participation in Formula E

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.

Jaguar Racing and Audi Sport to use new powertrains for Formula E Season 7

6-round Formula E Accelerate esports championship for 2021

While Formula E is known as the leading all-electric single-seater championship run globally, the organisation running it has also had a parallel esports competition. Last year, it had the Formula E Race at Home Challenge in support of UNICEF and building on the success of that event, it will run the Formula E Accelerate esports championship in 2021.

“We have evolved our esports product for both gamers and fans. The added element of energy management and Attack Mode translates the real-life Formula E racing experience into the virtual world more accurately than ever before and tests the sim racers’ ability to master electric racing,” said Hannah Brown, Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer of Formula E.

Blending real and virtual worlds
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. The virtual racers will also receive expert tips, mentoring and other talent development opportunities from the team they are attached to.

Competitors will need to contend with new energy management and Attack Mode features during the online e-Prix. Prior to the competition, there will be online qualifying open to the public with at least the top 3 quickest times on the Berlin Tempelhof E-Prix circuit earning places on the Formula E Accelerate virtual grid.

€100,000 prize pool
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.

Formula E drivers also participate
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. Each 25-minute Formula E Accelerate race will be broadcast in a 90-minute programme, featuring Formula E drivers, Team Principals and other special guests. All races will be live on Formula E social and streaming platforms.

“Formula E continues to create opportunities for fans and the next generation of racing drivers to get involved with the sport, and Formula E Accelerate will see a number of improvements that bring us closer to the real-life experience since our last event,” said Stoffel Vandoorne, ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge Driver Grid winner.

“Having won the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge, I learnt how competitive and demanding it is to race at such a high standard on a regular basis. This time there will be an extra challenge, having to contend with the introduction of energy management and Attack Mode – something even I haven’t tried yet – so it will be interesting to see how drivers manage,” he added.

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Mercedes-Benz EQ Team prepares for second year of Formula E racing

Audi to compete in Dakar Rally 2022, return to WEC, and leave Formula E after 2021

Audi will return to the international rallying arena in 2022 when it competes in the Dakar Rally. The brand shot to prominence in the World Rally Championship in the 1980s with its superior all-wheel drive Quattro, winning a number of championships and revolutionizing the sport. Then it competed in other areas, a dominant force in the World Endurance Championship (WEC) endurance racing three years in a row. More recently, it has participated in Formula E, the all-electric single-seater series, which has served to highlight the brand’s pioneering technology in electrified vehicles.

*In the 1980s, Audi was the dominant force in the World Rally Championship with its all-wheel drive Quattro.*

“Formula E has accompanied the transformation phase at Audi. Now we are taking the next step in electrified motorsport by facing the most extreme conditions. The many technical freedoms offered by the Dakar Rally provide a perfect test laboratory for us in this respect,” said Markus Duesmann, Chairman of the Board of Management and Board of Management Member for Technical Development and Product Lines at Audi AG.

First carmaker to commit alternative drive for rally
Audi is the first carmaker that has committed to develop a viable alternative drive concept for the Dakar Rally, making it a pioneer in motorsport once again. It has a prototype with the alternative drive concept that combines an electric drivetrain with a high-voltage battery and a highly efficient energy converter for the first time.

With the use of an alternative drive concept in the Dakar Rally, the vehicle will be driven in the most extreme conditions. The aim is to permanently improve the performance of the electric drivetrain and the battery in the years to come. The experience gained in this process should then be incorporated into the further development of future electrified production models.

*AudiSport has been involved in Formula E with the ABT Schaeffler team.*

Exit from Formula E after 2021
The Dakar Rally will replace Audi’s factory involvement in Formula E, which will no longer be continued in the form of an AudiSport factory team after the 2021 season. The use of the newly developed Audi powertrain by customer teams like ABT Schaeffler will remain possible beyond next year.

“A multifaceted commitment to motorsport is and will remain an integral part of Audi’s strategy,” said Duesmann. “We want to continue demonstrating the brand’s slogan ‘Vorsprung durch Technik’ in international top-level motorsport in the future and develop innovative technologies for our road cars.

*The Audi R18 won three years in a row at Le Mans,*

It is also learnt that Audi will return to endurance racing and take part in the new LMDh category. This is a cost-effective formula as the same car can be used in the WEC as well as the American IMSA series.

“We are intensively preparing to enter the new sports prototype category LMDh with its highlight races, the Daytona 24 Hours and Le Mans 24 Hours,” confirmed Julius Seebach, Managing Director of Audi Sport GmbH. “The most important message for our fans is that motorsport will continue to play an important role at Audi.”

*Technology developed in competition, which has extreme conditions, will be used in the advancement of electrified production models like the Audi e-tron.*

2022 Dakar Rally
The Dakar Rally began in 1997 as a rally-raid event from Paris to Dakar, on the west coast of Africa. Traditionally held at the start of the new year, it came to be the most gruelling off-road event. It ran the same route up till 2007 and then security concerns forced the organisers to find a new and equally challenging route, which was in South America.

So from 2009 (the event had to be cancelled in 2008 when terrorist threats were too serious), it was held on the western side of South America in Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru. The name was retained as it had become legendary.

*Mitsubishi Motors, with the Pajero, has had the most number of wins (12) in the Dakar Rally.*

*A MINI in the 2020 Dakar Rally, held for the first time in Saudi Arabia.*

However, the teams have been uncomfortable with the logistical complexities and high cost of travelling to South America, while the host countries have been less willing to pay the organisers the extremely high fees for the event. This has led to the event moving to Saudi Arabia for 2020 as the Kingdom has been willing to sign a multi-year contract. The shorter distance from Europe is also more acceptable to the teams. So it is likely that when Audi returns in 2022, it will be competing in the desert sands of Saudi Arabia.

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Mercedes-Benz EQ Team prepares for second year of Formula E racing

In its debut season in Formula E where it finished third overall in the all-electric single-seater championship, the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team is preparing to put in stronger effort in Season 7.

Opting for continuity
The driver pairing remains unchanged for the second campaign as the team has opted for continuity. Thus Nyck de Vries and Stoffel Vandoorne will once again be in the cockpits, armed with the experience of Season 6. In the last round, there already demonstrated strong performance on track with a 1-2 finish.

In the coming season, the team expects to face a multitude of new challenges, both on and off the racetrack. Competing against some of the world’s strongest drivers, teams and manufacturers is not only about performance, but also about coordinated teamwork, intelligent energy management and carefully thought-out strategies.

*First season of racing for the team saw a 1-2 finish only in the final round.*

Evolved Gen2 car
Since the launch of the Gen2 model for the series, the Formula E cars have been even more visually stunning with their unique, futuristic design. This goes for the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 02 racing car which is an evolution from its predecessor.

Precise, EQ-blue flow lines extend over the entire length of the vehicle. They give the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 02 more dynamics and highlight the EQ brand with their blue colouring. At the rear, large silver stars form a distinctive Mercedes-Benz pattern, leaving no doubt that it is a Silver Arrow.

The 5.1-metre long racing car produces 250 kW in the maximum power mode for qualifying or when deploying Fanboost. In race mode, the regulations limit output to 200 kW. The car accelerates from 0-100 km/h in approximately 2.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of up to 280 km/h.

The drivetrain consists of an inverter, motor, gearbox and parts of the rear axle as well as the software used for energy management. In contrast to the standard chassis, these areas may be freely developed by the teams and manufacturers.

DJI, well known for its drones, will supply the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team with latest aerial imagery and creative camera technology to bring racing fans closer to the action on and off the track.

4 rounds first
The new season starts in January 2021 in South America and for now, given the uncertainty of the pandemic situation, the organisers have 4 races scheduled with the approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council. Another set of will be announced in early 2021 following discussions with the FIA.

Formula E: DS Techeetah’s Da Costa widens lead with third consecutive win

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Formula E resumes on August 5 with 6 rounds over 9 days!

Formula E resumes on August 5 with 6 rounds over 9 days!

As with Formula 1, Formula E – the all-electric single-seater championship – had its schedule suspended after the COVID-19 pandemic forced lockdowns in many countries. Five rounds were run since the sixth season started in November last year and the last race was held in Marrakesh at the end of February (below).

Now after a break of more than 5 months, Formula E will resume with the Berlin e-Prix – and it will be hectic. Over a period of 9 days, there will be six races at the circuit on the former Tempelhof airport site in the south of Berlin, Germany. The compressed schedule is partly because Formula E championships typically start in November.

Three track layouts for 6 races
As an additional challenge, there will be three different track layouts. The familiar circuit from recent years will only be used on August 8 and 9. For the opening rounds on August 5 and 6, this layout will be driven in the opposite direction and for the final races on August 12 and 13, the circuit will be completely redesigned. As usual in Formula E, the teams only received their data last week so that there won’t be a lot of time to intensively prepare for the track variations.

Formula E Berlin Tempelhof circuit — *The track will have a similar layout for the first four rounds but two will be in reverse. The final two rounds will have a different layout.*

The German authorities have permitted the races to be run with a strict hygiene concept which must be adhered to. The number of team members on-site will be significantly less and there can be no fans nor sponsors present. Press conferences will be held virtually, and the podium ceremony is to be reduced to a minimum. As usual, each race will last for 45 minutes plus one lap. All international channels, including the broadcast schedule, can be found online at www.fiaformulae.com. The races start at 7 pm Central European Summer Time which will be 1 am the next day in Malaysia.

Among the 12 teams is the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler which will be aiming to deliver strong results on home territory. A maximum of 180 points – including those for the fastest time in qualifying, pole position and the fastest race lap – can be scored by any of the 24 drivers.

Championship still open
With just 38 points separating the front runner from the tenth-placed driver, it is clear that the championship is still completely open. “I am pretty sure that in the end, the final championship positions will look completely different to what they do now,” predicts Team Principal Allan McNish. “This ‘6-pack’ in Berlin reminds me a little of a restart following a caution period in the last race of the season, with only a few more laps to go in the last race of the season.”

Lucas di Grassi is fired up for the restart of the season. “The break also had some positive aspects, because I had a lot of time with my son and my family. I also did a lot of sports, ate a healthy diet and spent many days with the data of the first rounds of the season. But at some point, you’ve had your fill of it and finally want to race again,” said the Brazilian driver. “We’re going to Berlin to claim the title – that’s clearly my goal.”

Formula E Audi Sport — *Lucas Di Grassi in the Audi e-tron FE06*

‘A totally different game’
Berlin has always been a good venue for the most successful Formula E driver with 31 podium (5 times in Berlin). “We’ve had many sweet moments in Berlin before and, of course, that gives you a positive feeling,” he said. “Even so, it’s a totally different game this time: new track layouts, no fans and guests, many races within a short space of time – the question of who will best cope with this will also be crucial.”

While di Grassi is traveling to Berlin with the experience of 63 races, the tally of his new teammate, Rene Rast, reflects just one. He drove in 2016 as a guest entrant for a different team and on a completely different track in downtown Berlin. Consequently, the past few weeks were extremely busy for the two-time DTM champion.

“I did everything I could – in addition to testing, I analyzed data for hours on end, watched videos and spent an enormous amount of time with the engineers,” said Rast. “It’s difficult to express expectations for my debut with Audi, but one thing is clear: I’d like to arrive in Berlin perfectly prepared and deliver a good result.”

Formula E 2020 — [All images and video courtesy of Formula E]

Besides Formula E, Rast is also racing in the DTM, where he is defending his title with Audi. This means that between August 1 and 23, the German will be competing in 12 races in two completely different cars – Formula E with the fully-electric Audi e-tron FE06 single-seater and in the DTM with the Audi RS 5 DTM touring car. “These are two totally different worlds with completely different challenges for any race driver. But the six Formula E races in such short succession are ideal for a fast learning curve …”

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