Electric racing cars are here!

FIA, the governing body of Formula 1 and other racing series has ushered in the next competitive spec racing series: Formula E, the all electric open-wheel racing series.

The Spark Renault SRT-01E Electric Formula racing in late 2014

Technical specifications are from the designers and builders, of which there are several:
McLaren Electronic Technologies has provided the 26kg (56lb.) electric motors. Spark Racing Technologies has partnered with renown manufacturer Dallara to provide the chassis. This year, Michelin was announced as the tyre supplier and Renault was announced as a partner of Spark to move forward. The all-important battery design was given to Williams Advanced Engineering, part of the Williams Group of which Williams F1 belongs.



The following is a list of the ten teams that will make up the inaugural season of Formula E:

Drayson Racing- Lord Paul Drayson is entering F/e with much research and development with Drayson Racing Technologies, an accomplished racing team with experience launching electronic performance vehicles.

 

The Drayson Racing Technologies LMP entry at LeMans 2012

 

 

China Racing- Started in 2004 for A1Gp and supported by Ministry of Sports, Steven Lu and Yu Liu have competed in several FIA series including A1GP, Superleague Formula and FIA GT1.

The Chinese Formula E entry launch

Andretti Autosport- The venerable Andretti force comes to Formula E. Led by Michael Andretti, this deeply entrenched Indycar team will set the pace.

Michael Andretti (r) with FIA Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag.

Andretti Autosport will host the Miami race

Dragon Racing- Son of "The Captain", Jay Penske has had an Indycar team for three years, earning rookie of the year with Raphael Matos, and signing 4-time champ Sebastian Bourdais in 2012. Bourdais will pilot Dragon's F/e sled, though he's signed with rival Indycar team KV Racing for the 2014 Indycar season. 

Jay Penske

“... Obviously, Jay released that they will race in Formula E, so I will race for him in that series next year, except for any races where there are Indy Car conflicts; so I will stay connected with Dragon and I think it's a really cool chance to support something new the FIA is trying with electric cars,” Bourdais revealed. “We'll keep a relationship there, and this is thanks to both teams having flexibility for me to do the Indycar championship and also Formula E.”. Bourdais signed with KV Racing for the 2014 Indycar season.(autosport.com)


 

 Sebastian Bourdais (Fra)

 

e.DAMS- a French team who's principle, Jean-Paul Driot has been successful in GP2, A1Gp and Formula Renault and is now teamed up with former Formula 1 ace and 4-time champion Alain Prost. DAMS has developed new drivers the likes of which Romain Grosjean and Jerome D'Ambrosio among others.

Romain Grosjean (Fra)

Super Aguri- formed by former Formula 1 driver and team owner Aguri Suzuki with team principle Mark Preston, a former executive in General Motors Holden in Australia.

Super Aguri Team Principle Mark Preston and owner Aguri Suzuki

Testing the Super Aguri entry 

 

 

Super Aguri power plant

 

Battery power monitoring 

Audi Sport Abt- from Allgau, Germany and anchored by Hans-Jurgen Abt, the German racing team is one of the most successful DTM teams in recent years.

Mahindra Racing- the only Indian team formed by S.P. Shukla

Mahindra team owner, (r) and team principle Shukla at launch

Virgin Racing- Sir Richard Branson's team, back into the FIA competition bracket is hiring technicians, crew and drivers with Formula 1 experience. Currently, Lucas de Grassi (Bra) and Takuma Sato (Jpn) are early developmental drivers.

Developmental driver Lucas di Grassi (Ita)

Venturi Grand Prix- Team principle and owner of Venturi Automobiles, Gildo Pallanca Pastor is no stranger to high performance electric automobiles: He's the current owner of the world land speed record for an electric vehicle, with the  Buckeye Bullet which traveled a certified 307mph in 2010. Pastor also recently partnered with actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio for this 'green' venture and says Formula E shares Venturi's values for "clean mobility, innovation in the field of electric propulsion and energy efficiency optimization"

World Land Speed Record holder for EV 307.7mph

The Formula E launch in Monaco, Monte Carlo

2014/2015 FIA Formula E Championship – Calendar: 
Round 1 – Beijing, China, 13th September 2014
Round 2 – Putrajaya, Malaysia, 18th October 2014
Round 3 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 15th November 2014
Round 4 – Punta del Este, Uruguay, 13th December 2014
Round 5 – Buenos Aires, Argentina, 10th January 2015
Round 6 – Los Angeles, USA, 14th February 2015
Round 7 – Miami, USA , 14th March 2015
Round 8 – Monte Carlo, Monaco, 9th May 2015
Round 9 – Berlin, Germany, 30th May 2015
Round 10 – London, UK, 27th June 2015
 * All events remain subject to FIA Track Homologation

All races will be held on public roads, on temporary street courses. Should be some intense racing and quite a spectacle! We are also expecting an all-electric class at LeMans next year.

-katykarter