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Everything in a big city and in one day, from practice and qualifying to the race, plus a touch of Hollywood: motorsport’s latest series, Formula E, is ready for a glittering start today. |
Many former Formula One drivers - such as Jarno Trulli, Nick Heidfeld, Takuma Sato, Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok - will be at Beijing’s Olympic Park for the inaugural ePrix on a 3.44-kilometres course passing the iconic Water Cube arena and Bird’s Nest stadium.
The field of 20 electric car drivers also includes two women: Britain’s Katherine Legge and Italian Micela Cerruti.
Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio is co-owner of one of the 10 teams to compete in the inaugural season with 10 races in cities including Miami, Berlin and the June 27, 2015, finale in London apart from Beijing.
“Formula E is a big step in the history of motorsport and the development of new technologies,” the head of the ruling body FIA, Jean Todt, said in an interview on the FIA and Formula E websites.
“The world is changing and as the sporting flagship of motorsport we have a responsibility to keep up with those changes. The link between daily mobility and racing is very important.
“For me the electric car is really the future of motoring in the cities. And that’s why we begin with hosting races in world cities. It’s a new approach, it’s a new product.”
DiCaprio is one of four owners of the Monte Carlo-based Venturi team with its drivers Heidfeld and Stephane Sarrazin of France.
“The future of our planet depends on our ability to embrace fuel-efficient, clean-energy vehicles,” DiCaprio said.
Heidfeld is convinced that the series has huge potential, saying:
“Everyone with who you talk is highly interested, including sponsors, because it is much more environmentally friendly. It can become something great.”
Heidfeld brings the experience of 185 Formula One races into Formula E with its 270-horsepower cars which can reach a top speed of 225kph.
All drivers have the same car in the inaugural season, a Spark-Renault SRT_01E. As batteries don’t last a full race distance of around one hour, drivers will change cars during the races.
Engine power is reduced to 202.5 horsepower during a race, but fans can vote which three drivers will get a five-second boost to 243 horsepower during a race - bringing the fans right into the action via smartphones, tablets or computers.
The car will also be heard, at approximately 80 decibels on top speed (a regular car reaches 70 decibel), and officials shrugged off a noise debate which made big waves in F1 after several rule changes this year led to quieter cars.
“Of course you will hear the engine. It is a sound I would consider cool and modern,” Formula E boss Alejandro Agag told German paper Die Welt.
Todt will be present for the big occasion in China, and hopes that the series will get off to a smooth start and is there to stay.
“The exam will be the first race in Beijing. We have been creating very high expectations and in life if you create expectations you must not disappoint,” he said.
“Formula E is just beginning, and it is necessary to carefully examine the first season to see what works and what does not work. As it gains popularity and as the calendar increases, new teams and new manufacturers will be crucial.”
“We believe we have created a framework to support the positive evolution of the series over many years, notably in opening gradually the competition between engine and battery suppliers.”