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Let’s Hear It For Electric Motorsport

Topics: Formula E

Let’s Hear It For Electric Motorsport

Geoff Maxted
DriveWrite
January 8, 2014

Throw away those lug-plugs and discard the comedy ear muffs because Formula E's new fully-electric race car, the Spark-Renault SRT-01E, has made its first ever public demonstration yesterday. Former Formula One driver Lucas di Grassi entertained the crowds with a high-speed display around the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas.

The SRT-01E single-seater is capable of speeds in excess of 150mph with zero emissions and gave the media and onlookers their first chance to see and ‘hear’ the cars that will compete in the new FIA Formula E Championship - the world's first fully-electric racing series that begins in September.

Formula E is a new FIA Championship which will compete on 10 city-centre circuits around the globe. Ten teams, each with two drivers, will go head-to-head to create a unique and exciting racing series designed to appeal to a new generation of motorsport fan, whilst accelerating the electric vehicle market and promoting sustainability etc, etc.

Unveiled in September last year, the Formula E car has been designed and built by French-based Spark Racing Technology together with a consortium of the leading names in motorsport including Dallara (chassis), Williams (battery design), McLaren (powertrain & electronics), Renault (overall system integration) and Michelin (tyres).

2014 is going to be a very big year for Formula E with the championship starting in September and there will apparently be many events over the coming months to promote what the organisers believe is the future of motorsport. Make up your own mind about that. You can find out more and watch the video here.