Formula E: Electric Racing

Nolen Cooper, Reporter

Two cars are headed into the final corner of the race. Venturi overtakes Renault and takes the inside line, but before the corner they make contact causing both cars to go airborne and crash, leaving the race for anyone else to win.

“Formula E is definitely one of the cooler racing series around right now,” senior Ian Couch said. 

During each race, there are 11 teams each with two cars. The drivers race around short circuit courses, and the first to pass the finish line after 45 minutes plus one lap is the winner.

“It’s a great concept for a new form of racing, and it’s better because the uniqueness of all the cars being all electric,” junior Dominic Diamantini said.

Each car has a base power of 200kW, equivalent to about 270 horsepower. Special exceptions, such as attack mode and fanboost a way to give the top 3 most voted racers a boost of power from 40kw to 50 kw to for 5 seconds, give drivers more than base power. The cars can go from zero to 60mph in 2.8 seconds, and have a top speed of 174mph.

“Strategy is huge in this, and I am happy for that, because lots of people think racing is easy. There really is a lot of strategy that goes into all forms of racing,” Couch said. 

Throughout the race teams must manage the energy they use: Because when the battery runs out, there is no replacing it or recharging it. Racers can also use “fanboost” but this can only be during the second half of the race. 

 “Formula E is a great way for people to get into different types of motorsports,” senior Robby Manor said. 

Drivers can also get a boost from attack mode, this boost gives an extra 25kw equivalent to 30 horsepower for five seconds these can be obtained by driving through activation zones on the track. The activation zones are off the optimal path of driving giving the driver the option to either take the better line or get a power boost.

Formula E is currently in the offseason but will return November 23rd, the Track is TBA.