The German had been in the top 10 all weekend and headed into the duels in qualifying, losing out to Envision Racing’s Nick Cassidy, but still secured sixth place on the grid.

The Porsche car has been a powerhouse in fuel efficiency so far this season, and appeared to be on track for another win with a conservative strategy, giving up a place to Sebastien Buemi (Envision Racing) from the line.

However, only halfway through the first lap, Wehrlein made a mistake at Turn 9 and misjudged his braking point, sliding straight into Buemi’s car and taking them both out of the race; Wehrlein ended up with a broken suspension, while the Swiss recovered impressively to fifth place at the checkered flag.

Read also:Formula E is a Key Platform for Electrification Development at DS Automobiles

Mea Culpa

“It was a painful day because anything was possible,” said the Porsche flag-bearer. “It was my fault and a clear mistake on my part. I braked too late and too hard, I locked the wheels, I just couldn’t avoid the collision.”

“I apologize and I’m sorry for the team and my crew. We win together and lose together and in Sao Paulo we will attack again.”

Wehrlein had finished in the top four during the previous races, which leaves him a good stretch in first place despite not scoring in Cape Town.

With Jake Dennis in 13th place in the race, the German accumulates an 18-point lead with the Brazilian E-Prix coming up on March 25 in the city of Sao Paulo.

Penalty and Future Focus

It should be noted that, in addition to not scoring points in South Africa, Wehrlein will start three places behind and with a two-point penalty. “I still don’t have my eyes on the title,” says the Porsche driver. “It’s very early in the season and it’s the individual results and the races that count for me at the moment.

He assured that Cape Town did not represent a considerable defeat due to the fact that his nearest rival failed to achieve a significant place in the final table.

The post Pascal Wehrlein Breaks Silence on Cape Town Crash appeared first on Green Racing News.

The company is described as an impressive laboratory in which manufacturers conduct tests with the aim of accelerating their electrification processes also in the field of their urban models outside the sporting competition.

DS, one of the pioneering teams, describes Formula E as a “true open-air laboratory“, helping to accelerate innovation in terms of both hardware and software in the electric vehicles it sells to the public.

Read also:Formula E to Participate at the “Latam Mobility & Net Zero Day Brazil 2023”

High Innovation

The technology applied in Formula E carries over and powers the ultra-high-performance powertrains, which operate at an efficiency of more than 97%, as well as the cutting-edge software that provides the “brains” for its Gen3 car: the DS E-TENSE FE23.

The company points out that this constitutes a major source of technology transfer that can be achieved at relatively manageable costs compared to the production of physical parts.

This is particularly the case with what can be learned during a season and beyond when it comes to optimizing regenerative braking.

It is important to be fast to win in Formula E, but also to recover energy when braking as efficiently as possible. To achieve this, the engineers at DS Automobiles‘ competition arm design algorithms that optimize this important element of competition.

In that sense, everything DS Performance learns about software through its Formula E campaign is useful knowledge for the development teams working on DS Automobiles’ on-road E-TENSE models.

Technological Reference

The DS 7 E-TENSE 4×4 360 uses energy recovery software that comes directly from Formula E. This is even more efficient than the system used on previous models and optimizes management by analyzing the pressure exerted on the brake pedal to offer unprecedented braking characteristics.

“Motorsport is a vital research and development tool,” says Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance Director. “That’s why DS Automobiles chose the ABB FIA Formula E FIA World Championship to electrify its range.”

“The experience accumulated over many seasons was and continues to be very useful for the development of today’s and tomorrow’s road cars. A clear example of this is energy recovery under braking, which is studied and pushed to the limit in Formula E, then transferred to all our electric road car models,” he added.

DS is one of the most decorated outfits in the history of Formula E. Two double titles, a points record and 16 victories, most recently at the hands of Jean-Eric Vergne in Hyderabad, place it among the series’ benchmarks.

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Nick Cassidy and Sebastien Buemi (Envision Racing) are showing what the Jaguar propulsion system can do, as their team is in second place in the team standings, but Jaguar itself, with Sam Bird and Mitch Evans at the wheel, have not lived up to expectations.

When it looked all set for a win in Hyderabad, India, with Evans starting fourth in the standings, Bird crashed heavily in one of the fastest parts of the track: he hit the Maserati MSG Racing machine of Edoardo Mortara. It was such a heavy impact that his team was unable to repair it in time for the race leaving another race weekend without points.

Unmotivated

On the current state of the team, Bird stated that “the guys are really down and I’m down. I just want a good result again, I feel I deserve it, but it’s been a long time coming. I’m doing well, but I don’t have much to show for it.”

“The team worked very hard. We were well prepared and invested a lot and we are always fast. We’re in the top three or four every time we go out on the track. When they take that away from us, it’s really complicated,” he added.

In addition to not being able to take to the track in India, Bird faces a penalty for the Sao Paulo E-Prix, in which he will suffer a five-place drop on the starting grid.

Read also:Formula E Adds New Electricity Industry Partner

Not Throwing the Towel in

“It was a disappointing setback for my championship aspirations,” Evans said. “We know we have an incredibly fast car, but I couldn’t get the points I think the team deserved. We’ll try again in Sao Paulo.”

For his part, James Barclay, Jaguar‘s director, also regretted the performance in Hyderabad, but assures that they will get out of the current slump. “As a team, we have already shown that we can prepare the cars for the race even in difficult conditions. But with all that damage, that was simply impossible.”

“We proved that the car is great, it’s fast. Luck will be on our side again, we just have to keep it up,” he assured.

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Southwire becomes the official supplier of the competition, making available its vast electricity transmission and distribution capacity, which reaches millions of people around the world.

Southwire’s long-standing commitment to sustainability has been evident throughout its history, with the company committed to developing innovative systems and solutions.

Related content:NIO 333 Aims to Finish Among the Top 10 Formula E Teams

Green Operations

To date, Southwire has focused on exercising environmental stewardship and improving the well-being of its communities through its core principles of Grow Green, Live Well, Give Back, Do the Right Thing and Build Value.

“At Southwire, we are at the forefront of grid modernization planning and distributed energy system optimization,” said Rich Stinson, the company’s president and CEO.

“We understand the complexities around building a sustainable EV charging infrastructure where energy resiliency is critical, and we will continue to provide valuable electrical solutions,” he added.

For his part, Matt Scammell, Commercial Director of Formula E, expressed his satisfaction with the partnership by highlighting Southwire’s extensive experience in key areas of the electric industry, which will help the championship deliver world-class events for fans.

“With clear and proven work around environmental sustainability and local social initiatives, they are also clearly aligned with Formula E’s mission of improving sustainable human progress,” he said.

Along those same lines, Burt Fealing, Southwire’s Executive VP, General Counsel and Chief Sustainability Officer, noted that the company’s focus on environmental, social and governance issues over the past two decades has positioned them has positioned them as a leader in sustainability and allows them to partner with Formula E.

“Our products, solutions and drive for innovation are aligned with Formula E’s vision to accelerate the shift to an electric future,” he said.

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In this case, the NIO 333 driver, Dan Ticktum made an assessment of his route in the competition that took place last February 25. “It’s a very bumpy, fast and challenging circuit. Even on one lap in qualifying, but for 30 laps in a row, trying to manage the energy and everything else, people trying to stall you. It was pretty tough.”

The racer achieved sixth place and a career-best finish around the South African street circuit and is currently going through his second year in the all-electric championship.

With the pace of the car, especially in the qualifying stage, being very fast, NIO has aimed to finish inside the top 10 to improve on its records from season number 8.

“I think that’s probably the most I’ve focused on for a long time given,” Ticktum joked after securing a sixth-place finish and collecting eight points.

After qualifying ninth for the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix, Ticktum managed to navigate the grid, but it wasn’t easy.

Related content:Vergne Speaks Out after Daring Maneuver to Snatch Cape Town E-Prix

Adapting

After the circuit, Ticktum explained how drivers should take care of their new sustainable Hankook tires. “We still have to experience the tire going off in practice. We don’t have very long practice sessions, so as the tire gets hotter, it loses grip, just like any other formula series.”

He noted that in high-speed corners where drivers bottom out in the middle with big snaps it’s hard to know how much to push and how much to let the tire let go.

With Sergio Sette Camara as a teammate at NIO, who has also had good results with a fifth-place finish in India, the team has good feelings about this debut of the Gen3 era.

“I think this year is definitely a step forward in terms of team performance,” said NIO Director Alex Hui. “We still lack resources and procedures in some areas, which we try to do as much as we can. But this year, the package is more or less frozen,” he added.

He expressed motivation that during this season and next season, the big manufacturers will be able to do more development with the current package, although he acknowledged that the development rate for NIO as a smaller team will be more limited.

The post NIO 333 Aims to Finish Among the Top 10 Formula E Teams appeared first on Green Racing News.

The World Championship endorsed by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) presented its Season 8 balance sheet,“Racing For Better Futures”,which details the most impactful year to date in terms of emissions reduction.

The highlight of Season 8 was the launch of the Gen3 at Monaco, considered by fans to be the spiritual home of motorsport. It is the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric racing car ever built.

Related content: Formula E Strengthens Ties with DHL to Boost Sustainable Operations

Car Benefits

The single-seater is powered by electric motors that are substantially more efficient than internal combustion engines (ICE), which convert more than 95% of the electrical energy compared to approximately 40% in the high-efficiency ICEs of other motorsports.

In addition, the Gen3 has been compared to a “power plant on wheels” that produces more than 40 % of the energy it consumes in a race through regenerative braking.

According to Formula E, the Gen3 is the first formula car aligned with cycle thinking with a clear path to second life and end of life for all tires, broken parts and battery cells.

It is the first formula car to use recycled flax and carbon fiber in the body construction and all carbon fiber waste is reused for new applications. Natural rubber and recycled fibers make up 26% of new tires that are fully recycled after racing.

Achievements

The new report highlights more key social projects during the 2021-2022 period, including ongoing work through the charity partnership with UNICEF and its Safe and Healthy Environment Fund; FIA Girls on Track activations; and legacy projects at race venues that directly benefit the communities where races are held.

Key initiatives and commitments that benefit the planet are also highlighted, with an ongoing commitment to maintaining the championship’s net zero carbon status from the outset.

Formula E was the first sport in the world to achieve such status and last season announced a 24% emissions reduction in the season 5 baseline, well above the science-based target of a 45% reduction by 2030.

The competition was also independently ranked and recognized as the world’s most sustainable sport by Global Sustainability Benchmark in Sports (GSBS), in addition to maintaining the International Standard for Sustainable Events (ISO 20121) and the FIA’s three-star level of environmental accreditation.

The post Formula E Introduces Significant Advances in Sustainability Report appeared first on Green Racing News.

“It was close. But there are some risks I’m willing to take and some I’m not. I think in the championship view, I want to take the points for second place rather than a crash,” he said.

The move made by da Costa is one of the best the ABB FIA Formula E ABB World Championship has ever seen, with the driver pushing his Porsche into first place through the intense combinations of Turns 7, 8 and 9 that had already seen three crashes over the weekend.

Related content: Formula E Strengthens Technical and Sporting Team

Surprised by the Maneuver

Such was the Porsche racer’s audacity, Vergne also confessed that he didn’t see it in his mirrors before the move. “I really didn’t see it coming. So, well done to him. He used that to his advantage. I’m a little frustrated, of course.”

However, he assured that at the end of the championship he will be happy with the result of the race held in South African territory. “Second place is good. These are important points we have gained in the fight for the championship.”

Vergne, who won Round 4 in Hyderabad earlier this month, remains third in the Drivers’ standings after a slow start to Season 9.

With Pascal Wehrlein on 80 points after a dominant start to the new Gen3 season and Jake Dennis on 62 points after a win in Mexico and two second-place finishes in the Diriyah double-header, Vergne remains third, but moves from 31 points post-Hyderabad to 50 units after Cape Town.

Porsche‘s Wehrlein, failed to finish the South African race after crashing into the rear of Sebastien Buemi’s Envision Racing on the first lap. Dennis also recorded another fatal finish in his Andretti Avalanche after receiving a drive-through penalty for “failing to respect minimum tire pressure.”

The Briton is still clinging on to second place in the Drivers’ World Championship despite being unable to score points since Diriyah.

The post Vergne Speaks Out after Daring Maneuver to Snatch Cape Town E-Prix appeared first on Green Racing News.

Gass has extensive experience in various motorsport championships and is very familiar with Formula E. In his previous position as Head of Audi Motorsport, Gass was responsible for the German manufacturer’s successful entry into the championship, with highlights including Audi being crowned co-champion of the 2017/2018 season.

 As part of his new duties, Gass will play a key role alongside Alberto Longo working in partnership with the FIA on sporting and technical matters to ensure continued growth and the fulfillment of long-term goals and visions.

In addition, he will focus on maintaining the high standards of technical development that the FIA and Formula E have kept since inception, and will work with the governing body and other stakeholders to implement a well-defined plan for the future.

Related content: Cassidy: “We Should Have Won That Race”

A Major Addition

 On Gass’ appointment, Formula E CEO Jamie Reigle explained that in working together with the FIA they defined a clear roadmap for the sport.

“The question is: how does the technology, the race car and adjacent technologies, how does the charge serve the vision of the sport? We needed someone with credibility there who could really drive that agenda for us in partnership with the FIA and make sure we are delivering an outstanding product,” he stressed.

Although only five rounds have passed in Season 9 and the Gen3 era, work is already underway for the championship’s Gen4, which will be introduced starting in Season 13.

Having a figure who can liaise with the FIA, teams and manufacturers, and see how potential changes could affect the sporting side, the purpose of the championship and the spectacle.

 “The timing is needed. Very clearly, as we looked toward the end of the decade, we knew we needed someone strong to lead that area for Formula E and advise the FIA. We also wanted someone who had experience working with manufacturers,” Reigle said of Gass’ arrival.

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Cassidy was third on the grid for the inaugural E-Prix in South Africa, and with a good start, he held on to the front of the pack. Once the top two, Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz and Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther in second, took the ATTACK MODE, Cassidy led a race for the first time in the exciting new Gen3 era.

“I have to leave with a smile,” Cassidy said after the E-Prix, won by TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix da Costa in a spectacular last-lap overtake. “Any time you get third place in Formula E, it’s a good day.”

Related content: What FIA ETCR Left Behind for the 2022 Season

The Goal is the Top

Despite his statements Cassidy acknowledged that there was a chance of a first place finish. When leading the race, with more than half the distance completed, Guenther made contact with the wall and was forced to stop with damage to his Maserati’s suspension.

Cassidy took his final ATTACK MODE just before, but a full yellow flag was displayed for Guenther’s broken Maserati and limited the use of power.

“Ultimately, part of me feels like we should have won that race,” continued the Envision driver. “We had some issues that we were struggling with, and the yellow field really hurt us as well. That’s the luck of the draw and how that changes the energy of the race, but that’s motorsport, and I have to be happy.”

Without going into detail about the problems that plagued his race, Cassidy also got into a last-lap tangle with Julius Baer Pole Position holder Fenestraz. The two drivers, fighting for the final podium spot, collided just minutes before the checkered flag, with Fenestraz touching the wall and, as a result, qualifying last.

Cassidy took third place and secured his sixth Formula E podium since his debut at the 2021 Diriyah E-Prix.

The post Cassidy: “We Should Have Won That Race” appeared first on Green Racing News.

Porsche’s dominance was undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend, with a stellar Antonio Felix da Costa bringing out all his class to win the race.

The German team once again found itself on the top step of the podium, with Porsche powertrains now responsible for four of the five victories so far this season. However, it was not championship leader Pascal Wehrlein who shone.

The Formula E Season 6 Champion, who joined the iconic manufacturer for the new generation of the all-electric championship, was very emotional as he crossed the finish line in first place.

Another win for Porsche this season puts them on 126 championship points in the Team Standings, with second place Envision Racing on 84 points, a whopping 42 points difference just five races into the season.

Related content:Antonio Félix da Costa: “Joining Formula E is the Best Decision of my Life”

Formula E’s Fastest Lap

Heading into the Cape Town E-Prix weekend, it was no secret that this 2.921 km street circuit would be fast. However, Nissan‘s Sacha Fenestraz took things to another level when he broke a championship record and set the fastest lap ever.

With an average speed of 154.987 km/h, the French-Argentinean driver stormed to his first Julius Baer Pole Position, beating Maserati MSG Racing’s Maximilian Guenther in the Duel Final. He also became the second youngest pole sitter in Formula E history and earned Nissan its first pole since season 7 at Puebla.

On the other side, NIO 333 has entered the GEN3 era with its most competitive package in several seasons. With a strong lineup of Dan Ticktum and Sergio Sette Camara, they are targeting eighth place in the standings.

ATTACK MODE Can Still Grab You

Since the introduction of the ATTACK MODE in season 5, it remains a hugely tactical part of racing. The mandatory power-up for all drivers, it is activated by driving over three sensors on the marked surface of the track.

Miss just one of them, and you must exit the racing line on the next lap and try again.

You would think that with five seasons of practice, drivers would be able to master ATTACK MODE every time. However, it is still a turning point within racing.

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