Formula E

[sonofsanta]

Anyone else following the development of Formula E, then? I reckon it shows some promise - the cars look good, and there's a lot of F1 pedigree in there. Cars are built with parts from McLaren and Williams, and there's lots of ex-F1 drivers involved, either driving (Nick Heidfeld, Jarno Trulli, Sebastian Buemi, Bruno Senna, Lucas di Grassi) or running teams (Trulli again, Alain Prost).

 

 

The only thing that concerns me is from this BBC report:

Social media will play a big role, with fans able to vote for their favourite drivers online. The drivers who get the most votes will be given a temporary power boost to use during the race.

What is this, Mario Kart? I want a racing championship, not Big Brother On Wheels. First mushroom boosts, next blue shells!

[foofighterjim]

They look like a cross between F1 and Le Mans style cars. Interesting to see McLaren being one of the early adopters. You're right about the voting part it is almost as ridiculous as the double points rule in F1 for the last race.

[pcstru]

It should be an interesting formula. The vote thing will depend on exactly how it is done - giving a power boost for a few seconds a lap wouldn't much upset the main running and might make it more of a spectacle. With closely matched cars overtaking becomes very difficult (unless you are like some of the folks I come across in iRacing - who leave only two choices, let them barge pass or have a crash).

[synaesthesia]

Been following this from the get-go with interest. I don't like the silly voting idea because groups of people are utterly stupid with nearly no exceptions. I love the cars and the tech though. The vast majority of the technology is directly from F1.

[sonofsanta]

(unless you are like some of the folks I come across in iRacing - who leave only two choices, let them barge pass or have a crash.

 

I believe that manouevre is called "the Maldonado".

[sted]

Been following this from the get-go with interest. I don't like the silly voting idea because groups of people are utterly stupid with nearly no exceptions. I love the cars and the tech though. The vast majority of the technology is directly from F1.

 

not to mention whats to stop a team creating loads of twitter accounts and then just flooding twitter with loads of comments? what a silly idea

[CAM]

Wonder where in London they will hold this?

[synaesthesia]

I think they mentioned the other day when they did the promo run past Buck Palace. They said it wouldn't be there but it would be.... (forgotten)

[DrPerceptron]

That picture can't be a photo... surely?

 

London race is around/near Battersea isn't it?

[synaesthesia]

Yes that's a photo, that's luca digrassi. Battersea does ring a bell.

[sonofsanta]

London race is around/near Battersea isn't it?

 

Seems so: Formula E: London electric Grand Prix announced | Auto Express

 

Did you mean the picture in post #1? That's from the test days last year I think, when Luca di Grassi was the official test driver (before he quit so he could join a team).

 

Kind of eerie how quiet they are:

[synaesthesia]

Funny really, I always wanted them to run an F1 race (with the old engines) through Dartford tunnel for some reason

[sted]

Funny really, I always wanted them to run an F1 race (with the old engines) through Dartford tunnel for some reason

 

toll booths and pit stops lol one way of making overtaking easier

[synaesthesia]

Hah! Was more about the noise

 

Ala :

 

(Why they put that stupid soundtrack over the end I'll never know. There's no better music for the ears than that sound. Except perhaps when they start playing Queen with the engines -

.) Edited July 22, 2014 by synaesthesia

[sonofsanta]

Hah! Was more about the noise

 

Ala :

 

By 'eck that's a lovely old racket that is, hearing that old V8 again.

[synaesthesia]

It's a beautiful sound. I've heard everything from the V10 era forwards (including the ferrari V12s) and they were some of my favourites. The free Renault events at Silverstone were great for that, they'd bring on the Renault 3.5 races and you think "blimey, they're loud". Then in the middle of the race, even with the whole field in front of you revving like mad, you hear something start. That something was FAR louder than ALL of those 3.5l beasts put together, you felt it from half way around the circuit. That something was the Renault F1 starting up for it's presentation/demo engine fireup. I remember sprinting from the end of the start straight to the central village as soon as it happened as I knew they were going to make it sing the French National Anthem Some plonkers were wearing ear protectors!

 

 

What I wouldn't give to hear that in a tunnel.

[Dan_ATR]

I wish I could be one of those drivers driving them

 

That BBC video shows the E-car at the garage I used at donington park

 

o well.... Karting at Thruxton on the 2nd 45min GP with 18 karts.

[TheScarfedOne]

This does look awesome, can't wait to see it

[DrPerceptron]

Yes that's a photo, that's luca digrassi.

 

I recognised the helmet... what confused me more was the steering wheel... but I'm starting to think it's an odd perspective in the middle of a corner...

[6Foot2]

[sted]

dull. the show pn itv4 was just soooooooooo much waffle before the race glad i watched it recorded 50 odd mins of pointless waffle. the race was boring baring the end think ill stick with v8's and btcc think id rather watch formula ford.

[laserblazer]

ITV4 commentary was dire but it's nice to see they can withstand a knock or two, although Bruno's wheel seem to come off quite easily. I bet Heidfeld as he did his triple somersault with twist was thinking "at least it's not going up in a ball of fire". It was pretty obvious there was little wrong with him as he thundered across the track after Prost. I expected some fisticuffs.

[synaesthesia]

It was crap. The highlight was the crash, and even that didn't prompt any excitement afterwards as both drivers apologised and laughed about it.

[sonofsanta]

I'm not sure how much was "boring formula" and how much was "boring circuit" because by the gods, the layout on those Beijing streets was dull. I'll give it another race to find out, but I'm not bothering with the first hour of ITV4's coverage again.

 

The pit stops were hilarious though. "Ok, quick, everyone drive into these gazebos and hop into the next car!" For a series meant to promote electric cars, having to have a second car on hand because the battery life is so crap isn't really sending the right message, is it?

[teejay]

The coverage was pretty dire, the cars themselves sound rubbish and are too slow. However, this is the start with a standard pre-manufactured car, from next year teams will be able to design their own car and there should be big developments in the power train and batteries, plus plans to build wireless charging into the road which will improve things.

If the series can last a few years whilst developing into something decent we could see some real innovation coming through, which will hugely benefit electric road cars.

They could still do with improving the sound, maybe built in amp and speakers with a V8 engine sample ;-)