Lower than three months separated the season finale in London from the beginning of Formula E pre-season testing in Valencia last week and the start of a brand new marketing campaign.
It was occasions off the monitor that proved to be the primary speaking level from the check on the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Spain following a battery hearth which forged the check doubtful. As soon as operating did ultimately resume it was a well-known workforce on the head of the instances, with loads of different sub-plots all through the grid.
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With simply over two months till the season will get underway in Mexico Metropolis, right here’s what we discovered from pre-season testing in Valencia:
No room for complacency with battery security
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A hearth on Tuesday brought on important disruption to pre-season testing
The upcoming season will mark 10 years for the reason that all-electric championship was first launched, and remarkably throughout that point there was little in the best way of dramatic battery failures.
That every one modified on Tuesday afternoon in Valencia, although, following a small explosion and subsequent hearth within the storage of battery provider WAE (previously often called Williams Superior Engineering). The paddock was evacuated, and one individual taken to hospital for precautionary checks, whereas operating was postponed indefinitely in order that an investigation into the incident could possibly be carried out by the FIA and WAE.
The investigation found that whereas the battery – taken from the DS Penske of Robert Shwartzman’s automotive after it had come to a cease on monitor – was “being manually inspected by the battery single provider workforce, there was an arc flash and a few sparking”.
It confirmed after assessing all different energy provides that “not one of the batteries current the identical sort of signs because the unit that failed”, with the identical specification of battery having been utilized in all vehicles at each race final season.
Glad with the findings, testing resumed on Thursday afternoon and throughout Friday with energy output restricted to 300kW as a security precaution. Regardless of shedding a scheduled day and a half, the precise monitor time was solely diminished by half-hour though in actuality it was barely extra as groups wanted to recharge vehicles in the course of the practically 10-hour session on Friday.
NEWS: How Mahindra rose from the ashes after Formula E’s Valencia battery fire
Following the check, all batteries shall be returned to WAE previous to the Mexico Metropolis E-Prix in January, which though initially deliberate earlier than the incident will little doubt tackle better significance after the occasions of final week. The failure in Valencia has acted as a well timed reminder that because the all-electric championship pushes the boundaries of battery know-how, security should stay a primary precedence.
Jaguar’s powertrain stays the category of the sector
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Jaguar head into the season-opening weekend with their heads up after dominating testing
Jake Dennis could have gained the 2022-23 Formulation E title with the assistance of Porsche energy aboard his Andretti World machine, however over the second half of the season Jaguar and its buyer outfit Envision got here to the fore because the bundle to beat.
That sturdy kind from the Massive Cats continued into pre-season testing, with Mitch Evans quickest on Tuesday and Thursday earlier than Nick Cassidy, who has joined his fellow Kiwi within the manufacturing unit Jaguar fold after shifting from Envision, set the tempo on Friday.
Robin Frijns made it three Jaguar-powered vehicles inside the highest 4 on the ultimate day, the Dutchman having changed Cassidy at Envision, whereas his team-mate Sebastien Buemi accomplished probably the most laps throughout Friday’s operating with 127.
Earlier within the day, Frijns had additionally headed the simulation race from Evans, signifying the British producer’s sturdy kind regardless of Jaguar workforce boss James Barclay warning towards complacency.
“I feel in motorsport generally, and notably Formulation E, you possibly can in a short time be silly and we shouldn’t take something as a right,” he mentioned. “The standard of the competitors right here in Formulation E is implausible, however I feel what you possibly can say is our base bundle, evaluate it to final yr means we begin with a superb baseline.”
With many facets of the Gen3 vehicles homologated this season the formbook from final time period is more likely to stay largely the identical, no less than initially. As ever testing instances ought to be taken with a pinch of salt, particularly from an occasion the place operating was compromised for everybody, even when your complete area was lined by lower than 0.7s on the ultimate day. Even so, for Jaguar’s rivals there have been ominous indicators.
De Vries up towards it on Formulation E return
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He could also be a returning champion, however issues aren’t going De Vries’ manner to this point
Nyck de Vries’s return to Formulation E couldn’t have been in harder circumstances. The Dutchman had not pushed a Gen3 machine for greater than a yr after a one-off check session previous to his fleeting AlphaTauri Formulation 1 transfer, which means each lap in testing could be essential.
After ending backside of the order in Tuesday’s opening session as he obtained again on top of things, disaster struck the Mahindra squad amidst the battery fire incident, having been positioned subsequent door to the WAE storage.
The workforce’s IT tools was put out of motion, as was de Vries’s automotive, leaving the squad with just one for the rest of the check. Edoardo Mortara accomplished the operating on Thursday earlier than de Vries had sole use of the automotive on Friday, registering 100 laps. The truth that the workforce had been in a position to proceed in any respect was a testomony to their efforts. “I’m tremendous proud, nobody has mentioned ‘okay we won’t handle’ as a result of it was actually unhealthy shock after unhealthy shock,” mentioned workforce boss Frederic Bertrand.
Mahindra may also be “compensated” for its misplaced operating in Valencia and can be capable of run no less than one automotive at a non-public check between now and the season-opener in Mexico. For a workforce which struggled within the first yr of the Gen3 machine after being delayed with its growth, as a lot monitor time as attainable shall be wanted whether it is to climb the sector this season.
Bertrand added: “It’ll by no means be nearly as good as being with everybody, it’s going to by no means be as environment friendly, it’s going to by no means give us the identical sort of knowledge. However okay, that’s a part of the sport, we’ll lose somewhat bit.”
Jury nonetheless out on fast-charging pitstops
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Quick charging pit stops are set to be launched this yr, however the jury stays undecided on the prospect
One new facet set to be launched this season is the addition of fast-charging pitstops, that are due for use at sure races for the primary time in 2024. Because the title suggests, the idea is to fast-charge the vehicles by way of pitstops in a bid so as to add a brand new strategic aspect to races.
The know-how was examined in Valencia as a part of an ongoing course of, however as a result of battery hearth earlier within the week this was restricted. Groups solely simulated the process throughout Friday’s mock race, remaining stationary for roughly 30 seconds earlier than rejoining, whereas it was used throughout testing itself however at a diminished voltage.
Having already been delayed final season on account of a scarcity of infrastructure and knowledge, questions stay about whether or not the know-how shall be prepared forward of this marketing campaign regardless of having been written into the present laws.
“We haven’t achieved a lot testing on it,” mentioned Andretti World workforce supervisor Roger Griffiths. “We simulated I suppose the actions of doing the assault cost simply to get an understanding of the strategic aspect. I feel what’s most likely not that well-known is there are various facets to the assault cost which we’ve to tick the packing containers on. There’s the know-how, is it strong, is it dependable, is it going to operate each single time? There’s the sporting aspect, how are the laws going to work, is it going to work effectively on an extended monitor, is it going to work effectively on a brief monitor?
“There’s loads to be achieved, I must say it’s most likely come somewhat later than we might have been tremendous comfy with.”
2024 calendar but to be finalised
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Undecided venues, tracks set to be modified. There’s a distinct lack of readability within the present calendar
Though the 2023-24 calendar was introduced earlier this month following the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council assembly, there stay some unknowns forward of the brand new season.
The vacation spot of the race in Rome on 13-14 April has but to be determined, with representatives from Misano and Vallelunga having held talks with Formulation E because the championship eyes races on extra conventional circuits. However there stays a risk that the Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR website, used since 2018, might nonetheless maintain the race however with a brand new format higher suited to Gen3 machines.
Autosport understands that the format of the Tempelhof Airport Avenue Circuit for the Berlin E-Prix can be set to be utterly revised in an try to supply higher racing given the quicker, extra aero-draggy Gen3 machines.
Reviews in native media additionally counsel that the Jakarta race, which was dropped, is searching for to return to the calendar, presumably as early as this season with talks ongoing and which might add to the present 16-race schedule.
Whereas the format for the first-ever Tokyo E-Prix was unveiled throughout testing which options an 18-turn, 2.582km road circuit surrounding the Tokyo Worldwide Exhibition Centre.
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Nick Cassidy, who has joined the manufacturing unit Jaguar fold after shifting from Envision, set the tempo on Friday