Photo: Electric GT World Series
There are plenty of wrong things with the Formula E, but even so, it feels like it's a much more honest championship than the Formula One it tries to emulate. However, the limited power of the cars and the middle-race swapping of cars have brought the series plenty of critics.
For a first attempt at what a lot of people must have viewed (maybe still do) as a sacrilege, we'd say the Formula E - now in its second year running - has done a terrific job. It's brought racing - silent, emissions-free racing, that is - into the hearts of various cities around the world and it may have even convinced a few sceptics that there is a future to electrified motorsport.
For 2017, the Formula E will finally get some backup (or someone to share the flak with) in the form of the newly announced Electric GT World Series. Ten teams will be lining up for the first race set to take place at the start of next year, and in true touring fashion, they will be using slightly modified production vehicles.
Can you think of an electric production model that would tick all the boxes required for high-speed racing around a track? Something that can accelerate really hard, has a sufficiently long range so that it won't need swapping cars halfway through the race, and that can also go pretty fast?
Well, you're probably thinking about the Tesla Model S, and you'd be right, but what model in particular? Most of us would go for the most powerful one (which, by the time the series starts, might very well be the P100D), but the organizers thought differently.
For the first season, all teams will be using Tesla Model S P85+, a discontinued version of the well-known electric sedan. Asked about this decision, Agustin Payá, Technical Director for Electric GT Holdings told Transport Evolved, “It is the best zero emissions car on the road capable of racing on world class circuits in the GT category. In its production version it accelerates faster and provides better lap times than many combustion GT cars. We chose the Tesla Model S simply because it is one of the best cars ever made, and certainly one of the best 100% electric cars. We are convinced that sharing its impressive circuit racing potential will help to inspire many people about sustainable transport.”
The car is already testing in Spain, and judging from the image above, it's going to look spectacular, with flared arches and huge wing at the back, just like a proper touring competition car should. The Model S will probably go through a severe diet process as weight is likely to be its number one foe. Other than that, the performance figures stack up nicely: 310 kW and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm).
“We have been testing the car already on the Barcelona Catalunya F1 Circuit as well as the legendary Madrid Jarama circuit, both of which are being used as test and operations centers,” Agustin Payá says. “The car’s handling is sensational. No-one could imagine that the production version of this 100% electric car would be capable of handling the circuit so well and go so fast and so far.”
Provided other manufacturers come up with suitable production cars, the Electric GT World Series could very easily turn into a true battlefield where car makers from around the world try to demonstrate their superiority. The gauntlet has been thrown; now it's up to the established brands to join in and give Tesla a run for its money with their own EVs. It will be interesting to see who will be the first to dare and do that.
For 2017, the Formula E will finally get some backup (or someone to share the flak with) in the form of the newly announced Electric GT World Series. Ten teams will be lining up for the first race set to take place at the start of next year, and in true touring fashion, they will be using slightly modified production vehicles.
Can you think of an electric production model that would tick all the boxes required for high-speed racing around a track? Something that can accelerate really hard, has a sufficiently long range so that it won't need swapping cars halfway through the race, and that can also go pretty fast?
Well, you're probably thinking about the Tesla Model S, and you'd be right, but what model in particular? Most of us would go for the most powerful one (which, by the time the series starts, might very well be the P100D), but the organizers thought differently.
For the first season, all teams will be using Tesla Model S P85+, a discontinued version of the well-known electric sedan. Asked about this decision, Agustin Payá, Technical Director for Electric GT Holdings told Transport Evolved, “It is the best zero emissions car on the road capable of racing on world class circuits in the GT category. In its production version it accelerates faster and provides better lap times than many combustion GT cars. We chose the Tesla Model S simply because it is one of the best cars ever made, and certainly one of the best 100% electric cars. We are convinced that sharing its impressive circuit racing potential will help to inspire many people about sustainable transport.”
The car is already testing in Spain, and judging from the image above, it's going to look spectacular, with flared arches and huge wing at the back, just like a proper touring competition car should. The Model S will probably go through a severe diet process as weight is likely to be its number one foe. Other than that, the performance figures stack up nicely: 310 kW and 443 lb-ft (600 Nm).
“We have been testing the car already on the Barcelona Catalunya F1 Circuit as well as the legendary Madrid Jarama circuit, both of which are being used as test and operations centers,” Agustin Payá says. “The car’s handling is sensational. No-one could imagine that the production version of this 100% electric car would be capable of handling the circuit so well and go so fast and so far.”
Provided other manufacturers come up with suitable production cars, the Electric GT World Series could very easily turn into a true battlefield where car makers from around the world try to demonstrate their superiority. The gauntlet has been thrown; now it's up to the established brands to join in and give Tesla a run for its money with their own EVs. It will be interesting to see who will be the first to dare and do that.
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