Formula E

[Cam]

Do you know any racing series where speed is not important?

F1?

No, seriously, but, yeah. F1? Speed isn't important there. Or sound for that matter. But that doesn't matter so long as the masses swallow the bait eh?

Racing isn't solely about speed. Winning does not necessarily equal 'fastest'. Reliability, endurance, strategy, skill, to name a few, all can overcome speed - unless you disagree?

Could you find the word 'speed' anywhere there? Or is it you projecting your wants into it?

[mrluke]

Im sorry but speed is important.

If it isnt then why do are they open wheel single seaters? Why not use something more like a prius / leaf, then at least you could sell on monday.

Alternatively they could reduce the power further so that they dont need to swap cars half way through. They have decided against this because......it would be too slow!

Maybe I am just expecting too much but i was excited by the original proposals of an open rule book with almost anything goes. Whereas we actually have a power limited spec series. Hopefully this will change next year but im not counting my chickens.

Richard Branson thinks the series will replace F1, how can they say that when they are as a fast as a family hatchback. The top rung of any branch of motorsport is the fastest. Thats what makes it the top rung.

[andylaurence]

The top rung of any branch of motorsport is the fastest. Thats what makes it the top rung.

Exactly. When a series is not looking for a rung on the ladder, then its absolute speed is not important. Absolute speed is important to F1 because it must retain its position as the pinnacle of performance.

[Andres125sx]

Richard Branson thinks the series will replace F1, how can they say that when they are as a fast as a family hatchback.

Did he say FE will replace F1 this seasson?


Most complains I see about FE are like yours, you´re trying to compare with ICEs right now, when the electric competitor didn´t even compete yet

People is ignoring this is first FIA ( ) electric single seater competition ever. Nobody has any experience with electric competition at this level, electric motors, batteries, electronic controllers, wiring.... there are lots of new things to understand, test and evolve

All this is too new to expect what you´re expecting. First they need to ensure viability. Once they have a reliable competition they will be able to make some progress, but imagine they try to compete with F1 at first try, and motors or batteries start failing because they have never been used so hard....

This is only first seasson so they MUST be conservative, specially when you think nobody has experience. Once first seasson prove cars, batteries, motors, etc. are reliable (or better, they´ve chosen the correct ones), they will be able to push everything a lot more.

But not at first try.

To compete with F1 they still need some seassons of experience, and specially next generation batteries, that will be the inflexion point. Right now this competition will be some sort of R&D department for electric racing cars, a neccessary step to compete with F1 some day in next seassons

[senja]

Help me out here, are these testing times on the National Circuit? That would make Formula E 15 seconds slower than the clio cup?

Im very much hoping to be wrong here..

Clio Cup drives on this course:

You can see in this pdf: http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/champions ... ngton-Park

Formula E on this:


And there is lap records: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donington_Park#Lap_records

Currently best time by Formula E car is: 1:31.973
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2014 ... -test.aspx

It's faster then WTCC. But I think it can go faster than the DTM

[aleks_ader]

Nice reportage.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/ ... CMP=twt_gu

[aleks_ader]

Help me out here, are these testing times on the National Circuit? That would make Formula E 15 seconds slower than the clio cup?

Im very much hoping to be wrong here..

Clio Cup drives on this course:
http://i.imgur.com/HhfCeiV.png
You can see in this pdf: http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/champions ... ngton-Park

Formula E on this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... 10.svg.png

And there is lap records: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donington_Park#Lap_records

Currently best time by Formula E car is: 1:31.973
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2014 ... -test.aspx

It's faster then WTCC. But I think it can go faster than the DTM

No i dont think so. Look on onboard footage. They never use full MotoGP track (so no Melbourne hairpin). Even then they put artificial barriers in the middle last strait. Even those barriers were removed for last test day (drivers hit it at couple occasions).

[WaikeCU]

I think it's still early to say. It's just the start of a championship in the making. Everything is brand new. The only thing that is fairly developed, is the PU. They have come to the point that it's good and fast enough to start racing competitive. It will grow in the future. The aerodynamics at the moment look very basic, but it will continue to get developed. Eventually they will start build up speed.

[Scania]

Help me out here, are these testing times on the National Circuit? That would make Formula E 15 seconds slower than the clio cup?

Im very much hoping to be wrong here..

Clio Cup drives on this course:
http://i.imgur.com/HhfCeiV.png
You can see in this pdf: http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/champions ... ngton-Park

Formula E on this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... 10.svg.png

And there is lap records: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donington_Park#Lap_records

Currently best time by Formula E car is: 1:31.973
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2014 ... -test.aspx

It's faster then WTCC. But I think it can go faster than the DTM

No i dont think so. Look on onboard footage. They never use full MotoGP track (so no Melbourne hairpin). Even then they put artificial barriers in the middle last strait. Even those barriers were removed for last test day (drivers hit it at couple occasions).

but don't forget what tire they are using, no slick for them but slip low drag tire

[senja]

Help me out here, are these testing times on the National Circuit? That would make Formula E 15 seconds slower than the clio cup?

Im very much hoping to be wrong here..

Clio Cup drives on this course:
http://i.imgur.com/HhfCeiV.png
You can see in this pdf: http://www.renaultsport.co.uk/champions ... ngton-Park

Formula E on this:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c ... 10.svg.png

And there is lap records: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donington_Park#Lap_records

Currently best time by Formula E car is: 1:31.973
http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2014 ... -test.aspx

It's faster then WTCC. But I think it can go faster than the DTM

No i dont think so. Look on onboard footage. They never use full MotoGP track (so no Melbourne hairpin). Even then they put artificial barriers in the middle last strait. Even those barriers were removed for last test day (drivers hit it at couple occasions).

I watched live timing. They are sure used full track. You can see by sector times. Last sector has about same time as second sector. It would not have been possible if the track is shorter. Because in the Clio Cup is shortened just that last sector.

[Andres125sx]

Third test right now!!

48 minutes left

Live Timing

[Andres125sx]

I watched live timing. They are sure used full track. You can see by sector times. Last sector has about same time as second sector. It would not have been possible if the track is shorter. Because in the Clio Cup is shortened just that last sector.

You´re right, the onboard lap shows they didn´t use full track, but at live timing (see the link from my previous post) they have a graph with the track showing where´s each driver, and yes, they´re going to Melbourne hairpin

[Andres125sx]

I wonder what´s doing Oriol Servia driving for Dragon

[Andres125sx]

Third test, Buemi again



1. Sebastien Buemi, e.dams-Renault, 1:31.910s
2. Jerome d’Ambrosio, China Racing, 1:32.035s
3. Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport ABT, 1:32.260s
4. Stephane Sarrazin, Venturi, 1:32.462s
5. Jaime Alguersuari, Virgin Racing, 1:32.495s
6. Nicolas Prost, e.dams-Renault, 1:32.671s
7. Bruno Senna, Mahindra Racing, 1:32.809s
8. Sam Bird, Virgin Racing, 1:32.858s
9. Daniel Abt, Audi Sport ABT, 1:32.875
10. Jarno Trulli, Trulli, 1:33.165s
11. Oriol Servia, Dragon Racing, 1:33.844s
12. Karun Chandhok, Mahindra Racing, 1:34.249s
13. Michela Cerruti, Trulli, 1:34.538s
14. Scott Speed, Andretti Autosport, 1:34.871s
15. Mike Conway, Dragon Racing, 1:35.643s
16. Katherine Legge, Amlin Aguri, 1:35.936s
17. Fabio Leimer, Amlin Aguri, 1:36.184s
18. Franck Montagny, Andretti Autosport, 1:39.568s

http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2014 ... -park.aspx

[MOWOG]

Yikes! 8 seconds difference first to last driving spec racers? And in Formula One, often the difference is 3 +/- seconds with 11 different cars from 11 different teams using 3 different engines?