This will be the first competitive running for EGT’s Tesla Model S P100Ds, with the Le Castellet circuit launching the championship, which, pending FIA approval, continues in January, followed by Portugal (March), Italy (April), Germany (May), Belgium (June), The Netherlands (July), and the U.K. (September), before finishing in Spain (October).

Each ‘Electric Grand Prix’ (EGP) round will be a one-day event consisting of two races, with the grids for the first decided during a 60-minute qualifying session.

With plenty of action both on and off the track, the opening event will be a weekend long festival celebrating technology, sustainability and innovation and marks the beginning of ‘The Age of Light’.

The dates for the rest of the championship are to be finalised over the next few months, as the P100D continues to be developed and preparations for the inaugural campaign entering the final stages.

Electric GT Championship CEO, Mark Gemmell, said: “We are very happy that Paul Ricard will host the first two Electric Grand Prix events in November. They have demonstrated a tremendous amount of enthusiasm for the championship and it will be a fantastic festival for sustainability that fans are certain to enjoy. We are working on the official dates for the rest of the campaign and are confident of getting these finalised over the coming months.”

About Electric GT Championship – New zero-emissions motorsport category promoting sustainable mobility

The championship was announced on 9 March 2016, with the Tesla Model S P100D chosen for the first season, which will get underway in 2018. There will be 20 international drivers, both male and female, racing for 10 professional teams in identical Tesla Model S machines equipped with the latest OMP safety equipment and running on bespoke Pirelli tyres.

Rounds will consist of a 20-minute practice session, a 60-minute qualifying heat, a day race (60km) and a dusk race (60km). Each round will be a weekend-long festival of technology and innovation for sustainability, in and around the circuits. Fans will be able to stream races via Periscope, Twitch and YouTube, as well as interact directly with the teams using social media platforms.

Season One

2017
November 25-26 – France, Paul Ricard (Rounds 1 & 2)

2018
January – TBA
March – Portugal
April – Italy
May – Germany
June – Belgium
July – The Netherlands
September – UK
October – Spain

World Endurance Championship LMP1 racer Webb and touring car driver Kimiläinen form the 12th and 13th confirmed entrants for the inaugural EGT season, which will utilise the Tesla Model S P100D.

The duo join other EGT Drivers’ Club members; Stefan Wilson, Vicky Piria, Dani Clos, Leilani Munter, Tom Coronel, Alice Powell, Tom Onslow-Cole, Ricardo Teixeira, Jeroen Bleekemolen, Kevin Ceccon and Stephen Cox, in entering the ‘Age of Light’, using sustainable power to protect future generations.

Webb (@oliverjameswebb), 25, from Manchester, England, climbed the motorsports ladder to land himself an LMP1 drive in 2016 and continues to expand his horizons. The Brit enjoyed a successful junior career in single-seaters, beating Sauber F1 driver Felipe Nasr to finish third in the British Formula 3 Series, before turning to endurance racing. In his first season of prototype racing he won the European Le Mans Series and recorded a class podium at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Webb also won the highly regarded Dubai 24 Hours in 2015, which fellow EGT driver Onslow-Cole also competed in.

Oliver Webb said: “I’m very excited to be part of such a new world of racing. I’m looking forward to my first run in the Tesla Model S P100D to experience what the future of GT racing could be.”

Kimiläinen (@emmakimilainen), 27, from Helsinki, was a consistent front-runner during her junior career in Finland, and was rewarded with a DTM test for Audi. She impressed during her year in Formula Palmer Audi, in which she finished fifth in the 2009 standings, before deciding to take a break from motorsport, during which she became a mother. Since 2014 Emma has continued to put in competitive performances in the Scandinavian Touring Car Championship, where she has taken multiple podiums and, alongside her racing, hosts Finnish TV and radio shows.

Emma Kimiläinen said: “The idea of combining racing with weekend-long festivals for technology and innovation for sustainability is really making this business and marketing-minded woman thrilled. I have waited to make a comeback to bigger European racing and think now is the right time. I can’t wait to test the EGT Tesla S P100D on track.

“As a mother I think even more about what is left to the future generations. The world is changing and I’m delighted that the EGT is one of the front-runners of making the change in the motorsport industry. I’m fortunate to have experienced the progress of motor racing for over 25 years and I’m really honoured that I was invited to be a part of the ‘Age of Light’.”

Electric GT Championship CEO Mark Gemmell added: ”It’s great to be bringing in two fantastic drivers in Emma and Oliver.  Both share our vision of a more sustainable future and offer things that we consider to be very important in achieving our goal.  We are now fast-approaching the 20 drivers and interest over the New Year continues to rise!”

Chandhok has vast experience across a range of disciplines and in 2010 became only the second Indian driver ever to race in Formula 1, where he contested 11 Grand Prix with HRT and Caterham.

Having also raced in the FIA Formula E Championship, 32-year-old Chandhok is no stranger to driving all-electric vehicles and has been interested in EGT since its announcement, supporting the series’ values of working towards a more sustainable future.

The EGT Championship, the first 100 per cent zero-emissions championship, was at the Circuit Calafat testing a number of development parts and preparing for Autosport International next month (January 12-15, 2017).

Chandhok said: “I was glad to take up Electric GT’s invitation to come and drive the car that the team are working on ahead of their first season in 2017. As a racing driver, you’re always curious to test new and different machines and driving a race-prepared Tesla was clearly something I was keen to try.

“The car handles remarkably well and is very balanced despite being in the early stages of development. I’d be interested to see what it’s like when they get the P100-based version 2.0 up and running next year, as that should have a lot more power. Mark, Agustin and their team have great ambitions for the series and I look forward to seeing how the project develops over the next six months!”

The EGT Championship will consist of 20 international drivers, both male and female, racing for 10 professional teams in identical Tesla Model S machines equipped with the latest OMP safety equipment and running on bespoke Pirelli tyres. EGT will visit seven classic European circuits in its inaugural season, including Paul Ricard, Barcelona, Assen, Estoril and the Nürburgring, before staging three non-championship races in the Americas.

Hitting 60mph in 2.4 seconds from a standstill, the Tesla Model S P100D is the world’s fastest-accelerating production car – giving Ferrari LaFerrari performance levels from a family saloon.

Acceleration, handling and grip will improve even further when an additional 500kg are shed, and racing brakes, suspension and Pirelli slick tyres are fitted to the P100D.

The 85kWh battery pack has also been upgraded in the new model to 100kWh, improving its already impressive driving range.

The V2.0 design is complete and EGT will now work with official partners OMP and Pirelli to race-prepare the P100D, as they move us towards the Age of Light.

Electric GT Championship CEO, Mark Gemmell, said: “The Electric GT V2.0 design is the fastest way towards the ‘Age of Light’. I am very excited to be using the Tesla Model S P100D as it is incredibly quick and innovative. This week we opened the subscription period for teams and the new car announcement is an exciting prospect for those who want to join us.”

The EGT Championship will consist of 20 international drivers, both male and female, racing for 10 professional teams in identical Tesla Model S machines equipped with the latest OMP safety equipment and running on bespoke Pirelli tyres. EGT will visit seven classic European circuits in its inaugural season, including Paul Ricard, Barcelona, Assen, Estoril and the Nürburgring, before staging three non-championship races in the Americas.

Ninety-three laps were completed at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya and Circuit Paul Ricard, with the bespoke Pirelli tyres, developed for the inaugural 2017 campaign, performing excellently on the race-prepared Tesla.

The tests focused on how the Pirelli P Zero tyres behaved with different pressures and how they reacted to the impressive amount of torque that the Tesla produces.

They also gave a chance to run the car with numerous mandatory components, including: OMP safety equipment, roll cage, new cooling system, carbon-fibre adjustable spoiler and panels, and full carbon splitter added.

“I am very pleased with the behaviour of the P Zero tyres in these early stages of development,” Electric GT Championship CEO Mark Gemmell said. “After analysing the data, it supported the race simulations that we had predicted prior to these tests. We also were able to run some regulation parts that have been fitted and we are happy with the performance this has brought.”

During the first day in Spain, 70km were completed on just a single battery allowing Pirelli to collect crucial data to aid tyre development.  Pirelli test driver Guillaume Meura and EGT’s Agustin Payá shared duties behind the wheel.

Grand prix winner Heinz-Harald Frentzen joined them 10 days later at Paul Ricard and was impressed with the performance and reliability of the car and tyres. Meura and Payá also drove as 87km were completed on a single battery.

“Everyone has been impressed by the early performance of the Tesla Model S,” Electric GT Championship Technical & Sports Director Agustin Payá said. “I completed 37 laps in the car and it felt excellent out on track. We encountered no issues throughout the three days and the reliability is very impressive. The tyre degradation was exactly as we expected it to be and now we are looking forward to some more testing at the end of November.”

The EGT Championship will consist of 20 international drivers, both male and female, racing for ten professional teams in identical Tesla Model S machines equipped with the latest OMP safety equipment and running on bespoke Pirelli tyres. EGT will visit seven classic European circuits in its inaugural season, including Paul Ricard, Barcelona, Zandvoort, Estoril and the Nürburgring, before staging three non-championship races in the Americas.

About Electric GT Championship – New zero emissions motorsport category promoting sustainable mobility

The championship was announced on 9 March 2016, with the Tesla Model S chosen for the first season, which will get underway in 2017. There will be 10 teams and 20 drivers, who will compete across seven races during season one. Weekends will consist of a 20-minute practice session, 30-minute qualifying, a day race (60km) and a dusk race (60km). Each round will be a weekend-long festival of technology and innovation for sustainability, in and around the circuits. Fans will be able to stream races via Periscope, Twitch and YouTube, as well as interact directly with the teams using social media platforms.

Frentzen began his glittering motorsports career as part of the Mercedes junior team in the World Sportscar Championship before graduating to Formula 1, where he accumulated two pole positions, three wins and 18 podiums. The German finished runner-up in the World Drivers’ Championship in 1997 with Williams and a highly impressive third in the 1999 for Jordan, before concluding his top-flight career in 2003 and switching to the DTM.

The EGT Championship, which is the first 100 per cent zero emissions GT championship, was at the Le Castellet circuit to test the bespoke Pirelli tyres when Frentzen made contact.

A total of 40 laps were completed during the day, with Frentzen in the driving seat for seven of those. The German was very impressed with the direction of the series and gave his full support.

“As a long time owner of this manufacturer it was great fun to drive one of the first race-prepared Teslas,” said Frentzen. “It was a fantastic opportunity to experience the potential of E-racing performance cars. Mark [Gemmell, CEO] and his EGT team are definitely heading in the right direction.”

The test showed a lot of promise, with the series’ organisers able to better understand the tyres, as well as get an idea of how the car itself will perform following the feedback from Frentzen.

“We were glad to have Heinz-Harald come to the track,” Electric GT Championship CEO Mark Gemmell said during the presentation of the race car at the Sportel TV fair in Monaco. “Other than the fact he’s a supremely talented driver, he is a fan of Teslas and owns two cars himself, which is great. We were able to meet up and talk him through the championship, before arranging a test drive for him later in the day. He gave us some great feedback.”

The Electric GT Championship is set to get underway in 2017, with Stefan Wilson, Vittoria Piria, Dani Clos and Lellani Münter already confirmed as part of the Drivers’ Selection Club.

About Electric GT Championship, a new zero emissions motorsport category promoting sustainable mobility

The championship was announced on 9 March 2016, a year in advance of its first planned event, with the Tesla Model S chosen for the first season of the Electric GT Championship. There will be 10 teams and 20 drivers, who will compete across seven races during season one. Weekends will comprise of a 20-minute practice session, 30 minutes of qualifying, and a pair of 60km races with one taking place in the daytime and one at dusk. Each round will be a weekend-long festival of technology and innovation for sustainability in and around the circuits. Fans will be able to stream races via Periscope, Twitch and YouTube, as well as interact directly with the teams using social media platforms.

Combining a sustainable ethos with entertaining racing in the fastest road-going electric vehicle on the market today, the Tesla Model S, the Electric GT Championship is an attractive proposition for professional drivers looking to make the next step in their careers and contribute their expertise to spreading awareness of our generation’s environmental responsibility.

A graduate of biology from the University of California and well-known environmental campaigner, Leilani Münter (@LeilaniMunter) is a natural fit with the values of the EGT championship. A regular in the high-speed ARCA stock car series, which races at iconic venues including the Daytona International Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway, Münter has given publicity to important environmental causes through her passion for racing and uses a Tesla as her everyday road car. Münter was also featured alongside Tesla CEO Elon Musk in the Emmy-nominated film Racing Extinction, in which she drives a highly modified Tesla Model S. The American joins Priria in becoming the second female e-driver in the championship and the first to hail from the Americas.

27-year-old Dani Clos (@daniclos) will bring a touch of Iberian class to the EGT championship on his return to competition. The former Williams F1 and HRT test pilot is a proven winner in GP2, finishing fourth overall in 2010 behind three drivers who would all advance to Formula 1. Clos has since gone on to become a mentor in the GT Academy ‘gamers to racers’ programme and is the star of his own YouTube series.

Electric GT Championship CEO, Mark Gemmell said: “We are delighted to welcome Leilani and Dani into our EGT Drivers Club for the beginning of our revolutionary championship. Both enjoy a substantial profile on social media, which is crucial for projecting the values of our series to a modern audience, but most importantly they have talent in spades and we are sure they will have the chance to showcase that aboard our Tesla Model S EGT.”

Agustín Payá, Electric GT Championship Technical & Sports Director: “I know Dani very well and every team owner should know he is perfectly capable of winning the first electric GT championship. I haven’t met Leilani yet but I look forward to working with her. It is fantastic to have Dani and Leilani with us for the start of the Age of Light and our new journey into the future of electric-powered motorsport.”

The EGT Championship will consist of 20 international drivers, both male and female, racing for ten professional teams in identical Tesla Model S machines equipped with the latest OMP safety equipment and running on bespoke Pirelli tyres. The championship will race at seven permanent European circuits including the Nurburgring (Germany), Circuit Paul Ricard (France) and Circuit de Catalunya-Barcelona (Spain), as well as competing at three non-championship race events in the Americas.

Ibiza’s well-founded reputation for energy, excitement, optimism and fun are values that are also at the core of the visionary Electric GT Championship, making it the perfect location to commence the Age of Light.

Guests are invited to attend the launch of the EGT Championship, targeted at combining exciting racing with a sustainable alternative to existing modes of transport, where their revolutionary Tesla Model S EGT race car is unveiled to the world’s media.

EGT will complete public demonstration runs beside the Ibiza Marina, followed by a tour around the Ibiza town waterfront.

The launch event will conclude at Heart Ibiza, where EGT are delighted to partner with OneDrop, a charity working to provide sustainable access to safe water where it is most desperately needed in the developing world. To raise funds for this vital cause, EGT will participate in their charity auction donating several items including a unique EGT experience at the Paul Ricard circuit in France.

The EGT Championship will consist of 20 international drivers, both male and female, racing for ten professional teams in identical Tesla Model S EGT machines equipped with the latest OMP safety equipment and running on bespoke Pirelli tyres. The series will host seven championship rounds at permanent European circuits including the Nürburgring (Germany) and Circuit de Catalunya (Spain), as well as other non-championship events in the Americas.

Electric GT Championship CEO, Mark Gemmell said: “The launch of the EGT Championship is the start of a shift in the way motorsport is perceived and inspires us towards our fantastic, sustainable future. We’re really excited to launch our EGT race car and look forward to welcoming invited guests and world media to see it in action for the first time.

“Our huge thanks go to the Ibiza town mayor and council, the Ibiza Port Authorities, Heart Ibiza and OneDrop for their help in organising the event and to our partners Pirelli, DHL, OMP, Alkamel and Baker & McKenzie for their support in the early stages of our project.”

The itinerary for the event can be viewed in detail at electricgt.co/egtibiza

About Electric GT Championship – New zero emissions motorsport category promoting sustainable mobility

The championship was announced on 9 March 2016, with the Tesla Model S chosen for the first season, which will get underway in 2017. There will be 10 teams and 20 drivers, who will compete across seven races during season one. Weekends will consist of a 20-minute practice session, 30-minute qualifying, a day race (60km) and a dusk race (60km). Each round will be a weekend-long festival of technology and innovation for sustainability, in and around the circuits. Fans will be able to stream races via Periscope, Twitch and YouTube, as well as interact directly with the teams using social media platforms.

First announced in April 2016, the Electric GT Driver’s Selection Club is a prestigious selection of professional drivers with backgrounds at the highest level of international motorsports, who support and project the values of sustainability on which the championship is based. These “Electric Heroes”, admitted for their courage, outstanding achievements and noble qualities, will play an important part in accelerating towards a new era, “The Age of Light” when the series gets underway in 2017.

The Driver’s Club will consist of 20 male and female racers competing in identical race-prepared EGT Teslas, based on the fastest zero-emissions production car in the world, the Model S P85+. The rear-wheel drive EGT race car is fully equipped with the most advanced competition safety systems available today, developed by OMP, as well as high performance tires exclusively manufactured for EGT by world leading brand Pirelli.

GP3 graduate Piria, aged 22 from Italy, and Indy 500 starter Wilson, an advocate of solar energy usage and former winner of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award, aged 26 from the UK, are both excellent additions to the EGT series and will be joined by further exciting names to be announced in due course.

Mark Gemmell, Electric GT Championship CEO, said: “We are delighted to announce Stefan and Vicky as the first members of the Electric GT Driver’s Selection Club. It means a lot to us to allow professional racing drivers to join our quest to promote sustainable transport with our innovative zero emissions GT championship, so to have such talented and distinguished pilots on board from the very start is a very positive step.”

Agustín Payá, Electric GT Championship ESVP, added: “We are happy to have Stefan and Vicky on board as our first EGT drivers. Both have proven themselves extremely capable in other forms of racing and we look forward to seeing them get the best out of the EGT Tesla Model S, which has completed extensive testing already.”

The championship will race at seven permanent European circuits including the Nurburgring (Germany), Circuit Paul Ricard (France) and Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya (Spain), as well as competing at three non-championship race events in the Americas.

“Electric mobility is one of the key topics in our industry,” says Dr. Stefan Knirsch, Member of the Board of Management, Technical Development, AUDI AG. “We intend to evolve into one of the leading premium car manufacturers in this field. By 2025, every fourth Audi should be an electric vehicle. The first model for this is planned to be an SUV we’re going to present in 2018. In the light of these plans, adapting our motorsport program and taking up a commitment in a fully electric racing series is only a logical move.”

Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich: “Audi has consistently been using motorsport to test and develop new technologies further for subsequent use in production. With quattro drive we revolutionised rally racing and subsequently set standards in circuit racing as well. In the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi was the first manufacturer to have achieved victories with a TFSI engine, a TDI and a hybrid race car, so writing motorsport history on several occasions. Now we intend to repeat this in fully electric racing. Formula E with its races being held in the hearts of major cities is an ideal stage for this purpose and Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport a logical partner for us.”

Audi Sport has been giving its name to the team ever since the inaugural 2014/2015 Formula E season and in the Brazilian Lucas di Grassi making one of its factory drivers available in the course of this cooperation. In addition, the team has been able to use Audi Sport’s infrastructure in Neuburg. Starting in the 2016/2017 season, Audi is going to intensify the existing partnership with Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport by financial and technical support. For the 2017/2018 season, on the road toward a fully fledged factory commitment, Audi Sport will be joining the development step by step in close cooperation with technology partner Schaeffler.

Audi’s commitment in Formula E will be visible to the fans as well. With immediate effect, the four rings will be prominently featured on the sides and the rear wings of the ABT Schaeffler FE02. The fully electric single-seater race cars will be sporting their new liveries on the race track for the first time from Monday to Wednesday next week (September 5 to 7) at Donington Park in the UK where the final tests will be held before the Formula E season starts in Hong Kong.

The 2016/2017 Formula E season calendar currently features twelve races in ten international metropolises. On June 10, 2017, the electric racing series will visit Berlin. The two final races will be held in New York (USA) on July 29/30, 2017.

The drivers of Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport are Daniel Abt (Germany) and Lucas di Grassi (Brazil) who are now tackling their third joint Formula E season as teammates. Di Grassi was third in the drivers’ classification in the inaugural season and as vice champion just barely missed the championship title in the 2015/2016 season.

“After giving me the opportunity to develop their new car, Venturi, a top team in Formula-E, offered me the chance to participate in the championship. I am very happy.” said the German driver ”efficient cars, great drivers, important manufacturers, races in big cities: the series is already a success and as a driver it’s very important to be part of it .”

Maro has worked for several weeks with Venturi as test driver. He is a long time Mercedes-AMG driver, including racing in DTM and V8 Supercars. He has most recently been racing in GT’s where he is the current FIA GT World Cup Champion as well as 2016 winner of the prestigious 24H Nurburgring.

“It is a great satisfaction to welcome Maro” said Franck Baldet, the team coordinator “he is already  deeply involved in the team through the season 3 car preparation. He knows our new engine – the VM 200 – FE – 02. He did most of the testing sessions accumulating hundreds of kilometers behind the wheel. He is efficient and accurate in his comments to our engineers, always available for the exchange that will increase the performance of the vehicle.”

About the Venturi Formula-E car Maro says: “Driving Formula-E is really challenging. From the first laps on-track I had very positive feelings. To drive a Venturi Formula-E Car is a great experience. Pushing for maximum speed but at the same time it’s also managing energy and power. It is very complex and you really need to think ahead to be able to perform. My adaptation went very well as we had time during the testing days to work in very good conditions, I have been able to acquire a good understanding of the car. I love racing on street circuits and am now really looking forward to the start of season 3 together with my highly motivated team.” said Engel

The FIA Formula-E season 3 will start in Hong-Kong on October 9.

Lammers is excited about the Forze VII: “It is important that our country is aware of the alternatives of fossil fuels. Naturally, this hydrogen race car will battle against fossil fueled cars: hydrogen is an alternative with unlimited possibilities, unlike the limited amount of fossil fuel. I will follow the news of Forze with much interest.”

Tests

Lapierre – who together with Alex Premat took Team France to the inaugural A1GP title – completed more than three race distances as he worked through a packed testing schedule for the team and he is open to the possibility of racing the car in season two.

“It was very special, very different to anything else obviously,” he said. “The first lap when I went out of the pits without any noise, it felt very strange. But in the end it was a good experience, there were many new parameters I had to learn like the all-weather tyres and the electric power with the torque is very different, so it took me a bit of time to get used to the car but in the end I had good fun and I really enjoyed it.”

The winner of this year’s LMP2 class at Le Mans also had the opportunity to try the Team Aguri – which runs the same powertrain as in season one – in qualifying mode.

“Switching from 150kw to 200kw for qualifying, and only having two laps at this level of power, means you need to get used to it very quickly,” he noted. “The car is not easy – in terms of lap time it’s not faster than what I’ve driven before, but it’s complicated to go fast.”

How did the deal with Dragon Racing come about?

I was testing with Audi at Sebring last week when I received a text from one of Dragon Racing’s managers on Tuesday morning. I’d already put my Super Formula commitments in Japan on hold for this year, so my schedule provides a bit more freedom to embrace fresh opportunities. I’m always up for a challenge and trying a new racing series can only be beneficial as it makes you a more rounded driver. It’s bound to be quite a unique experience since the fully electric technology is brand new to me. It would have been a real shame to miss out on such a great opportunity, so I’d like to extend my thanks to Audi for allowing me to race in Formula E.  

What’s your take on Formula E?

As the first fully electric racing series that sees single-seaters compete in the world’s biggest city centres, Formula E does present an unusual set of challenges. But the whole concept is really interesting, as highlighted by the great media coverage and interest several manufacturers have already shown in such a young championship. After all, we’re only in the series’ maiden season. The sport is striking a chord with people’s current appetite for green technologies, which are now at the core of the automotive industry’s concerns and project development. But it makes for a great show and I’m looking forward to experiencing it from the inside.

The format of a Formula E round is pretty unique with free practice, qualifying and the race all taking place on a single day at the heart of a city. In short, a lot different to what you’re used to in WEC! Street races haven’t been my bread and butter for several years now, but I’ve always had a soft spot for those sorts of events, be it Pau, Monaco or Macau. I’ve always felt very comfortable racing on those circuits, which provide a unique challenge behind the wheel. What’s more, I think it’s a great idea to have the sport reach out to the people living in big cities rather than the other way around. Normal circuits are usually located far away from busy places, so I really like the new concept.

Most of your rivals already have several Formula E races under their belts. So what’s your goal this weekend?

I travelled to England on Monday (March 9) to spend some time in the simulator, acclimatise to the different systems and see what the Miami ePrix track looks like. In theory, it won’t be easy to arrive mid-season and race such unusual cars against drivers who’ve already had some experience behind the wheel. Energy management is quite specific, as is the race format when you switch cars at the halfway mark. I’ll have to integrate all these new factors and find my feet as fast as possible. But we’ve already seen other Formula E rookies perform well on their series debuts. The key will be putting everything together, which is what I am obviously aiming for. Granted, this remains a pretty unique championship but I’ll try to bring something to the team based on my experience of driving a hybrid Audi LMP1 car. After all, energy management is also a key element of prototype racing nowadays, and endurance drivers involved in Formula E have been competing at the front.

Round five of this year’s FIA Formula E Championship – the Miami ePrix – takes place on Saturday 14 March at 16:00 local time.

And don’t forget to vote for Loic in the FanBoost poll at http://fanboost.fiaformulae.com

Your entry into the FIA Formula E Championship has caused quite a stir, what were the reactions following the announcement?
“We were eager to see the response and obviously had some expectations – but they’ve been surpassed by far. In the national and international media our entry was a major topic. But we were at least as delighted about the large number of positive reactions by our partners and from the motorsport scene.”

What significance does Formula E have in comparison to your commitment in the DTM?
“The DTM clearly takes priority. As an Audi factory team it’s our duty and responsibility to battle for victories and the title. That’s our big aim again in 2014 and the preparations are already in full swing. At the same time we didn’t want to miss the opportunity of being involved in such an exciting new project as Formula E from the very beginning.”

Are you proud of being the only German team in the series?
“Yes, because it’s a pleasant feeling to have the opportunity to represent the German colours in such an international racing series. We’re looking forward to working with the FIA and Formula E. Even the negotiations before the official announcement were really enjoyable. The guys around CEO Alejandro Agag have a great spirit and a passion for new ideas. There’s no doubt in my mind: The motorsport fans are going to like Formula E.”

There’s still a lot of time before the inaugural event next September. What are the next steps?
“The agreement and the announcement were only the first step. Together with our sport director Thomas Biermaier and our head of marketing Harry Unflath we’re going to put together a perfect package now. It includes sponsors as well as a strong team and, obviously, fast drivers. For one thing is clear: We’re entering Formula E with the ambition to win.”

Based in Monaco, the new Venturi Grand Prix Formula E Team has been co-founded by DiCaprio and Gildo Pallanca Pastor, founder of pioneering EV manufacturer Venturi Automobiles, together with Bert Hedaya and Francesco Costa.

“The future of our planet depends on our ability to embrace fuel-efficient, clean-energy vehicles,” DiCaprio said. “Venturi Grand Prix has shown tremendous foresight in their decision to create an environmentally friendly racing team, and I am happy to be a part of this effort.”

“It’s an honour and a pleasure to welcome the Venturi Grand Prix team as the tenth and final team of the FIA Formula E Championship,” said Alejandro Agag, CEO of series promoters Formula E Holdings. “Gildo Pastor is a true pioneer in electric racing. From the desert of Salt Lake to Antarctica, his passion and vision pushes forward the technology barriers of what can be done with an electric car. But Gildo is not alone in this venture. Global entrepreneurs Francesco Costa and Bert Hedaya bring great experience and energy to the team.

“And of course, I want to give a very special welcome to our Championship to Leonardo DiCaprio. Very few environmental leaders have helped more than him to spread the message of sustainability around the world. Having people like him and Richard Branson – global ambassadors for the environment – is a privilege for our Championship and will greatly help us to spread the use of electric cars in cities around the planet.”

“We’re proud to have the opportunity to take part in the debut of this new racing series. Participating in the new FIA Formula E Championship marks a completely new chapter in our more than 60-year motorsport history,” said Hans-Jürgen Abt. “As a company that has been active in the field of regenerative powertrains and electric mobility we’re convinced of the series’ concept. It’s innovative, delivers motorsport at the highest level and a great show for fans around the world – all of which are a perfect fit for ABT Sportsline.”

The outfit, from Germany’s Allgäu region, will race under the name of Audi Sport ABT Formula E Team, based on the name used in its successful commitment as an Audi factory team in the popular international touring car series DTM.

Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich commented: “We’ve been watching this new project of the FIA with great interest and are delighted that ABT Sportsline as one of our close and long-standing partners will be involved right from the beginning. We’re keeping our fingers crossed for the squad on tackling this new challenge and are planning to support its commitment with drivers from our factory line-up if required.”

The agreement was signed by Hans-Jürgen Abt and Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings, in Kempten, Germany. Audi Sport ABT Formula E Team will now be put forward to the FIA for final approval as the seventh outfit to enter the new global electric race series. They join IndyCar outfits Andretti Autosport and Dragon Racing, Asia’s China Racing and Super Aguri and fellow European squads Drayson Racing and e.dams.

With five titles to its credit in the DTM alone ABT Sportsline is one of the most successful German teams, which has achieved victories and titles in GT and endurance racing as well. The commitment in Formula racing now also marks a return to the outfit’s early days. At the beginning of the 1990s, ABT scored its initial successes in Formel ADAC and Formula Three. One of the drivers back then was the subsequent Formula One and DTM star Ralf Schumacher. “We’ve been keen to embrace new challenges on many occasions in the past. Formula E is no doubt one of the most intensive ones, which makes our excitement about it even greater,” added Hans-Jürgen Abt.

Alejandro Agag said: “We’re delighted to welcome the Audi Sport ABT Formula E Team into the championship, our seventh of 10 teams and the third European outfit. Formula E is very much an open championship and a platform for teams to showcase their own fully-electric cars, so to have one of the most successful German motorsport teams with the support of a big manufacturer on board is a fantastic addition to the series. I’m sure German racing fans will also be particularly pleased as they now have a home team to support during the Berlin Formula E race.”

Proving the ‘E’ in EV can stand for ‘excitement’ just as much as ‘electric’, the Drayson Racing Technologies Lola B12 69/EV Le Mans prototype will be on the Michelin stand at London’s free-to-view motoring extravaganza fresh from breaking no fewer than four World Speed Records.

The brainchild of former science minister Lord Paul Drayson, the sleek all-electric racing car claimed the records earlier this month (October) on a runway at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire.

The official FIA-sanctioned record attempt saw the whisper quiet machine claim the World Electric Land Speed Record for sub-999kg vehicles by covering a flying mile at an average speed of 205.139mph. In so doing, the car broke its own record of just over 204mph, set in June. It also covered a flying kilometre at an average speed of 333.271kph.

Two other records tumbled at the same time: the car set a new EV acceleration world record by taking just 9.742 seconds to cover a quarter mile from a standing start… and it claimed a new outright British Land Speed Record for any wheel driven vehicle, regardless of its type of propulsion.

Green in colour and commitment, the racing prototype will be displayed by Michelin, whose Le Mans-derived LMP1 race tyres it used for the successful attempt. Michelin will also be showing the advanced treaded 18in race tyre that it has created for the new FIA Formula E Championship for electric-powered single seaters which starts next year and comes to London in June 2015. And its fuel saving Energy E-V road tyres can be found on other EVs on display in Regent Street, such as the acclaimed Renault ZOE.

Lord Drayson said: “For the land speed record, we absolutely had to have tyres with the right sort of grip and which provided outstanding traction off the line. Michelin offers tremendous R&D support which, for us, makes ours an important long-term partnership.”

“Whether it’s developing tyres for Britain’s world record breaking electric car, the electric race cars of tomorrow as for Formula E or zero emission city cars, Michelin is at the forefront of tyre technology for a cleaner, sustainable and exciting future,” commented Malcom Scovell, Commercial Director, Michelin Tyre Plc.,UK and Ireland.

Like Michelin, the Regent Street Motor Show embraces cars of all shapes and sizes. As well as the latest machinery from manufacturers including MINI, BMW and Renault, there will be historic displays from Aston Martin, which is celebrating its centenary this year, and Porsche which will be paying a 50th birthday tribute to the 911.

And there will also be a display of up to 100 veteran cars, all built before 1905. They will be competing for top honours in the EFG International Concours d’Elegance, before taking part in the annual Veteran Car Run from London to Brighton the following day (Sunday 3 November).

In four short years, the Regent Street Motor Show has become a keenly anticipated fixture on the motoring calendar which attracts more than 250,000 visitors on the day.

This year Regent Street will be closed to traffic in its entirety, from Piccadilly Circus to Oxford Circus, with manufacturer displays on the famous Wren Crescent.

 Michelin makes more than half the tires for vehicles competing at Le Mans, but the Garage 56 status, reserved for cars with new technology, has special allure.

 Grisin, speaking with the Global Media Center during the running of the World Endurance Championship at Fuji Speedway, said working with Nissan on the ZEOD project will help the tire maker in developing electric vehicle products and in bringing even better tires to consumers.

Serge Grisin, Director 4 Wheels Racing Division, Michelin : “For Michelin this project is really important. We’re a technical leader in the tire industry. Garage 56 is a good way for Michelin to learn more about the way to design tires for electric vehicles, and then we can imagine new technologies for the next generation of tires that will have better performance and efficiency.

 This is a really specific tire, generally for LMP car the front tire is 20 cm, and with this tire it’s 10 cm. That means that with a tire that’s two times smaller we’ll have to develop the same road-car performance in terms of grip, in terms of longevity, and also the tire will be lighter. That means two times lighter than the standard LMP car tire, so by this way we’ll have a tire that will be smaller and lighter, that will allow the same car performance. It’s a way to improve the efficiency of the tire.

 So for the rear tire, based on the weight distribution of the car we have developed a specific tire that is more conventional, closer to standard LMP tires. It’s 40-cm width, a 15-inch tire. What is important is to adjust the tire size to the car geometry, weight distribution and aerodynamic distribution, and also to have the best possible balance for the car.

 It’s a fact we want to have the same longevity, to increase the longevity compared to standard racing tires, so we will develop specific compounds. The geometry of the car forces us to develop a front tire that is very narrow. But even with this narrow tire, we target to have a very high longevity.

 Competition is the laboratory for the street tire, and by the way of the project we are sure that we will have a lot of data from the run of the car that we will be able to use to develop the next generation of tire, and specifically for the electric cars.

 We talk about the future, but we are only at the beginning of the project. We can use a lot of simulation tools, because we want to be ready for Le Mans and we need to think about a lot of things regarding tire design. Before the car starts to run, we will start to give them the tire with the help of simulation tools that do analysis, and (make) a more efficient way to design the tire for the future.”

The car was unveiled at Nismo headquarters in Yokohama on Thursday and performed three demonstration runs at Fuji Speedway in conjunction with the Japanese round of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The Nissan ZEOD RC will complete an entire 8.5 mile lap of Le Mans next year on pure electric power at speeds in excess of 300km/h (186 mph). When running on its internal combustion engine, the ZEOD RC will recharge its battery using regenerative braking.

Key Nissan executives including Executive Vice-President Andy Palmer were on site at Fuji to see the car’s debut.

The car will now head back to the UK this week to continue its testing and development program. The Nissan ZEOD RC will occupy “Garage 56″ at Le Mans next year – an entry reserved for cars showcasing new and innovative technology previously not seen at the French endurance classic. Nissan will use the ZEOD RC programme to develop technologies for its planned future LM P1 assault.

“This has been a fantastic opportunity for everyone involved to bring the Nissan ZEOD RC to Japan to present the car at Nismo and then show the car at Fuji Speedway for the fans,” NIssan Global Motorsports Director, Darren Cox said.

“The reaction from the fans has been amazing – especially the young fans. We had a very poignant moment watching the car on track with Mount Fuji in the background. We know we have a very big mountain to climb to develop this electric vehicle technology for Le Mans but seeing the reaction from the young fans is a key reason why we are doing this.

“It was a pity that the weather spoiled the day on Sunday for the FIA WEC race but we were thrilled to be able to bring the car here for loyal Japanese fans.”

The Zero Emissions on Demand racer has gone from zero to ZEOD in a mere 33 weeks after Nissan Chairman and CEO Carlos Ghosn in February announced Nissan’s goal of returning to the Le Mans 24 Hours next year with electric power in the same venue as today’s announcement.

The ZEOD RC will race next year at Le Mans after being invited by the Automobile Club de l’Ouest to occupy the “Garage 56” entry for vehicles showcasing new and innovative technology.

Nissan is using the ZEOD RC as a test bed to develop new electric vehicle technologies for Nissan’s planned future LMP1 program.

The initial prototype show car of the revolutionary electric racer was revealed at this year’s Le Mans 24 Hours, but today’s unveil at the Nismo headquarters showcased the dramatic evolution of the design featuring revamped styling, new cooling inlets and aerodynamic updates.

The Nissan ZEOD RC was unveiled by Nismo President Shoichi Miyatani, Nissan Global Motorsport Director Darren Cox, and Nissan Director of Motorsport Innovation Ben Bowlby.

“The ZEOD RC utilizes our technology gained through the development of the Nissan LEAF Nismo RC, the first EV racer based on the mass production zero emission vehicle,” said Shoichi Miyatani.

“The LEAF RC’s energy management and efficient energy recovery system that is suitable for racing are just examples.  We believe these technologies serve as important steps for using EV for motor sports.”

The Nissan ZEOD RC will become the first car to complete an entire race lap of the 8.5-mile Le Mans circuit on nothing but electric power. The car will reach speeds in excess of 300km/h (185 mph) and lap the famous French circuit faster than an LM GTE car.

The driver will be able to switch between electric power and a small lightweight turbocharged internal combustion engine. The car – which shares the same battery technology as the Nissan LEAF – will recharge the battery via regenerative braking.

Fans will get the chance to take a close look at the Nissan ZEOD RC in the Fuji paddock throughout the course of the FIA World Endurance Championship weekend.

“This weekend is an important milestone in the journey to Le Mans for the Nissan ZEOD RC,” Darren Cox said.

“Our goal for the program is to draw back the curtain for the fans to see the innovative technology that Nissan is developing. We could not think of a better place than the Fuji round of the World Endurance Championship for the actual ZEOD RC to appear in public for the first time. We have interrupted our intense testing in the UK to fly the car to Japan for this display for the Japanese fans.”

“Our thanks go to the Automobile Club de l’Ouest and the FIA WEC for not only inviting us to compete at Le Mans next year, but also for the opportunity to showcase the car here in Japan.
 
“We’re going to let Michael Krumm take a look at the car for the first time, and he will join Lucas Ordóñez in a test driver role in helping develop the car. His experience in winning Super GT and FIA GT1 World Championships for Nissan will be a very valuable asset to the program. Michael is also a Nissan LEAF owner and a passionate believer in the future of electric vehicles for the road.”

Nissan is renowned as a global leader in electric vehicles for the road – selling more than 80,000 Nissan LEAF since the start of sales in late 2010. The Nissan ZEOD RC is the first step on taking the lead in bringing electric vehicles to the racetrack.

“The Nissan ZEOD RC will utilize technology never before seen at Le Mans and will provide a very unique experience for the fans,” Ben Bowlby said.

“To see the car go down the Mulsanne Straight at 300km/h in virtual silence will be very unique. Developing the battery technology to incorporate this into a Le Mans prototype is an enormous challenge, but the lessons learned will not only be very beneficial for the future LM P1 program, but also we can use this information to assist in the development of future versions of the Nissan LEAF and other electric vehicles for the road.”

Fans at Fuji Speedway this weekend will also see Nissan power in action in the LMP2 class of the FIA World Endurance Championship.  The Nismo-tuned Nissan VK45DE V8 engine has dominated the season so far, taking pole position and victory at every round. With eight Nissan-powered LM P2 cars racing at Fuji the Japanese fans have a good chance of celebrating another win for Nissan.

• The Drayson Racing prototype electric race car also set a new EV acceleration World Record over a measured quarter mile from a standing start, with a time of 9.742 seconds (*subject to FIA homologation)

• The Oxford based team also set a new British Land Speed Record for cars of any propulsion type driven by their wheels over one mile from a flying start (*subject to MSA ratification)

15 October – Oxford, England – Drayson RacingTM has increased the World Electric Land Speed Record for sub-999kg cars during official FIA-sanctioned runs at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire, England (*subject to FIA homologation).

The all-electric prototype racing car driven by Lord (Paul) Drayson and developed by Drayson Racing Technologies achieved a two-way average speed of 205.139mph over the measured mile and 333.271kph over the measured kilometre (*subject to FIA homologation) on the 3km long Elvington runway. The car reached an unofficial maximum speed of 219.1mph / 352.6kph during the runs in difficult, windy conditions according to GPS data.

This speed also represents a new British Land Speed Record (*subject to MSA ratification) over the measured mile for cars of any propulsion type driven by their wheels.

In addition, the Drayson Racing team submitted the car to FIA-sanctioned timed acceleration runs, setting a new World Electric Record from a standing start over a quarter mile with a time of 9.742 seconds and a top speed of 92.383mph (*subject to FIA homologation).

On the new record attempts, Lord Drayson (CEO) commented: “We are continuing the testing and development programme of our electric drivetrain technology and we are delighted with the results achieved today.

“Drayson Racing is a laboratory for novel EV technology such as the high power Qualcomm HaloTM wireless charging system, testing it to the most extreme level and that’s why we do this. The engineering challenge of accelerating a 995kg electric car to these speeds and then stopping in time on such a short runway is pretty intense, but it’s a great proving ground for our technology. It’s also an exciting way of demonstrating what’s possible with a state of the art electric vehicle.”

The team returned to Elvington in an effort to take the prototype electric racing car even faster than before. When the Drayson Racing team last ran the car in June, it was still accelerating hard at the braking point on the runway. Analysis revealed that performance gains could be found in the car’s DRT 4X2 640 all electric drivetrain developed by Drayson Racing Technologies, so the team spent the summer refining the system. Chassis partner Multimatic has also made further aerodynamic adjustments to reduce drag and further increase the car’s performance potential.

Lord Drayson intended to discover the car’s maximum possible speed on the 15-mile long track at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA last month, but did not get the opportunity after the event was cancelled due to flooding. With the development work on the car complete, the team decided to run again at Elvington to find out how much faster the car could go within the relatively tight confines of the 3km runway.

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