Formula E promises ‘most exciting season ever’ as the all-electric championship invests in youth ahead of opening race
The new Formula E season begins on Saturday in Sao Paulo with a blisteringly quick car, a handful of exciting new drivers and perhaps most importantly – a new free-to-air TV deal in the UK. The series prides itself on being ‘net zero since day zero’ but its impressive sustainability record is only the start – with cutting-edge innovation, dramatic racing and what they claim is ‘the most competitive lineup in motorsport’ competing in 11 different countries during this campaign. The Formula E season begins in Sao Paulo on SaturdayGetty The Formula E CEO spoke to talkSPORT ahead of the new seasonGetty Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of the season opener in Brazil, Formula E boss Jeff Dodds explained what fans can expect in the eleventh year of the ambitious championship: “They’re going to legitimately watch a racing series where there are twenty-two drivers who could win the championship this year. It’s all to play for!” The growth of the sport will be boosted by the return to free-to-air coverage in the UK with live qualifying and races on ITV4 and ITVX – with selected race commentaries and a weekly highlights show on talkSPORT2. The promotion of three former F2 drivers is also likely to bring new, younger fans into the fold – with Zane Maloney, Taylor Barnard and David Beckmann all stepping up to full-time drives. F2 race-winner Zane Moloney lines up alongside Formula E legend Lucas Di Grassi at the newly formed Lola Yamaha ABT team and he told talkSPORT it’s great to have a teammate with so much experience: “I’m learning a lot from him. He’s double my age, which is quite funny – I keep reminding him of that! I’m bringing my own new things too, from my experience in F2 and F3” Taylor Barnard begins his full-time career with NEOM Mclaren while German driver David Beckmann joins the newly rebranded Cupra Kiro team for his first full campaign. He and teammate Dan Ticktum’s participation was only formally confirmed at the start of the race week, but speaking to talkSPORT, he shrugged off any concerns that things wouldn’t come together in time: “Since I drove the test days in Jarama (in November), I was confident that maybe I had a chance to get a deal done. I was prepared – working out a lot to be ready if it came in my favour” The three rookies will join the 19 other drivers in getting behind the wheel of the new Gen3 Evo car – a mid generation upgrade which realistically could have been seen as a fourth generation machine. Barnard is preparing to begin his full-time careerGetty Beckmann is another new face trying to take Formula E by stormGetty The main advancement is the introduction of all wheel drive – powering the car from 0-60mph in 1.82 seconds. With improved grip and a top speed of 200mph, Lola Yamaha Abt driver Lucas Di Grassi is excited to get behind the wheel in his hometown: “The four wheel drive is a massive game changer! With the same power we can gain up to 2-2.5 seconds a lap. We’ll be able to do many overtakes in the race.” Sustainability has always been at the core of the Championship since its first race in 2014 and recent overhauls have also seen the series’ freight-related emissions reduced by 25% heading into the new season. Working closely with global logistics partner DHL, three hundred tonnes of race weekend infrastructure has been reduced to two hundred and twenty tonnes, with only two freight flights required – one less than in previous years. Listen to the first race of the new Formula E World Championship from 5pm this afternoon (Saturday 7th) on talkSPORT2 and subscribe to the talkSPORT Driving YouTube channel for more from the paddock throughout the season.
The new Formula E season begins on Saturday in Sao Paulo with a blisteringly quick car, a handful of exciting new drivers and perhaps most importantly – a new free-to-air TV deal in the UK.
The series prides itself on being ‘net zero since day zero’ but its impressive sustainability record is only the start – with cutting-edge innovation, dramatic racing and what they claim is ‘the most competitive lineup in motorsport’ competing in 11 different countries during this campaign.
Speaking to talkSPORT ahead of the season opener in Brazil, Formula E boss Jeff Dodds explained what fans can expect in the eleventh year of the ambitious championship:
“They’re going to legitimately watch a racing series where there are twenty-two drivers who could win the championship this year. It’s all to play for!”
The growth of the sport will be boosted by the return to free-to-air coverage in the UK with live qualifying and races on ITV4 and ITVX – with selected race commentaries and a weekly highlights show on talkSPORT2.
The promotion of three former F2 drivers is also likely to bring new, younger fans into the fold – with Zane Maloney, Taylor Barnard and David Beckmann all stepping up to full-time drives.
F2 race-winner Zane Moloney lines up alongside Formula E legend Lucas Di Grassi at the newly formed Lola Yamaha ABT team and he told talkSPORT it’s great to have a teammate with so much experience:
“I’m learning a lot from him. He’s double my age, which is quite funny – I keep reminding him of that! I’m bringing my own new things too, from my experience in F2 and F3”
Taylor Barnard begins his full-time career with NEOM Mclaren while German driver David Beckmann joins the newly rebranded Cupra Kiro team for his first full campaign.
He and teammate Dan Ticktum’s participation was only formally confirmed at the start of the race week, but speaking to talkSPORT, he shrugged off any concerns that things wouldn’t come together in time:
“Since I drove the test days in Jarama (in November), I was confident that maybe I had a chance to get a deal done. I was prepared – working out a lot to be ready if it came in my favour”
The three rookies will join the 19 other drivers in getting behind the wheel of the new Gen3 Evo car – a mid generation upgrade which realistically could have been seen as a fourth generation machine.
The main advancement is the introduction of all wheel drive – powering the car from 0-60mph in 1.82 seconds. With improved grip and a top speed of 200mph, Lola Yamaha Abt driver Lucas Di Grassi is excited to get behind the wheel in his hometown:
“The four wheel drive is a massive game changer! With the same power we can gain up to 2-2.5 seconds a lap. We’ll be able to do many overtakes in the race.”
Sustainability has always been at the core of the Championship since its first race in 2014 and recent overhauls have also seen the series’ freight-related emissions reduced by 25% heading into the new season.
Working closely with global logistics partner DHL, three hundred tonnes of race weekend infrastructure has been reduced to two hundred and twenty tonnes, with only two freight flights required – one less than in previous years.
Listen to the first race of the new Formula E World Championship from 5pm this afternoon (Saturday 7th) on talkSPORT2 and subscribe to the talkSPORT Driving YouTube channel for more from the paddock throughout the season.
