Racers and fans are ‘Trulli’ ready for the FIA Formula E Series

This fall, the world of auto racing will change forever, as the roars of internal combustion engines will be replaced by the whirs of electric motors in the first ever fully electric racing series, the FIA Formula E. In what might very well represent the future of the motor industry over the coming decades, the series will serve as a framework for research and development around the electric vehicle while also accelerating general interest in these cars and promoting sustainability. Operating as an ‘open championship’, the series gives car manufacturers and constructors the opportunity to showcase their electrical energy innovations in a racing environment, designing cars to the technical specifications set out by the FIA.

On June 18, Formula One race winner Jarno Trulli announced that he is to form and manage a new team for the FIA Formula E Championship – entitled TrulliGP Formula E Team – with which he will race in the unique all-electric series. The 39-year-old Italian has taken over the entry of Drayson Racing.

“We’re delighted to welcome Jarno to the FIA Formula E Championship as both a team manager and a driver,” Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag added. “Drayson very much remains a part of the Formula E family focusing on developing their wireless charging technology which they couldn’t have done running as a team. This ground-breaking technology has the potential to benefit not just the TrulliGP team but the entire championship and of course the future of electric road cars.”

Following approval from the FIA, TrulliGP has been granted the 10th team entry for the Formula E Championship, following the withdrawal of Drayson Racing. Drayson Technologies will be entering into a supply and sponsorship arrangement with TrulliGP to be the squad’s principal technology partner. As part of this, TrulliGP will begin work on Drayson’s wireless charging technology – which offers the potential to free electric vehicles from the constraints of cable-based charging.

“I am pleased that the FIA selected TrulliGP to be part of the FIA Formula E Championship,” Trulli stated. “Having gained fantastic experience as a driver in Formula 1, my involvement in the FIA Formula E Championship will certainly be a new challenge, not only as a driver but also as a team owner. Competing at the highest level of performance with a clean energy car with the support of Drayson Technologies makes this challenge even more exciting. I am very pleased to be a pioneer of this new Formula E project.” 

Trulli becomes the eighth driver to sign for Formula E alongside Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi at Audi Sport Abt, Sam Bird and Jaime Alguersuari at Virgin Racing, Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok at Mahindra Racing and Franck Montagny at Andretti Autosport.

“I am delighted to be working with such a world-class team of motorsport professionals, led by Jarno,” added  Lord Drayson, CEO of Drayson Technologies. “I am sure that the combination of the Trulli team’s motorsport knowhow and the Drayson EV technology expertise will be a winning one from the start. Our ambition is to supply all the teams with wireless charging and we are delighted that TrulliGP is the first team to adopt this exciting technology.”

The championship will compete in the heart of 10 of the world’s leading cities – including London, Beijing and Buenos Aires – racing around their iconic landmarks. One of the recently announced additions to the schedule is the Punta del Este ePrix – the host for round three of the new global electric race series on December 13 2014. 

“From the very outset, the Punta del Este authorities have been incredibly supportive of the FIA Formula E Championship and my thanks go to Mayor Martin Laventure and ACU President Jorge Tomassi for allowing us to race in their beautiful city,” Agag continued. “Punta del Este has shown a real commitment to sustainability and we hope by becoming a host Formula E city this will continue to showcase the benefits of electric vehicles.”  

At 1.1mile (2.8km) in length and featuring 20 turns, the street circuit is located along Punta del Este’s picturesque harbour – nicknamed the Monte-Carlo of South America – just south of Maldonado and is based on the track previously used for the TC2000 touring car events. Set on a beautiful beach backdrop, the tight, twisty layout uses a mix on medium straights and sharp turns, providing a challenge for the Formula E teams and drivers.

“It’s a very nice location, next to the sea and the beach,” said Juan Manuel Lopez, the first South American driver to test the Formula E car. “I think the best overtaking places would be in the first chicane after the start/finish straight and in Turn 5 under braking. There are many places where the track is not that wide too, so it’s going to be a place where you really need to keep your concentration. The surface of the roads is very different in places, meaning there is more grip in certain parts of the track, but the Formula E cars are well prepared for that kind of transition. They run very high off the ground and with a bit of work on the set-up it will be ok.” 

Organisers have now revealed four of the 10 Formula E tracks with the roads surrounding Beijing’s Olympic ‘Bird’s Nest’ Stadium forming the season opener, followed by a race though the centre of Putrajaya in Malaysia for round two. As well as Punta del Este (Round 3), the venue for round seven has also been released which will take place in Long Beach, Southern California, using a modified version of the city’s historic street circuit.

It will be quite interesting to see what the future holds for this brand new form of racing. Perhaps it will lead to changes in all forms of motorsports going forward. 

Adam Sinclair