New S5 Formula E car “overwhelming” in first tests
Reigning champion Lucas di Grassi has descr🦂ibed Formula E’s new season five car as “a huge step forward” compared to its predecessor.
Seven Formula E manufacturers completed a closed two-day test of their season five cars at the Monteblanco ﷽circuit in Spain this week, a🐼head of the introduction of the dubbed ‘Gen2’ car for the 2018/2019 campaign.
Reigning champion Lucas di Grassi has described Formula E’s new season five car 🎉as “a huge step forward” compared to its predecessor.
Seven Formula E manufacturers completed a closed two-day test of their season five cars at the Monteblanco circuit in Spain this week, ahead of the introduction of the dubbed ‘Gen🌠2’ car for the 2018/2019 campaign.
The new car - which was formally unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show earlier thi🐼s month - will be capable of completing a full race distance on a single charge, removing the need for mid-race car swaps that have been part of Formula E races since the championship’s inauguration in 2014.
Audi, DS, Jaguar, Venturi, Mahindra, Nissan and Dragon all ran the new-spec ca🎃rs for the first time. BMW, which is set to run as a full works squad from the 2018/19 season, and NIO were the only manufacturers absent from the test.
Di Grassi got the first taste of the new Audi e-tro🙈n FE05 and said he was left feeling “ov💞erwhelmed” after the test, which he labelled as a success for his team.
“My first impression was overwhelming - the car🔯 is a huge step forward in every respect,” di Grassi explained.
“We drove a lot, were able to focus on setup work and gathered p🦹lenty of data for the engineers. I feel that the first test was a resounding success – now I’m all the more excited about finally being able to drive the car on a city circuit.”
Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team principal Allan McNish added his outfit completing its plaℱnned running without any 💯significant issues.
“We did a lot of kilometers straight away without any major problems – which is the most important thing at the first rollout🍰 and good news for the whole team, trackside and at Audi in Neuburg.
“Lucas’ feedback was extremely positive, which makes us optimistic goingꦿ forw💮ard. We know we still have a lot of work to do in terms of testing and development before traveling to the first race of the new season and competing with our rivals for the first time.”
A second test isꦇ due to take place next month at the Calafat circuit in Catalonia.
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