- The reaction to the planned but scrapped new chicane at the Portland International Raceway has proved to be mixed with several drivers and team insiders expressing concern about the close proximity of the pit lane entry wall to the new complex.
- Maserati MSG deputy team principal Cyril Blais told FEN that he believed that the reversal had “We lost a bit of time and we were a bit frustrated because actually we had quite a bit of break between Shanghai and Portland so we had some private testing and then straight coming back from private testing we started doing some simulation and line extract for Portland and the new chicane, then straight away we are alighted to the race direction that the last chicane seems pretty dangerous and, for us, it needed modification.
- “Our feedback, not only our feedback but I think speaking to a lot of teams, everybody had the same impression that, I think the idea of the chicane was good to try to slow down a bit the track and make it a bit more interesting in the race but the layout itself needed a few tweaks. They waited until the last minute and actually you make the preparation more difficult.
- The FIA is re-visiting the testing of the fast-charging equipment at the London ExCeL EPrix free practice sessions next month. The Fortescue WAE supplied hardware has been trialled earlier this season in Mexico City, Sao Paulo and Misano but has not be utilised in races. This is because several issues have hampered the testing, although the FIA and Formula E is still pushing ahead with plans to introduce it next season. It was initially written in to the 2023 regulations as a possible addition to the race sporting format.
- An FIA spokesperson confirmed to FEN last week that a shakedown session has been added to the schedule. This was described as “specifically to reintroduce Attack Charge practices, the target being to allow competitors to test and try operational requirements of the Attack Charge in racing conditions.”
- A mainstay of Jean-Eric Vergne’s engineering team for several seasons is leaving the DS Penske team shortly. Thibault Arnal who has worked at DS Techeetah and subsequently DS Penske with Vergne since 2017 is continuing his role with Vergne until the end of the season.
- Arnal is believed to have received offers from the Jaguar TCS Racing and Maserati MSG squads. Jaguar denied Arnal was on his way to Kidlington to FEN last week, while Maserati MSG would not comment. However, FEN understands that the Monegasque squad is expected to confirm several key technical hires next month.
- Silverstone is considering a shortened version of the F1 track for what is likely to be at least a three year deal with Formula E from 2026 onwards. As revealed by The Race earlier this year, Formula E and Silverstone are likely to ink a deal to take over from the London ExCeL Arena which is set to host its last event in July 2025.
- The provisional plan could include by-passing the Wellington Straight and linking up with the Becketts and Maggots complex before continuing on the Hangar Straight and back around to the pits area, which FEN understands would be used much in the same way the Shanghai structures were utilised last month.
- FEN revealed last month that Silverstone MD Stuart Pringle held meetings with Formula E execs in Shanghai and is believed to be happy in principal with hosting British rounds of the all-electric world championship at the end of July. This would give reasonable gaps between the three major Silverstone events – the British Grand Prix in early July, the Moto GP round in early August and the Silverstone Festival at the end of August.
- Envision Racing’s Sylvain Filippi has stated that the team he heads next season will not be put in to the same position of having to find new drivers to cover for WEC committed drivers. Both Sebastien Buemi and Robin Frijns were forced to miss the two Berlin EPrixs in May.
- Filippi told FEN that “I’ve said that all along, its calendar clashes, in other words drivers having to prioritise which championship they want to do. Which is fine as long I’m quite happy with that direction.
- “The transition was difficult to manage, because of going from not clashing for eight years to clashing straightaway,” added Filippi. “The transition could have been managed better. But as a long term direction Formula E aim to have more races in the future. I can totally see why it’s complicated for the promoters.”
- Lola racing director Mark Preston told FEN after last week’s shakedown of its test and development Gen3Evo car that “everything went extremely well, way more than we’d hoped for.
- “They obviously had still had to run through some issues because it was the first time the car had been on track,” added Preston. “But it was mostly just little changes in software that we did. It went very smoothly.”
- Lola is set to continue its testing programme next month as it continues to put miles on its new hardware. It has a total of 20 days available as a customer supplying manufacturer.
- Former Grand Prix and Le Mans winner Johnny Herbert attended the first Lola test, held on 19th June at an airfield in the UK. Herbert, who is an associate of commercial manager Keith Smout, visited his first EPrix in London last July.
- Lola staff involved in the project include former HWA and AER engineers Michael Wilson (managing director), former Williams and McLaren staffer Mark Tatham (technical director), former Manor F1 and Aguri Formula E engineer Joao Correia and ex Ferrari software and control systems guru Dieter Gundel.
- Nissan conducted several days of running at Monteblanco earlier this month with its Gen3 Evo car with both Oliver Rowland and Sacha Fenestraz getting miles in the new-look car. A team spokesperson told FEN that the runs were “promising” but that it was “too early, as usual in this phase” to make any detailed conclusions.
- Envision Racing will be representing the world of sport on a global stage as part of an invitation to participate in the World Economic Forum’s 15th Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, People’s Republic of China, on 25-27 June 2024. Envision will be exhibiting the world’s first full-sized, driveable Formula E car – the Recover E – which is made entirely of electronic waste and was seen for the first time at last year’s London EPrix.
- A new executive has been approved to the board of Penske Autosport UK Ltd, the holding company of Jay Penske’s involvement in Formula E. Frank McCallick joined four fellow officers three weeks ago. His full role in Penske’s corporation is as Senior Vice President of Global Taxes and he is based in Los Angeles, as is fellow director Nicolas Mauduit.
- McLaren Racing announced earlier this month that applications were open for the second iteration of its programme aimed at identifying and supporting the next generation of female leaders in STEM.
- ‘60 Scholars’ returns for its second year to see successful applicants take part in an accelerated course of learning and mentorship with McLaren Racing and its partners with the aim of opening up pathways for a future career in the industry.
- Beginning in July, the 60 successful applicants will undertake an immersive six-week course based on three key themes in order to inspire and provide them with the tools needed to make a mark in the industry. Find out more HERE.
- A special The Race podcast addressing the 2025 Formula E drivers’ market and featuring FEN’s Sam Smith is available to listen to HERE.
- Donuts might be banned on the track but Andretti will be bring some to the paddock this weekend after striking a collaboration with local bakers Blue Star Donuts. In keeping with Formula E’s ethos the colourful treats are fully sustainable with the holes able to be recycled by consumers. Visit Blue Star Donuts HERE.
Sustainable Lola T70 series is born
Lola Cars has unveiled a brace of new sustainable versions of the legendary T70 model that has wowed race fans
