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Is the jury still out on Formula E?

Formula E has managed to win fans with less of the power than Formula One. (Photo: Formula E)
Expert
17th December, 2014
4

Motorsport’s new electric-powered open-wheel series is three races into its inaugural season and has gone some way to carving out a carbon-friendly footprint on the motorsport scene.

Formula E faced the difficult task of trying to draw attention without the aural appeal of other motorsport categories, with technology that may be the way of the future for the automotive industry but doesn’t necessarily excite revheads.

The series has come up with some novel ways to appeal and overcome the meek performance of the cars relative to other open-wheelers.

The decision to race on street circuits more akin to a go-kart track than a grand prix track has proved a winner. It’s much easier to attract a crowd to a street circuit that can double as a party weekend, especially in areas with little motorsport events such as recent Formula E host Uruguay.

And by staging Formula E races on these glorified go-kart tracks, it helps mask the lack of power and noise. Imagine watching a Formula E race at an expansive grand prix circuit? It would hardly entice fans.

The racing has proved to be close and entertaining with three different winners from three different teams thus far and the street circuits throwing up some real challenges for the drivers.

The grid is made up of an intriguing mix of former Formula One stars and up and coming talents, giving the series some credence as a serious open-wheel championship rather than a technological exhibition.

Formula E can carve out a market in the traditional motorsport off-season (the Australian summer) and will benefit from increased investment from an automotive industry increasingly moving towards ‘green’ technology.

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But it must address some technological drawbacks that have taken some of the shine off the racing so far this season.

The need for drivers to pit mid-race and swap cars, as the Formula E vehicles are unable to complete a race distance on a full battery life, does little to persuade the viewers of the practicality of electric cars. It’s an embarrassing look that must be addressed before season two.

Also, penalties for ‘exceeding power usage’ has seen a number of drivers punished for the offense and simply confuses fans over what the technology is capable of.

Gimmicks such as ‘fan boost’, where fans can vote for the driver they wish to receive extra power during the race, may create a way for fans to interact with the series, but does little for the purity of the sporting contest.

If Formula E can continue to work away on the technological limitations and focus on building up its calendar of street-circuit events, then it can survive and prosper as the premier electric-car series.

As drivers, teams and sponsors are priced out of the expensive world of Formula One, its Formula E counterpart could become an attractive proposition.

The foundation is there; now it’s a case of building up the series and winning people over to the electric revolution.

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