The highly anticipated debut of an electric vehicle race in Cape Town is just around the corner, with the checkered flag scheduled to wave this Saturday, February 25th.
This momentous occasion marks a significant milestone for the city, with an electrifying display of racing that is expected to attract a surge in tourism and elevate its global reputation.
For those eager to witness the excitement of this weekend’s event, here’s a breakdown of the Formula E race regulations, team qualifications, and a preview of the Cape Town circuit.
The rules of a Formula E race
The Formula E championship uses a standard points system, as defined by the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), which awards points to the top 10 finishers as follows:
- 1st place – 25pts
- 2nd place – 18pts
- 3rd place – 15pts
- 4th place – 12pts
- 5th place – 10pts
- 6th place – 8pts
- 7th place – 6pts
- 8th place – 4pts
- 9th place – 2pts
- 10th place – 1pt
In addition to the points earned for their finishing position, the driver who claims the Pole Position (the first starting position) during the qualifying rounds, and the driver who records the fastest lap during the race itself, provided they finish within the top 10, will receive extra points. Otherwise, the point will be considered void.
A total of 11 teams, each with two drivers, will be competing, resulting in 22 electric vehicles taking to the track on Saturday. Renowned names such as Porsche, Jaguar, Maserati, Nissan, DS Automobiles, Mahindra, and Nio will be represented in the race.
The electric vehicles participating in the race possess a unique advantage called “Attack Mode.” This is a limited-use boost mode that enables drivers to veer off the racing line and enter a designated activation zone on the track to temporarily increase their car’s power output and gain an edge over their competitors.
The Gen3 cars, which will be featured in this race, are the fastest electric race cars to date. They have a standard power cap of 300kW, but engaging Attack mode allows the driver to access up to 350kW of power.
It is not permitted to charge the electric cars during either the qualifying rounds or the race itself. Furthermore, each car may only have a maximum of four front and four rear replacement tyres for each event.
How teams qualify for the race
Teams participate in five distinct sessions over the course of a typical Formula E race weekend. These include the shakedown, two free practice sessions, a qualifying stage, and the race itself.
A shakedown, which takes place usually on the day preceding the main event, is a driving session where teams test the cars at a reduced speed to ensure that everything, including the electronics, is in working order before the race begins.
The practice sessions, lasting between 30 to 45 minutes, allow drivers to acquaint themselves with the track and there are no speed limits. This provides them with an opportunity to mentally prepare themselves before the official start of the race.
The qualifying stages are relatively intricate, as the format has undergone changes over the years. According to the most recent rules, drivers are separated into two groups based on their positions in the championship. Drivers in odd-numbered positions are designated to Group A, while those in even-numbered positions are placed in Group B.
However, there is an exception for the first race of the season, as each team is allowed to nominate one driver to participate in the qualifiers.
Each team is given ten minutes to attempt to achieve the fastest lap time at a set power output of 300kW, following which the four quickest drivers from each team proceed to the Duels stage.
The duels work as knockout rounds, with drivers competing head-to-head with a raised power cap of 350kW. The results of these duels determine which drivers move on to the quarter-finals, semi-finals, and finals.
These rankings establish the starting positions for the main race, with the finalists through to quarter-finalists being assigned to positions 1 to 8, followed by the remaining drivers placed in alternating odd and even positions based on their lap times and original A or B group.
Cape Town Formula E
The Cape Town circuit effectively forms a loop around the city’s DHL stadium, with the route winding through the narrow streets of the neighboring districts of Green Point and Sea Point.
The track is 2.94km long and has a total of 12 turns, as well as several long straight sections that will enable drivers to push their electric vehicles to the limit.
Grandstand seating is located at four main points around the track, and construction and road closures have already started, indicating that local drivers should plan alternative routes to bypass the area over the next few days.
One of the major concerns for the Cape Town Formula E race is load shedding, as South Africa is currently experiencing stage 6 power outages. These outages can last up to four-and-a-half hours, three times a day. However, the event organizers have reassured the public that this won’t be a problem. According to IOL, the organizers have a primary power plan with the City of Cape Town that provides the required power, except for the car charges. Ian Banner, the chairperson of e-Movement, stated that there is a big ecosystem in place to support the event. Additionally, the organizers will have 28 backup generators running on bio-fuel, which aligns with the sustainable themes of the electric race series. These generators will provide the 2MW required to charge the vehicles on race day.
0 Comments