The Gentleman Magazine Issue 18 | December 2019 | Page 22

RACE DEBUT FOR THE MERCEDES-BENZ EQ
FORMULA E TEAM: THE DAWN OF A NEW ERA
After 125 years of motorsport, Mercedes-Benz is about to open
a new chapter in its successful racing history with the Diriyah
E-Prix scheduled to take place this coming weekend. The maximum power of this boost after activation will be 235
kW instead of 225 kW. However, Attack Mode must not be
used during a safety car deployment or a Full Course Yellow.
As the 2019/20 ABB FIA Formula E Championship season gets
underway, the two Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01s driven
by Stoffel Vandoorne and Nyck de Vries will be competing in
the electric racing series for the first time. It truly is the dawn
of a new era. There is also an innovation in the scoring system: the fastest
drivers in each qualifying group receive an extra point. The
pole-sitter continues to benefit from the three bonus points.
What’s new in season six?
For the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team, the electric racing
series constitutes unfamiliar territory. But for the other teams
too, this season brings a number of significant changes in the
regulations. For every minute of interruption to normal racing
(safety car, Full Course Yellow), each car will have 1 kWh
deducted from its available energy reserves. This puts energy
efficiency even more in the foreground. In addition, the clock
will be stopped in the event of an interruption to proceedings,
which will ensure that the E-Prix goes the full distance. The
usual race duration in Formula E is 45 minutes plus one lap.
The so-called Attack Mode is also being slightly changed this
season. If this overtaking aid is activated by the car driving
over three detector strips located off the racing line, the driver
benefits from a time-limited power boost.
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In the race itself, the points are awarded on the same basis as in
Formula 1, i.e. from first to tenth place. There is another extra
point for the fastest race lap, but only if the driver posting it has
finished within the Top Ten.
What’s so special about Formula E?
Formula E is more than exciting motorsport. Within a very
short space of time, the electric racing series has become
established as a pioneer as regards to technological innovation,
sustainability and electro mobility. Racing takes place on
specially designed street circuits in the centres of major cities.
In this way, the race is brought directly to spectators – and not
the other way around.
For the automotive industry, the electric racing series represents
a huge testing ground, and for Mercedes in particular, it is an
opportunity to showcase the performance of its battery-electric
powertrains in motorsport and to enhance the EQ brand.
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