Lucas di Grassi takes Formula E title
Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport’s Lucas di Grassi is the new Formula E Champion after securing a comfortable points’ finish in the season finale at the Hydro-Quebec Montreal ePrix.
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Roborace names Michelin as official tyre partner
Roborace has named Michelin as its official tyre partner. Michelin has been working secretly at its testing facilities and sharing over 125 years of its expertise with Roborace to develop an exclusive solution for the ultimate ‘Robocar’, designed by Daniel Simon, which will feature next-generation Michelin road tyres to be used in the series. Roborace is currently in its Beta season appearing at Formula E circuits for exhibitions using its development car ‘DevBot’. The official unveiling of the championship’s Ultimate car will take place in 2017.
Pilot Sport EV2 brings more range, performance to Formula E
The mission of the FIA Formula E championship is to drive technology from the racetrack to the road, and this means we should be interested in how the second generation of Michelin’s Formula E race tyre performs. The new Pilot Sport EV2’s competitive debut took place at the Hong Kong ePrix on the weekend, allowing us to finally see what Michelin’s claimed “two steps” forward” in development means in terms of performance. Pascal Couasnon, director of Michelin Motorsport, is proud of the evolutionary development present in the second-generation tyre.
Michelin releases details of new Formula E tyre
For the third season of Formula E, Michelin – the series’ tyre partner since its September 2014 inception – will provide a second generation of the Pilot Sport EV tyre. Like the original Pilot Sport EV, whose specifications were inspired by similarities with road tyres, Michelin will see the new version as an opportunity to develop technologies applicable to its consumer product range.
Michelin ready with next-generation Formula E tyres
Launched in September 2014, the inaugural FIA Formula E Championship an on 18-inch, patterned Michelin Pilot Sport EV tyres. Work on developing new tyres for the second Formula E season had already begun when the FIA asked Michelin to continue with the same-spec tyre for the season in order to enable teams use a known tyre when developing their cars to meet new, less restrictive technical regulations. Work on the second-generation tyre nevertheless continued, and Michelin Motorsport says this means “two steps forward will have been taken” in regards to tyre development when its new tyre finally debuts at the start of the third Formula E season.
Michelin Pilot Sport EV rises to the track challenge in Mexico
The Mexico City ePrix saw the Michelin Pilot Sport EV face a very different challenge of competing around a permanent circuit, instead of at a temporary city-centre facility, as has been the case since the inaugural Formula E race in Beijing, in September 2014.
Previous venues have ranged from street tracks to public parks (as in London) and airfield runways (Berlin), but Mexico City chose the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez and in the infield of a baseball stadium to stage its round of the FIA Formula E Championship.
January launch for Michelin Pilot Sport 4
Michelin gives word that its fourth-generation Pilot Sport is being released in Europe as of this month. The initial launch range includes 17 tyres for 17 and 18-inch rims, with 19-inch fitments being introduced later this year and in 2017.
Nascar victory rounds off successful year for Tamworth brakes and clutch supplier
UK high-specification brakes and clutch manufacturer Alcon has experienced a successful 2015 motorsport season to go alongside its significant supply deals with Peugeot and Supacat among others. In late November, Kyle Busch claiming victory in the Nascar Sprint Cup race at the Homestead-Miami Speedway, and with it becoming the 2015 champion. Busch brought his Alcon-equipped, Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) Toyota home 1.5 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, to crown yet another successful year for the Tamworth-based manufacturer.
Video: Formula E extends 360° partnership
Formula E has entered into a joint partnership with leading immersive technology developers 360 Racing to continue to support 360° video for the championship. This 360° video will provide fans with an immersive 360 degree look into the new groundbreaking motorsport series from the drivers’ perspective. You can see an example of the technology in the full article.
Michelin Pilot Sport EV ‘consistent’ for Formula E in Malaysian humidity
Michelin’s Pilot Sport EV has helped Formula E to overcome difficult weather conditions in Putrajaya, Malaysia, despite temperatures in excess of 30°C, a track temperature of almost 50°C and humidity levels of between 60 and 90 per cent. Round 2 of the 2015/2016 Formula E ePrix featured the same format as 2014, with a 12-turn, 2.5km track and the start brought forward by two hours to 2:04pm local time in order to minimise the threat of wet weather. Torrential rain swept over the city an hour after the chequered flag was shown. The hot, damp conditions made the day hard not only for the drivers, but also for the battery of their all-electric single-seater racing cars.
Formula E to race on Michelin tyres for three further years
Michelin says it will continue as sole tyre supplier to the FIA Formula E Championship for an additional three seasons. The World Motor Sport Council confirmed Michelin supply for season 3 (2016-2017), 4 (2017-2018) and 5 (2018-2019), subject to the finalisation of the corresponding agreements. The tyre maker has served as a technical partner to Formula E since the championship’s creation.
New Donington Park record at Formula E pre-season testing
Lucas di Grassi became the first driver to record a time in the 1:29s on day four of pre-season testing at Donington Park. The Abt Schaeffler driver used the 200kw qualifying mode to post a lap of 1:29.920 to break the new lap record his team-mate Daniel Abt set yesterday. The Brazilian was well clear of his rivals, who were headed by Renault e.dams’ driver Sebastien Buemi.
London ePrix could boost electric car sales
The UK’s plug-in vehicle sector is already experiencing record levels of demand in 2015 and the finale of the Formula E season in London could accelerate this trend. With thousands of spectators watching the races, plus millions more watching the event across the world, electric vehicle campaign Go Ultra Low anticipates a boost to plug-in car enquiries and registration figures.
The excitement is electric at London ePrix double header
The outcome of the FIA Formula E Championship was decided at the final round in London. Sam Bird (Virgin) won the last ePrix of the season, whilst the all-electric series’ inaugural titles were won by Nelson Piquet (Nextev TCR) – Drivers’ championship – and e.dams-Renault – Constructors.
Michelin Pilot Sport EV durable in Berlin as Formula E stages round 8
Formula E’s eighth round was staged over the weekend at Berlin’s former Tempelhof Airport; an unusual backdrop for a track described by tyre supplier Michelin as one of the most delicate of the season for tyres. The twisty 17-turn, 2.47km course was dusty and dirty early in the day due to the relative lack of traffic, while its concrete slabs were particularly abrasive. The circuit’s width also allowed drivers to run three abreast in places, meaning heavy braking and hard acceleration were a feature of the event. These conditions present an obvious challenge for tyres to which Michelin’s grooved Pilot Sport EV rose.
