OOO Formula-E 2015/2016

[strudel]

This Saturday sees the start of the new season in Beijing (Live on ITV4 at 0900 BST, buildup before).

I quite enjoyed last year. They might not the fastest cars in the world (but then neither are formula ford), and the lack of noise is an issue to some, but different team tactics led to enjoyable racing. As battery technology isn't upto it (yet), they're still running two cars per driver with a swap halfway through, but it's usually good to shake up the order.

The race is only 50 mins long so if you're unsure, give it a watch! (but don't expect much from the buildup if last year is to go by).



Changes:

This year the teams get a bit more of a say in the matter, no longer running totally spec cars. The powertrain (motor/inverter/gearbox) can now be developed freely and max race power is up from 150KW to 170KW (230bhp), with 200 KW (270bhp) available in qualifying. However races are a tad longer than last year with no more battery power, so it'll have to be used carefully. Andretti racing are just going to use last year's car so we'll see how that works out for them.

Qualifying has a new format, four groups of five who get 6 minutes each to set a time. Then there is a superpole shootout to decide the sharp end.

Tyres are 4 front and 4 rears per driver, plus two carried over the previous race. With two cars per driver, that's just one set of tyres per weekend.




With a large number of ex-F1 drivers, plus GP2 and DTM, it should be a cracking championship this year. With no Trulli, fortunately. There's even a lady racing (and why not, I should hear you say)

Anyone else watching this?

[tin duck dave]

Not until they start racing on proper tracks instead of mickey mouse, might as well be a cycle track as its too narrow for 2 cars in most places, joke circuits.

[AnotherClarkey]

tin duck dave said:

Not until they start racing on proper tracks instead of mickey mouse, might as well be a cycle track as its too narrow for 2 cars in most places, joke circuits.

There is certainly room for improvement but I sincerely hope that they never race on 'proper tracks'. I want to see them on good 'real road' street circuits in city centres.

[anonymous-user]

AnotherClarkey said:

tin duck dave said:

Not until they start racing on proper tracks instead of mickey mouse, might as well be a cycle track as its too narrow for 2 cars in most places, joke circuits.

There is certainly room for improvement but I sincerely hope that they never race on 'proper tracks'. I want to see them on good 'real road' street circuits in city centres.

It'll be a long time before they're fit for proper circuits, though surely they could do better than they have done? Disappointing that the promised significant performance increases haven't materialised.

Looks like more of the same so, in answer to the OP, very unlikely.

[anonymous-user]

Good and bad news from the first practice session of the year. Renault E Dams are 2.1 seconds quicker than the next car but lap times overall are much faster than last season.

The Trulli team look set to pull out from the weekend after some issues building their cars in time.

http://www.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/beijing-e...

[MyVTECGoesBwaaah]

First FE race I've seen right the way through - I thought it was quite good actually.

[strudel]

I enjoyed it. For a moment I thought Piquet was going to pull a blinder and romp a long way up the field, but sadly it didn't happen.

I hadn't realised the spread of gears in use, will be interesting to see how that plays out in the year.

Would love to be a fly on the wall in the Dragon garage...

[johnaachen]

tin duck dave said:

Not until they start racing on proper tracks instead of mickey mouse, might as well be a cycle track as its too narrow for 2 cars in most places, joke circuits.

Yes, because Monaco and Long Beach are very "mickey mouse".

[anonymous-user]

johnaachen said:

tin duck dave said:

Not until they start racing on proper tracks instead of mickey mouse, might as well be a cycle track as its too narrow for 2 cars in most places, joke circuits.

Yes, because Monaco and Long Beach are very "mickey mouse".

Well, arguably they are in their normal form. In the restricted form that both of those tracks are used for FE, they definitely fall into the Disney category...........