The all-electric Formula E World Championship has unveiled its new car design for next season.
And it’s safe to say Formula 1 won’t be agreeing to a drag race anytime soon.
The Gen 3 Evo is an impressive car – and is quicker than their Formula 1 rivalsCredit: Formula E
Currently contesting its tenth season, the series has consistently pushed the boundaries of electric racing.
The next campaign will see the launch of the new Gen 3 Evo car – the mid-cycle refresh of the current Gen 3 vehicle.
The new design includes a sturdier front wing, re-modelled bodywork and a new compound of Hankook tyre that will increase grip by between five-ten per cent – something particularly important with the significant increase in performance.
The addition of all wheel drive for the first time in the championship’s history will see acceleration never experienced before in any single-seater FIA-accredited series.
In early testing, the Gen 3 Evo achieved 0-60mph in a lightning-fast 1.82 seconds.
That’s almost a third quicker than anything Max Verstappen can dream of in his current Red Bull Formula 1 car.
While the three-time F1 world champion would eventually surpass the new sustainability-minded challenger in terms of top speed, the Gen 3 Evo is no slouch with speeds of 200mph within its capabilities.
Formula E safety car and development driver Bruno Corriea was quick to laugh off any concerns over whether the Gen 3 Evo car could even be too powerful for drivers to handle.
The new vehicle boasts a sleek new designCredit: Formula E
When it comes to 0-60mph, the Gen 3 Evo can beat a Formula 1 carCredit: Formula E
He told talkSPORT: “The drivers are top performance machines – if they’re not ready for this, then they should quit their job!”
Former F1 driver David Coulthard will put those bold claims to the test this Saturday, when he drives the first public laps in the Gen 3 Evo car on the iconic Monte Carlo circuit, ahead of the Monaco E-Prix.
Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds has insisted the unveiling of the Gen3 Evo has marked a ‘ground-breaking chapter in the evolution of Formula E’.
He added: “Featuring unprecedented acceleration and an advanced aerodynamic design, the car that I had the honour of unveiling in Monaco is set to intensify the thrill of our racing, captivating our drivers and fans around the world with truly superior capabilities and performance.”
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has also hailed the new car.
He remarked: “The FIA and Formula E have been working hard on the development process of this new Gen3 Evo race car, which represents another significant leap forward in electric racing technology.
“I would like to thank both FIA and Formula E teams for the hard work which underlines our shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of sustainable motorsport, while delivering competitive racing.”
