The Formula E championship, single-seaters powered by an electric motor, concluded with the double race in New York. Jean-Éric Vergne reconfirmed himself as Champion of the category and it is the first time in FE history that a driver has won two titles.
Among the teams, the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team reconfirmed itself (it had already won last year) by excelling.

Scrolling through the rankings, you cannot help but notice the prestige and number of manufacturers and the level of drivers, now comparable to those engaged in F1. Therefore, the time has come to draw the championship scenario and introduce it to even the most distracted.

Formula E is the world’s leading electric single-seater series

Established in 2014, it is growing rapidly and includes some of the biggest brands in theautomotive industry among its participants. The races are held under the auspices of the FIA even though the series does not yet enjoy world championship status.

Formula E comes to life from the intuition of Alejandro Agag who, noting that the future of mobility will be dominated by electric cars, decided to create a series in which single-seaters are powered by this type of engine. It is intended to prove that environmentally friendly cars can create a compelling spectacle while at the same time offering manufacturers a chance to showcase their expertise in electric alleyways. And what better stage than race tracks? ThusFormula E was born.

Manufacturers present

The first manufacturers to enthusiastically embrace the concept were: Renault, Jaguar, Nio, Venturi, Mahindra, DS Automobile, Audi, and BMW later joined by Mercedes and from 2020 Porsche . In 2019 Nissan took over from Renault: these are brands from the same group, which evidently at the sporting level has different strategies for different brands.

The why of an exhilarating championship

The first eight races of the year were won by eight different drivers, a fact that added spice to the spectacle. The widespread competitiveness and uncertainty of outcome is one of Formula E’s greatest strengths.

The technical regulations require all cars to have the same chassis and battery. Few changes are possible (powertrain, cooling system and gearbox are the only components that can be changed). At the sporting level, there is no tire change and the races are easy to understand.Simple and guessed rules mean competitiveness and fun races for spectators and fans.

Motorsport and sustainability

This is a possible and necessary coupling to be in step with the times. The overt environmental crisis must also be countered by those involved in racing. Understanding this and renewing oneself means being able to continue to be appreciated by the public and to attract companies and sponsors: no one nowadays wants or can afford to be linked to polluting and environmentally harmful activities. Motorsport is also changing through Formula E to continue to offer fans the chance to watch exciting but zero-impact racing.

This is the challenge we face now, at the same time as the development of electric cars and the supporting infrastructure needed for them.

Toward electric mobility with an eye toward research but without losing sight of marketing

All manufacturers are studying the introduction of electric cars, FormulaE then becomes the natural context in which research and development will take place, performance will be improved, and technological capabilities will be communicated to the public.

Who is missing?

We have already mentioned those present, the group is missing only Honda, Ford and FCA, although Honda, in the person of the CEO of F1 programs, Masashi Yamamoto, told Motorsport.com that he is closely following the development of the series. “As Honda, we have had conversations with Alejandro Agag -referring to the founder and CEO of Fe- FormulaE is raced in cities, it’s like advertising using racing, rather than pure competition.”

Honda is in the process of marketing its new electric car in Europe, which explains its interest in the series. “There are a lot of customers interested in our electric cars so it is only fair to target them,” Yamamoto continued, “Some technologies can be borrowed from racing and used on production cars, that’s why we are interested.”

The choice of city circuits

The possibility of hosting competitions in the heart of cities. A championship graced by iconic cities, tourist destinations regardless of the sporting event. An excellent opportunity to promote tourism, sustainability, and sports as the races in Rome and New York, just to name two stand to demonstrate.

Formula E and social interaction

A growing audience, (the numbers speak of double- and triple-digit increases) a hard-fought championship, continued interaction via social media between the public and drivers through #fanboost that can have real effects on the race. The public can grant a preference to drivers, and the top 5 vote-getters can take advantage of a significant 5-second power boost in the second half of the race…sounds ideal for the decisive overtake.

Entertainment first

And to mix things up even more theattack mode: two time windows in which drivers can enjoy an extra power boost for a few minutes. Attack mode is activated by passing over a designated lane on the track, and all drivers must take advantage of it twice during the course of the race.

Let’s summarize.

In essence, this is a championship that is run using electric cars-the cars of the future, destined to replace those that rely on old and polluting endothermic engines.

A leap forward in which the major German manufacturers (Audi, Porsche, BMW, Mercedes) are engaged, and this speaks volumes about the industry’s focus on series. A technological proving ground in which to develop solutions to be poured into the series product. A chance to take the show to where the public already is, perhaps by passing under the windows of their homes .

The Budget

Low costs, one season of FE does not involve investments, all-inclusive, exceeding fifteen million euros….A drop in the bucket when compared to F1 budgets.

The Audience

A growing audience and interesting races, it is easy to foresee a bright future for electric racing in the coming years.
Certainly already FE represents a credible and sustainable alternative to F1, and companies interested in racing can consider this series for their sports marketing programs.

MotoE, is a star born?

(In my opinion!) And the same arguments used for Formula E can be applied to MotoE, which made its debut on the track in 2019. High-performance motorcycles (the Italian Energica) and capable of delivering excellent performance, a competitive group of riders eager to deliver a compelling show.

I am sure that in a few years, in spite of the most recalcitrant conservatives, MotoE will have established itself as a sustainable alternative and/or alongside traditional racing.* Path this evidently envisioned by Dorna, which in a forward-looking manner has, unlike F1, taken this new category in-house.

We will see major technical developments that will lead to lighter, higher-performance bikes capable of lowering lap times by several seconds. The first race did not disappoint, The stage is the same as the more famous MotoGP and this makes the growth of the category inevitable.

Races broadcast live on the same TV as its big sister, the same circuits, the same facilities and the same possibilities – for sponsors – to intercept fans, the same facilities in terms of hospitality…A success announced with the possibility of a completely different storytelling, sustainable, clean, silent and zero impact.

Companies in industries traditionally distant from motorsports can now take advantage of this innovative Clean Championship, certainly capable of helping them achieve their business and marketing goals without going against corporate policies geared toward sustainability and zero impact

Here for you is the revised schedule of MotoE 2019 and the 2019/2020 FormulaE calendar

In case you would like information about leagues and teams participating in this series please feel free to contact us using info@rtrsports.com

* I remember the complaints registered with the transition from 500cc 2-strokes to MotoGP 4-strokes in 2002. Over the years this category has given us some of the most spectacular racing ever and is now seen as the pinnacle of technology. Then the manufacturers realizing that the 2-stroke no longer had a commercial future because of noise and pollution decided to marry 4-stroke engines, in the fairly near future I believe we will see the same transition between 4-strokes and electric motors.