zzdcar
Home
/
Reviews
/
Racing
/
Formula E Wants Its Cars To Be Less Tough So Drivers Won't Hit Each Other As Often
Formula E Wants Its Cars To Be Less Tough So Drivers Won't Hit Each Other As Often-November 2024
2024-02-19 EST 22:11:08

Robin Frijns, who won the second race of the New York City E-Prix, racing in Brooklyn.

One of the perks of a racing series with entirely electric cars is that they barely make a sound, letting anyone around hear exactly what’s happening on track—including every bit contact, and there’s been a lot of that in this year. But the series apparently wants to cool it down, and may do so by making the cars easier to damage—at least, when a driver hitting another from behind.

That, according to , means the current second-generation cars will get a “facelift” after the upcoming 2019 to 2020 season is over.

The plan is for the current car to stay around , but FIA circuit championships director Frederic Bertrand told Motorsport.com the idea for the facelift is to create a type of “self punishment” for certain contact.That’ll happen by virtue of an updated bodykit designed to make the front of the car weaker, Motorsport.com reports.

Bertrand said there needs to be a balance, though, because the car needs to be slightly weak in front but not weak enough to cause a bunch of regular yellow flags for nose debris. Since Formula E races are run on time limits instead of lap counts, that would kill the show.

There’s also the need to put the self punishment on the correct drivers, which Bertrand said isn’t happening now. Here’s more from him, via the story:

“I don’t know if weak is the right word [for the goal on the nose] – it’s more that when you race in most single seater [series], if you push the guy in front you lose your nose and then you have to go back to the pits.

“If you maybe kill the race of the guy in front but you’re also self-punished [is the intention].

“The difficulty we have right now is that guy in front is spoiled but the one behind is not and this is a big issue.

“But we’ll do a car that is a little bit more self-punishing. Because fragile or weak is not the case because it will still be very strong.”

Encouraging less contact in a racing series might look like a strange goal on the surface, especially since the crowd in the hairpin of the erupted at all of the chaos in front of them that could be seen and heard thanks to the quiet race cars. The doubleheader was a great show in terms of racing and contact between drivers and, if we’re honest, nobody every looks upon a round of bumper cars with a frown on their face.

It makes sense underneath, though, since Formula E is a racing series that’s trying to establish itself as a big deal and not a passing fad among viewers. (Manufacturers , since Formula E lets them show off future road technology.)

But regardless of whether you’d rather have more responsible contact or just plain more contact, the latter will be true for at least one more season. It might be a good time to tune in.

Comments
Welcome to zzdcar comments! Please keep conversations courteous and on-topic. To fosterproductive and respectful conversations, you may see comments from our Community Managers.
Sign up to post
Sort by
Show More Comments
Racing
The Rapid Response Documentary Transforms The Tragedy Of Death In IndyCar Into Romanticized Spectacle
The Rapid Response Documentary Transforms The Tragedy Of Death In IndyCar Into Romanticized Spectacle
On September 6, Rapid Response will hit theaters. This film—based on , which has recently been re-released—is ostensibly about the vast safety improvements made by American open-wheel racing as a result of one doctor and his dedicated team. But if you’re looking for a serious and in-depth treatment of this...
Nov 8, 2025
Here's Lando Norris' Three Golden Rules Of Attending A Race
Here's Lando Norris' Three Golden Rules Of Attending A Race
While drivers are probably more familiar with the race weekend experience than most of us will ever be, I can’t say I’ve found them to be particularly good about giving advice re: how to enjoy the weekend as a fan. But McLaren driver ? He knows how it’s done....
Nov 8, 2025
Silly Season Is Upon Us: What Are Your Favorite Rumors So Far?
Silly Season Is Upon Us: What Are Your Favorite Rumors So Far?
Late August is the perfect time of year for rumors of massive musical chairs-level changes happening to the driver lineups in pretty much every motorsport series across the board. Most of this stuff doesn’t end up happening, but that doesn’t mean we’re not all going to speculate until our...
Nov 8, 2025
Formula One's 2020 Season Will Have More Races Than Ever Before
Formula One's 2020 Season Will Have More Races Than Ever Before
I hope y’all are ready to watch plenty of race cars in 2020, because has just released its provisional calendar, and we’re looking at there being more races next year than there have ever been in the sport’s history. Yes, you can get excited now. Yes, race fans—next year,...
Nov 8, 2025
Controlled Substance Charges Dismissed Against Suspended NASCAR Truck Series Driver
Controlled Substance Charges Dismissed Against Suspended NASCAR Truck Series Driver
After he was pulled over for an improper lane change this month and his vehicle was searched, New York State Policecharged NASCAR Truck Series driver Tyler Dippel with criminal possession of a controlled substance, leading to a NASCAR suspension that’s sidelined him for at least one race. But Dippel...
Nov 8, 2025
These Are Some Of The Most Ingenious Innovations Ever Implemented On An F1 Car
These Are Some Of The Most Ingenious Innovations Ever Implemented On An F1 Car
is all about technological innovation, which also means finding new and improved ways to skirt the rules to gain that slight advantage over your competitors. If the FIA doesn’t specifically ban it, you might just have a good shot at finding a way to make it work for you. The...
Nov 8, 2025
Copyright 2023-2025 - www.zzdcar.com All Rights Reserved