The fifth season of the all-electric FIA Formula E World Championship kicks off this weekend with the inaugural Ad Diriyah E-Prix and we're pretty excited about it!
There's plenty of reasons why you should be watching this year, but here's just five which might just convince you to tune in…
1. Big Name Drivers
Formula E has always boasted some big name drivers in Sebastien Buemi, Lucas di Grassi and Jean-Eric Vergne among others, but this upcoming season arguably has the most recognisable line-up with a household name joining the ranks.
Former Ferrari and Williams Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa makes his debut with Venturi and will be joined by another ex-F1 man in Stoffel Vandoorne, following his departure from McLaren where he spent two seasons as Fernando Alonso’s team-mate.
Reigning DTM champion Gary Paffett also makes his debut, partnering Vandoorne at HWA.
2. Manufacturer Interest
This season not only boasts big name drivers, but big name teams too. No longer is F1 and WEC the series of choice for major automotive companies, that title is now held by Formula E.
BMW, Audi, Jaguar, Nissan and DS (a subdivision of Citroen) will all line-up on the grid this weekend, whilst Mercedes is represented through HWA – but will take up its own slot in 2019 alongside major rival Porsche.
There are other global names involved too. NEO, GEOX Dragon, Mahindra, Envision/Virgin and Venturi.
Why? Because the technology which drives Formula E is transferable to the real world and as the speed with which we move towards electric powered vehicles increases, the more relevant the series becomes as a major test bed for future powertrain and battery development.
3. Car Swapping No More
This is the first time in the series five-year history that the car will be capable of completing an entire race distance without the need to swap midway.
Previously drivers had to stop and then jump from one car into a second, as the battery technology wasn’t capable of holding enough charge to power the car the entire distance. That changes this year with FE’s Gen2 car.
The new Gen2 car has wowed fans with its futuristic styling and for the first time will include the FIA’s halo head protection device which features fancy LEDs to communicate things such as ‘Attack Mode’ and ‘Fanboost’. But it’s not all about looks, the cars are quicker, too. Top speed is roughly 40mph greater than the previous model and tops out at around 180mph! These cars aren’t slow.
4. The Unknown
Such are the changes, it’s almost as if Formula E’s bosses have hit the reset button, installed software version 2.0 which has improved every aspect of the series.
A new car, new rules, new drivers, teams and circuits means nobody is quite sure what to expect when the season kicks off this weekend in Saudi Arabia.
Will the batteries be able to hold enough power to reach the finish line, or will it require uber power management? How many cars will actually finish the first race? Will anyone make use of ‘Attack Mode’? There’s many unanswered questions which will only be answered this Saturday!
5. What Else Is There To Watch?
We’re all motorsport fans and quite frankly, we hate the winter when traditionally the motorsport season draws to a close, the cars and equipment are packed away and we’re either forced to watch repeats, highlights on YouTube or count down the days until Spring, when the action starts up again.
But withdrawal symptoms no more! We have been rescued from the darkness that is the off-season by Formula E’s decision to hold much of its season during the winter months, meaning our thirst for on-track action has well and truly been quenched.
If FE wasn’t your thing before now – why the hell not? It’s been pretty entertaining – then we’d urge you to give it a go once more as this season promises to be something truly special and it might just convince you to keep tuning in throughout the 13-round calendar.
Plus, it’s easier than ever to watch with the BBC broadcasting all rounds for UK viewers. For a complete broadcaster list, click here.
