Formula E Overcomes Logistical Hurdles to Deliver Pre-Season Testing at Jarama
The sight of a hastily erected “2024/25 Madrid Official Testing” banner at the Jarama Circuit on Tuesday morning perfectly encapsulated the mighty effort undertaken by Formula E to ensure its pre-season testing went ahead this week, despite the challenging circumstances.
Just days after cancelling the original test in Valencia due to the devastating floods in the region, the all-electric championship managed to relocate the entire logistical operation to the Jarama Circuit in Madrid, an impressive feat accomplished within a tight 72-hour timeframe.
“The test was kind of a second thought. We were there to try to help the community, to try to serve them and trying to get back to normality as soon as possible. That was the top priority of Formula E,” championship co-founder, Alberto Longo, told Autosport.
With the Ricardo Tormo Circuit in Valencia being the main base for Formula E’s logistics, the task of transporting over 100 tons of equipment to a new location proved incredibly challenging. In the end, a fleet of eight trucks made nearly 40 trips to ferry the necessary resources to the Jarama Circuit, with the first arriving as late as 11 pm on Friday and the last at 3 pm on Monday.
“We have a very positive attitude in Formula E, we have a lot of people that are fully committed to the company and they have worked 24/7 for three days, and the spirit was always very positive,” Longo added.
Despite the logistical hurdles, Formula E was able to deliver its pre-season test as scheduled, a testament to the championship’s operational expertise and crisis management abilities. As Longo pointed out, Formula E’s experience of organizing races in the heart of major cities worldwide has prepared the series to be fluid in dealing with unexpected challenges.
The championship also paid tribute to the victims of the Valencia floods, observing a minute of silence before the start of testing and making a €50,000 donation to support the affected community.
As the 2024/25 Formula E season approaches, the series’ ability to overcome such logistical obstacles while maintaining its commitment to safety and community support underscores its resilience and adaptability in the ever-evolving world of electric motorsport.
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