Dakar Rally: Gen3 Formula E Cars Hit the Track for Intense Pre-Season Testing
As the highly anticipated Gen3 era of the all-electric Formula E championship reaches its midpoint, the sport’s latest and most powerful cars took to the track this week for crucial pre-season testing. With more power, advanced technology, and new tire compounds, these machines are set to provide an even more thrilling spectacle for fans in the upcoming season.
Faced with disrupted plans due to the dramatic weather conditions that affected the Valencia region just days ago, the testing sessions were quickly relocated to the Jarama circuit in Madrid. “It’s a beautiful facility, reminiscent of the iconic Mugello circuit,” said Eugenio Franzetti, Director of DS Performance, the competition department responsible for designing the DS Penske Formula E cars. “While Jarama and Valencia may not be the most typical Formula E venues, the championship organizers have done an incredible job in reorganizing the testing schedule on short notice.”
With the focus firmly on preparing the cars for the season opener in São Paulo on December 7th, this week’s test sessions represented a crucial opportunity for teams to gather valuable data and assess the performance levels of their rivals. “There are three key areas we’re closely monitoring this season,” Franzetti explained. “The new, softer tires that offer greater peak performance, the increased power output from the ‘attack mode’ feature, and the expanded manufacturer presence with Porsche fielding six cars.”
Indeed, the early signs from the Jarama test suggest a closely contested season ahead, with the two DS Penske cars and the Porsche-powered Kiro entries setting the pace in the final practice session. “It’s always good to be at the front, but we can’t read too much into these test results,” Franzetti cautioned. “The true competitive order will only become clear once we get to the season-opening races in Brazil and Mexico.”
With the cars now set to be dismantled and transported to São Paulo, the Formula E teams and drivers will be eager to put the insights gained from this week’s testing into practice as they kick off their 2023 Dakar Rally campaign. As the Gen3 era reaches new heights, the stage is set for another thrilling season of all-electric motorsport action.
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