First test for Renault's racing revolution

Renault is ready to clean up motor racing with a successful first test of its all-electric Formula-E racer. The zero emission Spark-Renault SRT_01E was given its inaugural shake down run by former Grand Prix driver Lucas di Grassi at the La Ferté Gaucher circuit near Choisy-le-Roi in France last month.

 

After the run, di Grassi said: “It’s a great feeling to be driving the Formula E car for the first time. I can assure all the drivers that they will have a lot of fun with this car.”

 

The single-seater completed 40 laps over two days. As the test was to prove the basic functions were working properly, the car had just 50kW at its disposal rather than the peak 200kW it will have in race trim… when 0-100km/h will be a take-your-breath-way three seconds.

 

Despite this, di Grassi was impressed. “Even with a quarter of the power it has quite a lot of grip and the electric motor produces huge torque,” he said.The Spark-Renault racer has been built by single-seat experts Dallara Racing with Renault Sport providing the electric motor and its EV expertise. 

 

The FIA-sanctioned Formula E series starts in September 2014 and will be held on street races in the centre of some of the largest cities in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Ten two-car teams will be competing for overall honours and the series has attracted many big names.Among the teams to have submitted entries are Andretti Autosport of IndyCar fame, former F1 team Super Aguri and Virgin Racing. The latest to join the fray is Hollywood star Leonardo diCaprio, who has co-founded the new Venturi Grand Prix Formula E team.