Formula E moving towards 2014 launch with Rome picked as a host city

The Formula E electric race car series is beginning to take shape for their first season, currently scheduled for 2014.  Yesterday the series announced an agreement that Rome will be the first European city to host a Formula E race.  In November the series announced a deal with McLaren and newly formed Spark Racing Technologies (SRT) to supply 42 electric race cars, ensuring that there will be enough cars to fill a racing grid. (see links below for both)

Rome is the second city to welcome the Formula E electric championship series following Rio di Janeiro’s announcement in August.

The first full season of Formula E racing, the 2014 Championship, will feature 10 urban races. Rather than being held at a race track, the Formula E series will be held in city centers. Because the Formula E cars are powered on electricity, the race won't add to the toxic fume pollution in the city, nor add to noise pollution in the city.

Formula E Holdings say that a large number of cities are interested in hosting the Formula E series races. The list of venues will soon be proposed to the FIA for the first season (2014) and there will be further announcements of other cities in the coming weeks.

Formula E's plans took a concrete step on Thursday with an order for 42 electric Formula cars to be built by McLaren and a newly formed company, Spark Racing Technology (SRT).

The Formula E is an FIA sanctioned Championship series featuring Formula cars powered on electricity.  Demonstrations of Formula E electric race cars are due in 2013, with the race series itself launching in 2014. The series is expected to have 10 teams, 20 drivers, with the races themselves staged in urban centers around the world.

The deal is for a collaboration between McLaren and SRT to build race cars for the series.  SRT is a new company and has Frédéric Vasseur as its CEO.  Vasseur had previously run Formulec, a company which built the first electric Formula car.  Vasseur later joined the Formula E organization when Formula E Holdings bought his company last August.  Now they are starting a new race car technology company, so I suppose this means they're relaunching Formulec under a new name and tasked with providing cars and technology to Formula E.

Formula E is designated as an 'open' series, meaning that the teams are free to build their own vehicles.

Why, then, is Formula E getting into the business of building electric cars and providing them to the teams?  I'm sure that it's a simple matter of ensuring a full race grid.  It would be embarrassing and unattractive-to-fans if the 2014 season featured only two teams, because it was so expensive to build suitable race cars and launch a full team of engineers, drivers and support crew.

The series plans to have four cars per team, with two drivers per team.  I've been told that this is because during a race they plan to have each car do a set number of laps, followed by the teams' second car making a few more laps, and so on, until all four cars have run.  I don't know the precise race format (will ask Formula E for more information) but the point here is the expense this will entail for each team.

For each team to have four electric Formula cars - well, you're talking about millions of dollars of funding per team.  Just to get started.  How many teams will be able to afford this?  

For Formula E to provide cars to teams should reduce the barrier-to-entry for teams to sign up and participate. At the same time, by being an 'open' series the door is open to a team to develop their own race cars. For example, when Toyota Motorsports set a lap record at the Nürburgring (or Nürburg Ring) in August 2011, with the EV P001, they claimed to have proved the TMG electric drive train was "ideal to power any future single-make electric motorsport series." This is a broad hint that TMG intends to participate in a future electric race car series, and/or to supply parts to teams who wish to do so.

Having attended quite a few TTXGP races I've seen up-close the effect of an 'open' series.  A risk exists of extreme power mismatches between the teams, resulting in fast and slow cars racing each other.  That degrades the enjoyment of the race, and is a bit dangerous to the racers.  Especially when the speed difference is 60 miles/hr, and the slow vehicles look like they're standing still when passed by a faster bike.  Formula E is planning to release technical rules soon, and perhaps the rules will specify power levels and battery pack sizes to ensure the cars in their series are evenly matched.


Jean Todt, FIA President, said: "It gives me great pleasure to be in Rome for this exciting announcement that the eternal city has expressed its firm interest to host a race in the Formula E 2014 championship calendar. The contrast between this innovative motorsport series and the rich ancient history of Rome is one I am sure the public and the media will be intrigued and enriched by."

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings said: “We are honored to have Rome on board as the first European city to host Formula E, since Italy is renowned for its motorsports passion, expertise and technical innovation. Clean urban mobility and sustainability are a priority for our Championship, and Formula E wants to become a showcase for these advances through an entertaining and all-inclusive spectacle. We are thankful to the Rome City Mayor and authorities for their enthusiastic welcome and support.”


Formula E holding electric Formula-car race in Rome, in 2014

McLaren jump-starting Formula E series with 42 all electric race cars

What will happen to TTXGP in 2013 because AMA Pro Racing is not returning

In late October, the Sonoma Raceway (previously known as Sears Point and Infineon Raceway) announced: "The raceway in Sonoma will not host an AMA Pro Racing event during the 2013 motor-racing season, track officials announced today." That event has been the umbrella event within which each TTXGP North America season began. This will mean the 2013 TTXGP season calendar will not begin with an event at the Sonoma Raceway. We won't know the precise effect until the TTXGP announces their calendar, however.

Michael Hannas (Electric Race Bikes)
about to be passed by Kenyon Kluge (K Squared Racing)
during practice at the 2010 TTXGP at Infineon Raeway

The TTXGP race events have always been in conjunction with other race events. In the case of the Infineon race each season (Infineon Raceway being the name of the track at that time), it was the weekend of the AMA Pro Racing event. The TTXGP events themselves are not enough to support the cost of operating a race weekend. As I write below, the TTXGP cannot at this time host its own events and relies on other organizations to do so.

The announcement from the Sonoma Raceway says that "AMA Pro Road Racing has been featured on the raceway calendar every year since 1993," and that track management believe "that current conditions within the motorcycle industry and the economy at large did not provide the necessary confidence to promote a financially viable event in 2013."

“This facility has a long tradition of professional motorcycle racing and this was a very difficult decision. It’s particularly disappointing because the competition over the last few years has been outstanding and we’re sorry we won’t be able to bring this show back for our fans," said Steve Page, president and general manager of the raceway.

As an example of the outstanding competition, at the 2012 event Michael Barnes (who rides for Lightning Motorcycles in the TTXGP) was riding in the Harley race and took an amazing win that he had been working for years to achieve. He was hot on the heels of the lead bike all through the race, until the last corner of the last lap when he heard the transmission slip on the lead bike letting Barnes zoom past at the last minute to snatch first place. I was in the press room trying to write my TTXGP race report, but could not because the Harley race was so interesting.

In 2009 the sole TTXGP event in North America was held at the Mid-Ohio Racetrack in conjunction with the AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days event in late July. In 2010 the TTXGP events were held in conjunction with AMA race weekends at several tracks, and in conjunction with the Canadian equivalent when the TTXGP came to Mosport near Toronto.

In the 2011 and 2012 seasons the situation changed a bit. In each year the first race was at the Sonoma Raceway (at that time, Infineon Raceway) in conjunction with the AMA Pro Racing weekend. The other races were held in conjunction with Club Racing events, or else in conjunction with the FIM e-Power series. For example the June 2012 TTXGP event was held during an OMRRA Club Racing weekend at Portland International Raceway (PIR).

The three races held at Laguna Seca during the MotoGP weekend (2010, 2011 and 2012) were all sponsored by the FIM e-Power series. The first year that occurred, 2010, was solely a FIM e-Power event. The second two years, 2011 and 2012, were joint events run jointly between e-Power and the TTXGP. There is an AMA race on the same weekend, but the presence of the AMA is separate from the presence of the TTXGP at that event. The entire event is organized and managed by Dorna, the company which organizes the whole MotoGP season. The arrangements under which I attended each of those races was made through FIM and Dorna.

The result is that because the TTXGP is not a big enough deal, on its own, to host its own race events, its' ability to host a race is subject to the whims of other organizations. The AMA and Sonoma Raceway probably didn't even consider the impact on the TTXGP from canceling the AMA Pro Racing event at Sonoma.

The TTXGP is doing fantastic fabulous things. There has been a tremendous movement in electric motorcycle technology since 2009, and I think it's correct to say the TTXGP played a large role in those improvements. But this did not result in throngs of fans coming to see the races. What pays for the race venues is those throngs of fans buying tickets, and more importantly the sponsors seeing an opportunity to put their brands in front of throngs of fans. Until the TTXGP fans are found the series is going to continue struggling to put on races.

AMA Will Not Return to Sonoma in 2013

Quimera's most powerful electric car in the world exhibited at GT Club in Barcelona

Quimera's AEGT01 (All Electric GT) is being displayed in a window at the GT Club in Barcelona, starting last week.  It's described as "the very first of a high performance electric racing cars family".  Specs are three electric motor of 700CV (525 kW), and a maximum Torque of 1000 Nm, a 0-100 km/hr (0-60 miles/hr) time of 3.5 seconds, and a top speed of 300 km/hr.

The prototype has a carbon fiber chassis and has been tested in extreme conditions.  Quimera claims it represents the beginning of a new generation of motorsports.

It is being developed in partnership with the IMSA (International Motor Sport Association) and ALMS (American Le Mans Series). QRR - Quimera Responsible Racing is a joint venture between Quimera, IMSA - International Motor Sports Association, ALMS - American Le Mans Series, TTXGP, Formulec, Formula Drift and Altran, to spearhead next generation of non fossil fueled racing.

The presence of "TTXGP" in this list of partners is a little curious because TTXGP focuses on electric motorcycles.  I do know from talking with Azhar Hussain that Mavizen is involved in the technology development, even though Quimera's press release only discusses Altran (as the drive train supplier).  TTXGP as an organization is involved with race series operations and promotions, not technology development.  It has been discussed before that in some future, TTXGP and ALMS and perhaps others will be holding electric racing events involving both motorcycles and cars in the same event.  Perhaps Quimera means that TTXGP is involved for that purpose?

Late night update from TTXGP Daytona

I feel okay now reporting the full situation for Catavolt due to them posting details on their Facebook page. Earlier I reported they had some problem and exited the qualifying round after one lap. They reported that in an earlier practice round they'd had a coolant leak (again, their hub motor is water cooled) which they fixed. In addition to being a water cooled hub motor, the Enertrac hub motor is actually two motors in one housing. Jason Morris, the rider, had to return to the pit right away and they found that one of the two motors was toast (had a short circuit). With some emergency repairs (and, no, you do not want to know the details) they converted it into a single motor and the bike is running again. Albeit with half the motor they intended. So obviously they won't be as fast as they hoped. At least they'll be in the race which is all that counts.

In other news, Adrian Stewart reported that Eric Bostrom hit 170.1 miles per hour absolute top speed during qualifying. He believes that is the highest speed for any electric motorcycle in race competition.

Having seen the majority of electric motorcycle competition I have to agree. It helps that Daytona has such long straights in which to build up speed.

There is a difference here that this is a road race track condition, not a land speed record event. Land speed record events has the bike going straight, no turns, for over a mile and the record is the average over the mile. In a road race you're always having to adjust for the next turn coming up.

The record for land speed with electric motorcycles is held by Lightning Motorcycles, with a 216 miles/hr average, set in 2011.

Speaking of Lightning, I now have news why the team is not here at the race. There are certain life events that one simply cannot avoid attending, or rather would not miss for the world. In this case, not even for the TTXGP World Championship race, it would seem. I'm not going to give details, but when Richard Hatfield explained what it was it made total sense.

Post qualifying round TTXGP Daytona

We just had the qualifying round for the TTXGP and as expected Brammo and Muench came in the fastest.

Brammo's two riders came in 1st and 2nd with Eric Bostrom barely edging out Steve Atlas to take the pole. Both looked fabulous on the track and were going so fast in front of us it was impossible to take their picture. But, both had some trouble. Bostrom hit a dragonfly while riding and it smeared his visor. But more seriously, both riders came into put lane complaining the bike kept cutting out and they had to reset while riding.

Both were hitting speeds near 170 miles/ hour.

Meunch's matthias Himmelmann looked great and fast but because it was easier catching a picture of him I could tell he was a bit slower. Indeed, his best lap time was 2:04.897 and best speed was 101.171.

Catavolt came in not even finishing one lap. The motor was leaking coolant - this is a liquid cooled hub motor which is by itself rather amazing. Unfortunately things do not look well though the team was gamely working on the bike when I left the track and they may well get it running again. In practice round they had a 2:33.732 best lap time and best speed 82.105. Those who'd seen them in practice said they looked great.

Jeremiah Johnson was the most reliable rider out there. We should not be surprised as its been the Zero's that have been most reliable all season. His best lap time was 2:50.624 and best speed 74.058. By the way is was real easy to take pictures of him.

The pictures I mentioned will be in a different posting.

Walking the TTXGP pit at Orlando

Jeremiah Johnson is in the race by dint of doing major changes to the Zero S owned by his friend Terry Hershner owner of the lifeoffthegrid Facebook page. It's hard to recognize this is a Zero S. Among the mods is a Sevcon Size 6 controller configured to talk with the Zero software. He hit 99 miles per hour in practice and is RPM limited and looking for another sprocket.

Brammo is ready to roll with Steve Atlas and Eric Bostrom. They've been out for a couple sessions and between problems hit speeds in the neighborhood of 165 miles per hour. Problems were with a position sensor but they believe that has been fixed. Their paddock area is well organized and professional looking.

Muench is ready to go and their safety inspector is happy. 2:08 mins lap times and 246 km/hr top speed that's 152 miles/hr

Catavolt is here with the owner of Enertrac, the inventor of the motor on their bike.

TTXGP World Final at Daytona Raceway this weekend

It's here, the final race of the 2012 TTXGP with the world final in North America for the first time. As I write this I am on the airplane heading to Daytona to bring you the racing action as it happens. Unfortunately I don't have an official entry list to share, but a few of the teams have posted pictures and stuff about being on their way or have already arrived at the track.


What I've seen so far is: Catavolt tweeted last week that they were packed up and already on their way to Daytona. Muench has posted pictures on Facebook of the Elam lounging around in a hotel bar, indicating they are not worried. Brammo has posted a teaser video and I've seen a tweet from Steve Atlas yesterday that he was at SFO on his way to Florida. No word from Zongshen or Lightning. I did see a note from Jeremiah Johnson that he will get to ride some kind of motorcycle in the race, but not his own build. It was reported on Richard Dorts podcast that both Zero and Virginia Tech have pulled out.

This means it looks like the field will be the Top Bikes, except for Catavolt which I believe is not in the same performance league. I can't imagine that Lightning will skip the World Final, so let's just assume they will be there. Whether Zongshen will be there I have no idea, but one hopes they do come.

With a field primarily containing Top Bikes we should see the first TTXGP that is a full-on superbike level of performance. In every other TTXGP event the field has been split into Top Bikes and the Slower ones. Not to disrespect anybody's contribution to the effort of electric racing, but this disparity in performance is something whose time needs to pass. The sport needs to move towards separating the fast bikes and slow bikes into their own races. The slow bikes look bad when they're getting passed like they're standing still.

But that's tangential to the race this weekend.

Earlier I wrote up a prediction of the results, but came to the conclusion it would be a race between Brammo and Lightning for the top spot with Meunch behind them. A lot depends on whether Lightning does indeed attend, and unfortunately they have been known to disappoint us in the past. The wild cards are whether Zongshen shows up, how they perform, and additionally whether the teams have amped anything up since their last races.