- Season 11’s pre-season test marks a new era of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the much-anticipated debut of the GEN3 Evo race car – a major milestone in electric racing technology – blending performance, sustainability, and efficiency
- This groundbreaking machine, capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph in just 1.82 seconds, is not only the quickest-accelerating FIA single-seater but also outpaces current F1 cars by 30%, reflecting Formula E’s ongoing commitment to innovation and technology development
- The test at Madrid’s Jarama Circuit was the first and only chance for the grid to get together ahead of the Season 11 season-opener of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in São Paulo in December
- Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) set the benchmark time of the week in the final session on a 1m27.4s with the Porsche-powered Kiro Race Co cars and reigning champ Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) performing strong
- NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard came fifth fastest while teammate Sam Bird finished in P18 overall
- After six successful seasons of racing in Diriyah, the Jeddah E-Prix will be staged for the first time at the renowned Jeddah Corniche Circuit on February 14-15, 2025
MADRID, Spain. MONDAY 11 NOVEMBER. 2024 – NEOM McLaren driver Taylor Barnard finished in the top 5 at the official pre-season test of the 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship at Madrid’s Jarama Circuit last week. All 22 drivers and 11 teams – including NEOM McLaren – headed out on track together for the first, and only, time before the season-opening São Paulo E-Prix on 7 December next month.
The championship’s fastest race car yet – the cutting-edge GEN3 Evo race car – is capable of 0-60mph (100km/h) – 30% faster than a current F1 car – and boasts all-wheel drive, new grippier Hankook iON tyres and has 600kW fast-charging capability for drivers and engineers to get their heads around.
Barnard – the 20-year-old Brit who secured his first full-time Formula E race seat with NEOM McLaren for this 2024/25 season – finished the test with a time of 1m 27.780s, just 0.319 seconds off the fastest lap set by Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans.
His Neom McLaren teammate, Sam Bird, finished further down the grid in P18, with a time of 1m 28.529s.
Mitch Evans drove the quickest of the 4,731 total laps and 18,512km completed in total over the six three-hour test sessions across four days – with the New Zealander setting a lap time of 1m 27.461s. The Jaguar driver set the pace during the final morning’s running on Friday, with the entire field split by a little over a second on the overall timesheet.
Reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein was third in the running in the latest factory Porsche 99X Electric. He split the impressive Porsche-powered Kiro Race Co pair of Dan Ticktum and David Beckmann who sat second and fourth, respectively, using the Season 10-spec powertrain.
Zane Maloney, new to Formula E this season and the grid’s only full debutant, found himself mid-pack on the timing screens – a strong showing. The Lola Yamaha ABT driver from Barbados enters the series from FIA Formula 2.
Six different drivers set the pace in the six test sessions:
● Session 1: Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche)
● Session 2: Jake Hughes (Maserati MSG Racing)
● Session 3: Maximilian Guenther (DS PENSKE)
● Session 4: David Beckmann (Kiro Race Co)
● Session 5: Nyck de Vries (Mahindra Racing)
● Session 6: Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing)
Taylor Barnard, NEOM McLaren driver, said: “We have had a great three full days testing, and I feel it was a very positive test for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. I’ve set some strong lap times today and Sam’s pace has been very strong throughout the test. We have completed all the items we needed to test with no reliability issues, which is very positive. I’m very happy we were able to go testing this week in Madrid, following the tragedy in Valencia. Our deepest sympathies go out to those affected by this awful disaster. Now, I’m ready to go racing. I’m happy with the settings on the car and the team environment – bring on São Paulo!”
His Neom McLaren teammate, Sam Bird, also commented: “I am very pleased with the work we have done in Madrid. We finished our program with no major issues, which is a great confidence boost for the NEOM McLaren Formula E Team. My thoughts and prayers go out to the people affected by the tragedy in Valencia, and I am very grateful for the work the whole Formula E paddock has put in to enable us to go testing at Jarama this week. Going into the first race in São Paulo, I feel excited and optimistic about the season ahead, and I’m looking forward to getting out there in a month’s time.”
2025 Jeddah E-Prix:
The Season 11 campaign will begin in São Paulo in just over a month’s time on 7th December 2024 and will reach Saudi Arabia for Round 4 of the series on February 14-15.
After six successful seasons in Diriyah, Jeddah was announced as the new host city for the race with the 2025 Jeddah E Prix hitting the iconic Jeddah Corniche Circuit for the first time early next year. The shift to Jeddah reflects Formula E’s commitment to innovation and sustainability and aligns with Saudi Arabia’s vision for the future of sports in the Kingdom.
The Jeddah E-Prix will offer an exhilarating race experience on a modified layout of the fast and flowing street circuit, further contributing to the incredible growth of motorsport in the region. With its breathtaking Red Sea backdrop, the 2025 Jeddah E-Prix promises an unforgettable experience for fans and competitors alike.
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About Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship:
As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship and the only sport certified net zero carbon since inception, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings dramatic racing to the heart of some of the world’s most iconic cities providing an elite motorsport platform for the world’s leading automotive manufacturers to accelerate electric vehicle innovation.
The Formula E network of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters, and host cities are united by a passion for the sport and belief in its potential to accelerate sustainable human progress and create a better future for people and planet.
About ABB:
ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on more than 130 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com
