Formula E Pre-Season Test: Evans fastest in final Madrid session

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 car with reigning champ Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) performing strong

The 2024/25 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship got underway in earnest with the official pre-season test at Madrid’s Jarama Circuit this week. All 22 drivers and 11 teams headed out on track together for the first, and only, time before the season-opening São Paulo E-Prix on 7 December later this year.

The championship’s fastest race car yet – the cutting-edge GEN3 Evo race car – is 30% faster than a current F1 car, capable of 0-60mph (100km/h), boasts all-wheel drive, new grippier Hankook iON tyres and has 600kW fast-charging capability for drivers and engineers to get their heads around.

Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) rounded out the quickest of 4,731 total laps and 18,512km completed over the six three-hour sessions across four days – the New Zealander setting a 1m27.461s. The Jaguar driver set the pace during the final morning’s running on Friday, while the field was 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)

Drivers had plenty to say on the challenge, enjoyment and increased speed offered up by the new GEN3 Evo on its initial collective outing, while reliability also proved strong across the board – particularly impressive given the leap in technology.

Key technical enhancements for the new GEN3 Evo:

• The quickest accelerating FIA single-seater race car: Capable of 0-60mph in 1.82 seconds (0-100kph in 1.86s), 30% faster than a current F1 car.
• Faster, stronger, more agile: Performance upgrades providing an estimated 2% performance gain from GEN3, equating to a c.2 secs faster qualifying lap on the Monaco circuit, offering world-class racing on any track.
• Leaner and meaner: An aggressive new body kit designed to be stronger, more robust and more aerodynamic, delivering closer wheel-to-wheel racing.
• All-wheel drive (AWD): A first for a Formula E car, available during qualifying duels, race starts, and ATTACK MODE. This feature maximises acceleration and control, elevating the thrill of critical race moments and intensifying driver rivalries. AWD enhances both performance and strategy, providing more exciting racing for drivers and fans alike.
• Better grip: Optimised all-weather Hankook iON tires providing 5-10% more grip, made from 35% recycled and sustainable materials (+9% vs GEN3 spec).

Pascal Wehrlein, Season 10 Formula E Drivers’ World Champion and No. 1, TAG Heuer Porsche driver, said: “Overall, we had a very positive test. There were lots of learnings and also lots of changes to adjust to: the tyres, the bodywork, the balance, and the all-wheel drive. Especially in the beginning, these changes can make quite a big difference. We did a full race simulation and it was good to get an idea of strategy and what the new race dynamics could be. The tyres have quite a lot of degradation, so it’s a bit trickier on the longer run but over one lap it’s good fun. I’m feeling quite happy with the car and the set-up, and looking forward to Round 1 in São Paulo.”

Zane Maloney, No. 22, Lola Yamaha ABT Driver, said: “It’s been a great test for the team, there’s been a lot of development over the four days and we’ve made positive steps forward. It’s still a new package and we don’t know where we stand quite yet, so we’ll find that out in Brazil, but I’m looking forward to continuing the journey. The goal is to go through the season improving on every round and we’re on a good trajectory, we just need to continue to work hard as a team. From my side, that means learning from Lucas [di Grassi] but also offering my own input, so I’m really excited for the season ahead.”

Mitch Evans, No. 9, Jaguar TCS Racing Driver, said: “Overall, it’s been an important week of testing. It is still early days with the I-TYPE 7 and there is a lot to learn in terms of performance, but we’ve gathered lots of information as the week progressed and I believe we’ve got the car into the right window. We’ve made good progress which is the main thing, and hopefully we can continue that development as we head towards the Season 11 opener in Brazil.”

Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer, Formula E said:“The pre-season test at the Circuito del Jarama provided an exciting first look at the GEN3 Evo’s on-track potential. While lap times aren’t everything, they offer a glimpse of the thrilling action we can look to give our fans when the season officially starts in São Paulo in December. The GEN3 Evo represents a huge leap in technology not just for Formula E, but for motorsport as a whole.

“It’s been a challenging week for many reasons, but I’m immensely proud of how our whole ecosystem came together to make this test possible in Madrid. Of course, our hearts are still with Valencia at this difficult time and we continue to look for ways to support the affected communities.” 

The Season 11 campaign will begin in São Paulo in just over a month’s time on 7 December 2024.

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