GEN3 EVO READY FOR FIRST SAMBA ON THE STREETS OF BRAZIL

The competition looks too close to call in the all-electric single-seater series as Season 11 races into life with a new car and a number of faces in new places.
 
Season 11 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will get underway on the streets of Brazil this weekend (7 December), as the eagerly-anticipated new GEN3 Evo single-seater gets set for a scintillating high-speed samba in São Paulo.
 
Marking a significant step forward over GEN3, the technologically-advanced GEN3 Evo – jointly developed by specialists from the FIA and Formula E – incorporates several key innovations. These include all-wheel-drive – available for the first time in the series, during qualifying ‘Duels’, race starts and Attack Mode activations – enhanced aerodynamics and optimised all-weather, grippier, more sustainable Hankook iON tyres.
 
Combined, those upgrades are capable of catapulting GEN3 Evo from a standing start to 100km/h in an electrifying 1.86 seconds – substantially quicker than before and making it the current fastest-accelerating FIA single-seater race car.
 
Brazil has played host to two prior E-Prixs, but this is the first time the São Paulo Street Circuit will stage the curtain-raising outing. Its 2.93km, 11-turn layout winds through the city’s famous Anhembi Sambadrome, with its trio of long straights punctuated by challenging chicanes, sweeping curves and tight turns.
 
Twenty-two protagonists are primed to head into battle in the Latin American metropolis, led by defending champion Pascal Wehrlein, who clinched his maiden Drivers’ crown in dramatic fashion in London back in the summer.
 
The German – pole-sitter in São Paulo in Season 10 – was a competitive third-quickest during pre-season testing at Jarama, where team-mate António Félix da Costa set the pace on the opening day, auguring well for another successful campaign for TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team.
 
Appropriately enough, in a country renowned for its jaguar population, the squad named after the elusive big cat – defending Teams’ title-holder Jaguar TCS Racing – similarly looks poised to be solidly in the mix.
 
Mitch Evans went fastest of all in testing, and the New Zealander prevailed in a pulsating inaugural contest in Brazil just under two years ago, narrowly pipping current Jaguar stablemate Nick Cassidy – then competing for Envision Racing – to the chequered flag as the top three ended up blanketed by barely half-a-second, with Sam Bird joining the pair on the podium.
 
The Briton did even better 12 months later, delivering NEOM McLaren Formula E Team its breakthrough victory in the all-electric series – and the 12th of his career – courtesy of a sublime last lap round-the-outside pass on Evans, who had been targeting back-to-back wins but was obliged to settle for the runner-up spoils. Bird’s countryman and team-mate Taylor Barnard – who is preparing to tackle his first full campaign in the championship – was another to shine during testing.
 
Oliver Rowland is the only other previous podium-finisher in Brazil, having pulled off a sensational double overtake at the final corner last March. The Nissan Formula E Team ace will be feeling particularly motivated, after his bid for glory in Season 10 was undone by an illness-enforced absence from the Portland double-header – costing him a shot at the coveted crown.
 
Former title-winner Stoffel Vandoorne has never started lower than the front row in São Paulo – lining up on pole position in 2023 – and the Belgian will be keen to maintain that form since switching to Maserati MSG Racing alongside Jake Hughes, who featured up at the sharp end in Jarama testing.
 
Maximilian Günther – who has effectively traded seats with Vandoorne in moving from Maserati to DS Penske – Season 7 champion Nyck de Vries (Mahindra Racing) and Dan Ticktum all similarly showed strong speed in Spain, with the latter hoping to spring a surprise for the rebranded, Porsche-powered Kiro Race Co outfit, known until recently as ERT.
 
There are a number of other likely contenders in the high-calibre field, but ultimately, there can only be one winner on Saturday in São Paulo. Follow the race from 14:05 local time (18:05 CET) to find out who will be celebrating in this carnival-loving city.

THE 2024 TRACK

MEDIA CENTRE

Opening Hours of the Media Centre
 
Friday 6th December 0800 – 1900
Saturday 7th December 0600 – 2000
 
 
2024 SAO-PAULO E-PRIX TIMETABLE

MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES

 
2024 SÃO-PAULO E-PRIX ENTRIES

2024 (Season 10) SAO PAULO E-PRIX RESULTS

Source : Fia