Latest news with #FormulaE
Japan Forward
2 hours ago
- Automotive
- Japan Forward
How Sustainability is Reshaping the Motorsports Industry
Sustainability and motorsports? At first glance, the two words seem almost incompatible. After all, auto racing has long been synonymous with speed, roaring engines, and clouds of carbon emissions. But a championship born in Britain is turning that perception on its head. Launched in 2014, Formula E is the world's first all-electric, single-seater motorsport, demonstrating that top-tier performance and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand. Designed to accelerate innovation in electric mobility, the series has become a global testbed for sustainable technologies. From tire recycling to low-emission logistics and clean energy use, Formula E sets a new benchmark for green racing. Amplifying this revolution are Japanese firms, harnessing the sport's platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies. Yamaha Motor Company Ltd, known for its motorcycles and robotics, has partnered with Team Laura Yamaha ABT to supply electric powertrains used to propel race cars. They also provide advanced energy management systems to extend range and enhance efficiency in electric vehicles. Teijin Limited, a leader in advanced materials and chemicals, is another example. Utilizing aramid technology, the company provides Team Envision with flame-resistant racing suits that withstand temperatures up to 400°C. Teijin's Tenax™ carbon fiber is also used in the world's first two-seater Formula E car, offering a lighter, more energy-efficient structure without compromising strength or speed. Team Envision showcases its race car and suit at an event in Tokyo. (©Kenji Yoshida) Meanwhile, TDK Corporation, a multinational electronics company, is collaborating with NEOM McLaren to deliver components like multilayer ceramic chip capacitors (MLCCs), voltage control systems, and temperature sensors. These technologies are crucial for regulating power and minimizing heat and signal interference under the extreme demands of electric racing. Leveraging the high-stakes environment of motor racing, these firms are stress-testing their equipment for real-world applications. The push for sustainability in Formula E isn't limited to suppliers, however. Manufacturers and racing teams themselves are integrating climate action into their core missions. Nissan Motor Corporation, the only Japanese automaker to field its own team, sees the championship as an extension of its electric vehicle strategy. "Formula E helps us accelerate transformation for road cars while promoting climate goals through specialized R&D and technical learning," said Tommaso Volpe, managing director of the Nissan Formula E team. Nissan's Tommaso Volpe signs an autograph for a fan in Tokyo (©Kenji Yoshida) Nissan is joined by an expanding lineup, including Jaguar TCS Racing, which is leading the way in using recycled components and circular economy principles. Andretti Global is also contributing to the shift, partnering with Porsche to develop energy-efficient racing technologies. Even teams not backed by traditional automakers are playing an important role. Envision Racing, based in Britain's Silverstone Park, is a notable one. Tag Heuer Porsche Formula E Team's garage at the Tokyo E-Prix. (©Kenji Yoshida) In 2020, it became the first motorsports team to sign the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Sports for Climate Action Framework, pledging to align its operations with the Paris Agreement. The team has operated with net-zero carbon emissions since its inception. Envision also co-hosts the Race Against Climate Change summit in Tokyo alongside Teijin, bringing together industry leaders, investors, startups, and media to foster collaboration on climate solutions. Despite the growing traction of electric motorsports, challenges remain. Public perception is one. Traditional racing fans often lament the lack of a deafening engine blast and the spectacle of burning fuel. But Formula E insiders believe the sport's appeal lies elsewhere – namely, in its performance and trailblazing rules. "The Gen4 car, launching at the end of next year, will nearly double the power of our current model," said Sylvain Filippi, Envision Racing's managing director. "We're getting closer to Formula One performance — but without the emissions." For Filippi, the mission isn't about sacrifice, but innovation. "Most people want to maintain their lifestyles. The only viable path forward is breakthrough ideas and creativity." Team Envision's Sylvain greeting fans and sponsors at the Tokyo E-Prix in May (©Kenji Yoshida) Another headwind on the horizon is the United States' withdrawal from the 2015 climate accord, a move that has raised fresh doubts about the future of coordinated global climate efforts. To this, Nissan's Volpe remains unfazed. "These political decisions come and go. What matters is having a solid strategy that allows us to adapt," he said. "Formula E is still in a phase of significant growth. Not just for us, but for motorsport as a whole, and across all territories." Formula E now boasts a near 400 million international fan base and is expected to continue its upward trajectory. After completing the two-day race in Tokyo on May 17 and 18, the 11 Formula E teams will travel to four different cities to finish the season. Author: Kenji Yoshida
Time of India
17 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Antonio Felix Da Costa counting positives as he finishes third at Shanghai E-Prix: 'It was all about bringing the podium home'
Image credit: Antonio Felix Da Costa/Instagram Antonio Felix Da Costa, who won the last Formula E race in Shanghai, made sure he didn't go home empty-handed this time. The TAG Heuer Porsche driver was pleased to finish third on the podium at the Shanghai E-Prix and also expressed happiness for winner Nick Cassidy of Jaguar TCS Racing. Da Costa wasn't the only member of his team to reach the podium—he was joined by teammate Pascal Wehrlein, who secured second place. Antonio Da Costa on finishing third in Shanghai Sharing his experience after the race, Da Costa said, 'It was very hard from inside the car. I felt like my balance wasn't quite there and I really struggled with my rears, so it wasn't enjoyable and it was very hard to keep the car on track. I was slow to be honest, but good enough for a podium – two cars from the team are on the podium so that's always positive.' Talking about his third-place finish, he added, 'I'm happy for Nick [Cassidy], he did a really good job, but we've got good points. Starting second and finishing third is not ideal – in the beginning I thought we had something, but then it was clear to me that I didn't have the pace of the two cars in front, so it was all about bringing the podium home.' Antonio now stands third in the 2025 Formula E Driver Standings with 88 points. Taking to Instagram after the race, Antonio Felix Da Costa shared a picture of himself spraying champagne from the podium. He wrote along with it, 'Today we got a podium. P3 on a very rainy day. We keep fighting. Thanks guys.' Many congratulated him in the comments section. One fan wrote in his praise, 'You drive great and make Portugal proud beyond its borders. You will win the championship. I believe in you. Go for it.' Another said, 'A weekend where I can see your smile. Thank you too.' One more added, 'Let's go.' Also Read: Shanghai E-Prix 2025 Round 11 results: Nick Cassidy wins, Porsche duo Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Da Costa take 2nd and 3rd spot Da Costa has claimed four podiums this season but is still waiting for a win. There are five more races remaining, with the next one taking place in Jakarta on June 21.
Time of India
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
Nick Cassidy on winning Round 11 race at Shanghai E-Prix: 'It feels like we've been waiting a long time'
Image credit: Formula E Nick Cassidy had secured third place on the podium in Monaco earlier this year, but he was still hungry for a win. The Jaguar TCS Racing driver finally got his moment of relief and joy as he clinched his first victory of the season in Race 2 of the Shanghai E-Prix. Starting from pole after an impressive performance in the rain-soaked qualifying session, Cassidy went on to win the rain-hit Round 11 race on Sunday. Nick Cassidy on his much-awaited win in Shanghai It was a much-awaited victory for Cassidy, who triumphed in the second race of the Shanghai double-header. As he crossed the finish line on the wet track at the Shanghai International Circuit, he exclaimed on the team radio, 'Wow, speechless. I was waiting for this day. It's been tough.' The New Zealander was seen laughing his heart out as he stepped onto the podium to celebrate the win. View this post on Instagram A post shared by ColorsTV (@colorstv) Speaking after the race, Nick Cassidy said, 'This weekend is a massive highlight. Really proud of all our guys. Qualifying from yesterday was huge for us, we were in the game, and I'm just proud that we've come back today and our pace was absolutely unbelievable — what a race. I feel like there have been so many wins that probably should have been ours at the end of last season that never happened, and it feels like we've been waiting a long time. That's certainly on your mind when you go through the last couple of laps, and now to get that monkey off the back is awesome.' Jaguar TCS Racing referred to Cassidy's win as a 'wet weather master-Cass' in an Instagram post. Fans celebrated his return to the top step of the podium, flooding the comments with messages of support and congratulations. One fan wrote, 'Brilliant race from Nick! Great to see him back on top!!' Another commented, 'Finally it happened Nick finally.' A third said, 'The better days did come!!! Well done Nick! Back on the top!' One more read: 'Yes Nick!!! Huge Congratulations!! Mega mega mega Drive! So well deserved!' Also Read: Shanghai E-Prix 2025 Round 11 results: Nick Cassidy wins, Porsche duo Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Da Costa take 2nd and 3rd spot As a result of his win, Cassidy now sits in seventh place in the Formula E Driver Standings with 58 points. With five races remaining in Season 11, he will be aiming for more success before the championship concludes.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Shanghai E-Prix 2025 Round 11 results: Nick Cassidy wins, Porsche duo Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Da Costa take 2nd and 3rd spot
Image credit: Nick Cassidy/Instagram Jaguar TCS Racing's Nick Cassidy had won the pole in the Round 11 Qualifying race in Shanghai on Sunday and managed to maintain the lead in every lap of the final race to lay his claim to the winner's trophy. This is Cassidy's first win of the season as it rained on the second day of the Shanghai E-Prix. Tag Heuer Porsche had a double win on Sunday with Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix Da Costa taking second and third spots on the podium, respectively. Wehrlein also recorded the fastest lap of Round 11. Shanghai E-Prix Round 11 results Nick Cassidy's win was a first lights-to-flag victory of the GEN3 Evo era and a return to the top step for the New Zealander. As soon as he crossed the finish line, he took a sigh of relief on the radio and said, 'I've been waiting for this day.' Tag Heuer Porsche's double podium spots on Sunday came a day after DS Penske dominated the podium on Saturday with the drivers taking first and second spot in Round 10. Meanwhile, Maserati MSG Racing driver Jake Hughes ended fourth. DS Penske's Jean-Eric Vergne who got the second spot on the podium in the Round 10 race, ended fifth. Andretti driver Nico Mueller finished sixth. Maserati MSG Racing driver Stoffel Vandoorne finished seventh despite pirouetting two laps from the chequered flag. The difficult conditions at the rain soaked Shanghai International Circuit caught out a number of other drivers including Jake Dennis, Nyck de Vries, Dan Ticktum and Sam Bird with standing water significant in spots around the circuit throughout the race. Despite that, 21 of the 22 cars managed to make it to the end of the race. The Round 11 race brought about a significant change in the Formula E Driver Standings. Wehrlein's podium reduced the gap between him and Oliver Rowland who tops the Standings with 171 points. Wehrlein is now at 103 points in the second positions. Da Costa is in third with 88 points. Also Read: Shanghai E-Prix 2025: DS celebrates double victory as Maximilian Gunther takes first, Jean-Eric Vergne second in Round 10, Taylor Barnard claims third Porsche retakes the top spot in the FIA Teams' World Championship running from Nissan, while Nissan leads Porsche in the FIA Manufacturers' World Championship standings.
Hans India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hans India
Cassidy ends winless run in rain-hit Shanghai E-Prix
Nick Cassidy ended a year-long wait for victory with a commanding drive in treacherous conditions to win the second race of the 2025 Shanghai E-Prix, as Formula E's typically close racing gave way to cautious control in the wet. The Jaguar driver won from pole position in a race that started under the Safety Car following torrential rain that had disrupted both third practice and qualifying. Visibility and grip at the Shanghai International Circuit were at a premium throughout the day, and the race's opening six laps were neutralised before a rolling start finally released the field. That rolling start created immediate separation, and the frantic, wheel-to-wheel action seen on Saturday was nowhere to be found. Whereas the previous race in Shanghai had seen second to 12th covered by just three seconds, the day's contest told a different story. Cassidy finished 13 seconds clear of Antonio Felix da Costa in third, with Pascal Wehrlein slotting into second to deliver a double podium for Porsche, reports Xinhua. The lack of energy saving - made unnecessary by the low-speed opening laps and the race's overall shortened duration - turned the event into a flat-out sprint. But in conditions where aquaplaning was a constant threat, the challenge shifted from strategy to survival. Overtaking proved exceptionally difficult, as stepping even slightly off the racing line often resulted in a loss of control. That reality was on full display when Wehrlein, who had closed on Cassidy after the first round of Attack Modes, ran wide at Turn 7 and lost crucial time. It left Cassidy unchallenged out front, allowing the New Zealander to steadily build a gap and cruise to the finish. Further back, chaos continued in small bursts. Kiro's David Beckmann spun twice as he struggled for traction, and Saturday's winner Maximilian Gunther was forced into retirement with a mechanical issue. Notably, despite the treacherous conditions, the German was the only driver to fail to see the chequered flag. Further down the field, title leader Oliver Rowland had qualified only 17th and made little headway through the field, eventually finishing 13th without scoring points. Though the Briton retains a healthy lead in the Drivers' Championship, 68 points clear of second-placed Wehrlein, he cannot now seal the title at the next round in Jakarta, with the battle set to run until at least the Berlin double-header in mid-July. Porsche's double podium sees the German outfit take the lead in the Team's Championship with 191 points, just a single point ahead of Rowland's Nissan team. The next round of the 2024-2025 Formula E World Championship is the Jakarta ePrix on June 21.
