Latest news with #JakartaEPrix
Arab News
18 hours ago
- Automotive
- Arab News
From dust to data: NEOM McLaren's Bird and James eye strong finish after tough Jakarta test
Riyadh: Coming off a demanding weekend at the Jakarta E-Prix, NEOM McLaren Formula E driver Sam Bird and managing director and team principal Ian James joined a media roundtable on June 24 to discuss their takeaways from the race and the team's trajectory heading into the final stretch of the season. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport Bird pointed to the circuit conditions in Jakarta as the toughest challenge of the weekend. He said that while dust was expected at the venue, the addition of rain made the surface even more unpredictable. 'We saw a dusty circuit almost get even dustier and even more difficult,' he said. The only grip available was on the narrow racing line, and deviating from it often meant a ruined lap or a potential crash. 'There was pretty much only the racing line that cleaned up, and then if you put one wheel off the racing line, the lap was finished or you were in the wall,' Bird said. That made overtaking extremely limited, and strategy around attack mode became even more critical. A technical issue with attack mode activation during the race also stood out as a key learning moment for Bird. Despite following standard procedures — pressing the activation button and passing over the loops — his boost failed to activate. 'We put that down to a regulation I didn't know about with regards to the amount of time that I needed to press the button for,' he said. In response, the team is now conducting an internal study of his button press durations over the past year to ensure consistency and compliance in future. Despite some setbacks this season, Bird emphasized the importance of staying focused and united as a team. 'If we can all operate at 100 percent — that's engineers, mechanics, myself, Taylor (Barnard) — then we know that we can score some big points,' he said. Acknowledging a few missed opportunities, Bird noted that the remaining four races are an opportunity to convert potential into performance. For James, the most rewarding part of his role has been leading a group of highly skilled and motivated individuals. He described the NEOM McLaren Formula E team as 'a group of men and women who are brilliant at what they do,' crediting their dedication and collaboration as key drivers of success. 'In bringing all of those ingredients, all those team members together, you then really unlock the performance potential of the team,' he added. Beyond the racing, James highlighted the progress the team has made in brand development and fan engagement. He confirmed that internal benchmarks in these areas have been met, reflecting Formula E's growing global appeal. In particular, he pointed to Saudi Arabia as a case study for that growth. He recalled the early days of Formula E in Diriyah in 2018 when the sport was still unfamiliar to many in the Kingdom. 'Every year that we've gone back, that interest has grown and grown,' he said, noting that the recent move to Jeddah has introduced the championship to new audiences and strengthened its presence in the region. With the team fourth in the standings with four races to go, James admitted that more work is needed to meet their goal of a top-three finish. Still, both he and Bird expressed confidence that the team has the talent, structure, and momentum to close the season on a high.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Hankook Cements Its Tire Supremacy at the 2025 Jakarta E-Prix
GEN3 Evo iON Race Tires Triumph in Jakarta's Sweltering Round 12 Showdown Dan Ticktum conquers Jakarta's sweltering heat in a commanding drive at the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit GEN3 Evo iON Race tires excel in grip, heat resistance, and stability across Jakarta's technically demanding layout and extreme track conditions The Season 11 title fight intensifies as Formula E leaves Asia behind and prepares for decisive final rounds in Berlin and London JAKARTA, Indonesia, June 22, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Under Jakarta's unforgiving tropical heat, Hankook Tire & Technology (hereafter Hankook), a leading global tire company under the Hankook & Company Group, reinforced its performance leadership at the 2025 Jakarta E-Prix—Round 12 of the 2024/2025 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship (hereafter Formula E). After a one-season hiatus, Formula E roared back to action on the Jakarta International E-Prix Circuit (hereafter JIEC), a fiercely technical track set against the energetic backdrop of the Ancol waterfront. Dan Ticktum secured a decisive victory—injecting new momentum into the escalating championship battle. Oliver Rowland maintained his lead in the drivers' standings with 172 points, while TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team further solidified its dominance at the top of the teams' standings with 203 points. The track, inspired by the flowing movements of the traditional Javanese Kuda Lumping dance, the 2.37km circuit pushed all 22 drivers to their limits with a mix of sweeping corners, tight technical sections, and scarce overtaking zones—made even more punishing by Jakarta's humidity and track surface temperatures exceeding 40°C. Engineered exclusively by Hankook for Formula E, the GEN3 Evo iON Race tire proved pivotal in Jakarta's extreme conditions. Each team's two allocated sets delivered consistent grip, thermal resilience, and control—empowering drivers to push the limits through the circuit's most challenging sections without compromising performance or safety. Maximilian Günther of DS Penske commented: "Jakarta's climate and circuit layout really test both the driver and the car to the edge. The GEN3 Evo iON Race tire handled the heat and surface complexity incredibly well. It gave me the confidence to attack and defend—even in the tightest corners. What's most impressive is how consistent the tire feels across conditions like this—something that clearly carries over into road tire technology too." As Formula E concludes its Asia tour, the spotlight now shifts to the decisive final stretch of Season 11. Next up is the 2025 Hankook Berlin E-Prix, taking place on July 12 & 13—marking the penultimate double-header of the season and the final race to carry the Hankook race title sponsorship this season. As the championship race heats up, Hankook continues to lead the charge in electric motorsport innovation—delivering sustainable, high-performance tire solutions that extend beyond the racetrack and drive the future of global e-mobility. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Hankook Tire & Technology Co., Ltd. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
