Maserati Corse’s Sgro says Formula E will evolve with larger battery capacity planned for Gen4 which will see longer races.

Giovanni Tommasso Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse. 
PHOTO CREDIT: Maserati Racing

The Head of Maserati Corse, Giovanni Tommasso Sgro has said that more battery capacity in the Gen4 era of FIA Formula E will mean the likelihood of longer races on full tracks ‘like it is in Formula 1’. 

Ten years since Formula E's inception, the championship has made major strides on several fronts, whether it be, a push to NetZero, or technological advancement, but, recently strides have been made regarding the future development of the Gen 4 era, which is expected in 2026-27. 

Generation 4, or Gen4, as we like to abbreviate names, will boast even more performance than its soon-to-be predecessors - Gen3 or 3.5 with much bigger battery capacity, and an evolved look but, until then, Formula E continues with the Gen3 era, which Giovanni Tomasso Sgro says is "extremely exciting because you have so much energy and so much exciting racing packed into shorter races.”

Max Guenther racing in the Saudi EPrix
PHOTO CREDIT: Maserati Racing

Based on the information available, the Gen4 cars will have four-wheel-drive, and more power output 600kW, with 700kW of recuperation. 

In terms of the car's look, it will be shorter, wider, and heavier than the current Gen3 car, with further details still to be confirmed, however, with more power output, and battery capacity, Formula E races in the coming years, could potentially extend from 45 minutes and one lap to a lot longer. 

“So, I think that makes it super exciting. The attention of the audience, whether you're a motorsport fan or just somebody who is interested in technology and innovation, because that's how the audience is split, not 50-50, but you have a really interesting dynamic of a really diehard motorsport fans that is interested in competition, and seeing some of the best drivers in the world compete at the highest levels,” the Head of Maserati Corse told Slipstream SA. 

“And then you have innovation and technology gurus who are following the race and following teams because they want to understand, what they are going to drive in five years, three years, or even 10 years in terms of what a manufacturer learning from being a part of the Formula E Championship? So I think it would be great to have longer races because it then means that we are evolving.” 

“We're adding innovation to these types of races, not because batteries now, and street cars are not sufficient enough. It's just that when you think of these high-caliber drivers going 250, 260, 270 kilometers an hour in some races and some of the circuits that we have, you understand that more power, more speed is going to absorb more energy from the battery. So I think that if we get to longer races, it means that we've evolved and we've done a great job of doing so.”

“So I'd be very excited to see longer races, longer circuits. And I think it's just a matter of time before that happens.”

EXCLUSIVE: Daruvala targets ‘long-term future in Formula E’, whilst also loosing 4 kilos ahead of rookie season in search of more performance.

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship/Sam Bagnall

The new rookie on the block, Jehan Daruvala has a lot to learn having made the transition from F1 feeder series, Formula 2 to Formula E, where he will represent the iconic trident, Maserati. 

Daruvala has a young motorsport career having started karting in 2011 at the age of thirteen before climbing the junior formula ranks, competing and winning the 2012 Asia-Pacific Championship, as well as the 2013 Super 1 National Championship titles. His success continued in the European F3 Championship before making the move to GP3, which later became the FIA Formula 3 Championship. He achieved a best of third in FIA F3 before taking the step up into Formula 2 where he amassed four wins, and no less 18 podiums, over four seasons before making the transition to Formula E. 

Formula E is unlike any other single-seater championship, as it requires a completely different driving technique. So, when coming from another championship, or one of the lower formula’s, a lot of adapting is required, because, no car starts a race with enough energy to finish, which means renegeneration is a very key aspect, whilst fighting for track position. 

Learning and getting to grips with energy management, whilst trying to stay ahead of 20 other drivers, is a challenging feet in itself, and after four seasons in Formula 2, Daruvala has made the transition to Formula E, with Maserati MSG Racing, an iconic manufacturer, whose history began on track over 110 years ago. 

“It's a huge privilege to drive for such a luxury brand as such as Maserati and drive for Maserati MSG Racing, to represent the trident. It means a lot to me,” he said.

Having made the move, the Maserati MSG driver will partner Maximilian Guenther in 2024, and, whilst being excited about his first full-time season in Formula E, he is under no illusion, that it will be easy. 

Jehan Daruvala claims third place finish in Saudi F2 Feature race.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jehan Daruvala [Instagram]

When making a move from one championship to another there are very different techniques needed, whether it be mindset, and driving styles. Another element is the fitness levels, and the physical preparation that comes with it. 

“I've driven Formula 3 and Formula 2 cars. I drove a Formula 1 car last year. and I've driven a Formula E car. To be honest, from a physical aspect, they're all different and physical in their own ways. I would say Formula 2 and Formula E are quite close. But, I underestimated how heavy the steering wheel would be in a Formula E car over 35 laps of a race. It was very heavy at the end of the race. And to turn the car in the stadium [in Mexico] was quite physical. Also, when I did my Formula 1 test, coming from Formula 2, yes, it was physical, but in a different way altogether. It's physical in terms of g-force, and on your neck, but then on your arms, you have power steering. So it's not physical at all on the arms. You can turn it super easily,” Daruvala explained. 

“So the energy that you save in your arms, you can use in your neck, because in a way,  it's all kind of connected. So yeah, I had my Formula 1 test two weeks before my Formula 2 race. And, I would say my Formula 2 race was even harder than my test in Formula 1 because we don't have power steering. So, the steering wheel also gets really heavy. And when your arms get tired, your whole body gets tired as well. So it's difficult to compare all of them, but I think they're all very physical. In the end, if you see all of the drivers, we're all fit.” 

The unique challenges that comes with being a racing driver, that us mere mortals don’t have to abide by, whilst health remains a key factor. We can consume almost anything, but racing drivers' are an entirely different breed, as they have to remain in peak fitness levels at all times, whilst heavily monitoring their dietary allowances. 

The 25-year-old revealed that when preparing for the move to Formula E, he lost four kilograms in order to gain ‘a few hundreds of a second’. 

“I lost four kilos moving from Formula 2 to Formula E. For my engineers, they liked it. Although, I would still have been on the weight [limit], but just for them to put the weight where they want in the car, and the weight difference, it's something that finds you less than a few hundreds of a second, but those hundreds count for them,” he said. “So over the winter, it definitely wasn't easy being back home in Mumbai for Christmas and New Year, but I made the effort and I got down to my target weight for Mexico.” 

Daruvala is no stranger to Formula E having been the test and reserve driver for Mahindra Formula E Team, but making the full-time transition from Formula 2 to Formula E, does have it’s unique challenges, from understanding to adapting to the new style of driving.

“Formula E is very different to Formula 2. I think, adapting to driving the car on the limit and fast is a whole different thing,” he tells Slipstream SA. 

“Formula 2 cars, have quite a lot of downforce. [And they have] combustion engines, while Formula E cars are all electric with not a lot of downforce. The tyres don't have a lot of grip. They're very tricky to drive. In Formula E, you are driving on really narrow tracks with walls really close to you as well. So, the main ingredients of being fast and being able to drive a race car fast kind of carries over, and it transfers once you get used to the car itself.”

He further explains that “the whole dimension of driving a race in Formula E is completely different from anything that I’m used to in the past. If you simply push too much, you're going to run out of energy before the line. So, you can be first with 100 metres to go, but you may not make it to the finish line. Which means that you need to judge what's best for you and best for the car from point A to B. And, you know, we have a whole group of people working really hard behind the scenes at the factory and at the race track trying to maximise that for us drivers to make our life a bit easier when we go onto the track. But again, in the situation when you're fighting 20 other drivers and trying to overtake them and win the race, to stay calm and kind of do it as best as possible, that's what makes Formula E super, super difficult. And it's something that is very interesting and something I have to get used to quite quickly.”

Whilst the style of racing is a lot to get to grips with for the rookie, the Maserati MSG driver, knows that he can draw from his Formula 2 experience, as the weekend formats are relatively similar, where drivers are required to prepare before the weekend, and deliver when they hit the track. 

“The main thing that I take from Formula 2 into Formula E is, of course, is the speed, but to hit the ground running straight away, to give good feedback to the engineers from lap one of free practice. So you can just evolve together as a team and build up to qualifying and then the race. So I would say that is the main learning I can take from Formula 2 into Formula E,” he said. 

Daruvala pulls off an overtake in the Ferosol in Mexico City.
PHOTO CREDIT: FIA ABB Formula E World Championship.

In any sport, performance is key to securing a long-term future, and the 25-year-old is confident that he has what it takes to make that happen. 

“I see myself in Formula E long-term. and I do that as any sportsman. But, you have to perform well, you have to get good results. And that's the only way to stay here. So that's going to be my goal for the season to keep improving and secure my future here in Formula E,” he said. 

Another key ingredient in a rookie campaign is experience, and that is not gained off track. The more laps turned, means more experience gained, which will prove vital for him, as his rookie campaign with Maserati MSG Racing continues. However, Daruvala is under no illusion that it will be an easy championship jump into a perform immediately.

“Mexico was an amazing weekend, to have all the Mexican fans there. It was the first time that I really experience something like this, and feel the crowd really behind me. Yes, it was a difficult weekend, which I did expect, as I’m the only rookie on the grid in such a competitive field,” he explained. 

“Being one of the best drivers in the world, in the best teams in the world, and making my debut was never going to be easy. And, after a difficult qualifying, it was very clear from the team side that the main goal is to see the chequered flag. So, just seeing the chequered flag and getting 37 laps of experience under my belt in a Formula E race will give me a lot of learning, which I can take into the races moving forward. And it is a box tick and it gives me confidence moving forward.”

Cape Town E-Prix organizer "cautiously optimistic" despite omission from provisional 2024 calendar.

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

The FIA World Motor Sport Council [WMSC] on Tuesday published the provisional draft calendar for Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with the notable omission of Cape Town. 

The local promoters of the Cape Town E-Prix - the City of Cape Town and E-Movement had agreed on a five-plus-five-year contract with a vision for a long-term future. 

And, whilst the inaugural race on the streets of the picturesque Green Point precinct was a tremendous success, the omission of the Cape Town race on the 2024 calendar might raise a few eyebrows, but rest assured that work is being done to secure the race's immediate future. 

Formula E Co-Founder & Chief Championship Officer, Alberto Longo has confirmed that advanced discussions are underway with the Cape Town promoters to finalise the season 10 calendar. 

"Formula E Operations (FEO) is in advanced discussions with Cape Town and many more cities who are keen to host a Formula E race. FEO expects to make more exciting calendar announcements following the next FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting, later this year," Longo said. 

Iain Banner, E-Movement Chairman, and Promoter said: “Having just completed 2023, we are busy working on the guarantees for 2024. We are cautiously optimistic about completing this process by the end of July”.

The inaugural Cape Town E-Prix saw two iconic moments: Firstly, Frenchman Sacha Fenestraz [Nissan] claiming his maiden pole position, and secondly, TAG HEUER Porsche's Antonio Felix da Costa, claiming victory after pulling off an audacious overtake on Jean-Eric Vergne to loud applause from the Cape Town spectators. 

Following the successful race, a study was conducted by Nielsen Sports, which examined the economic impact of the 2023 Cape Town E-Prix, and found that the race generated R1.084bn in economic activity and drew nearly R70m in media value globally, making the Formula E event one of the biggest economic impact and global media exposure events hosted in the city in the last 10 years.

Hyderabad, which had also hosted its first race in February earlier this year, has also not appeared on the provisional calendar. The all-electric championship has, however, announced a new addition for season 10, Formula E will race on the streets of Tokyo, Japan in March next year [see the provisional calendar below]. 

Formula E’s Cape Town E-Prix boosts local economy by R1bn, says study.

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Cape Town’s inaugural ABB FIA Formula E event has benefited the local economy to the tune of over R1bn, according to an economic impact study compiled by Nielsen Sports SA. 

The findings, released by the Data Analysis agency, which had examined the economic impact of the 2023 Cape Town E-Prix, revealed that the race generated R1.084bn in economic activity and drew nearly R70m in media value globally, making the Formula E event one of the biggest economic impact and global media exposure events hosted in the city in the last 10 years.

Nielsen Sports Managing Director Jean Willers has explained the process of quantifying an event on a scale such as this one, “Nielsen Sports Host City evaluation assessed the impact on its host city across three critical areas. Firstly, fan attendance, based on ticketing data & fan research, with 53% of spectators from outside of Cape Town and 69% of all fans indicating that they would advise others to visit Cape Town. Secondly, economic impact, through expenses of event attendees, event organizers, teams, sponsors, media, and hospitality guests. Lastly, media impact, through analysis of the global TV exposure, social media, online, broadcast, and print media coverage for the host city Cape Town.”

The E-Prix, which took place on the streets of the picturesque Green Point precinct in February this year, attracted thousands of spectators. This influx of visitors had a positive impact on the city's hospitality industry, with hotels, restaurants, and bars experiencing a surge in business.

"The Formula E race was a huge success for Cape Town, both in terms of the international exposure it brought to the city and the economic benefits it generated," says Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis. "It surpassed all expectations, and we are proud to have hosted such a prestigious event. We look forward to welcoming the series back in the future."

Nissan's Sacha Fenestraz led the field at the start of the Cape Town E-Prix.
PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

In addition to the economic benefits, the study found that the E-Prix also had a positive impact on the environment. Formula E cars are powered by renewable electricity, making them a more sustainable alternative to traditional racing vehicles, while providing the thrill that motorsports fans have come to love and expect.

Chairman of e-Movement Iain Banner said, “We are delighted – but not surprised – with the findings of the Nielsen Sports report, showing that Formula E Cape Town delivered over R1,080,000,000 of economic impact. Additionally, the global media coverage was close to R70m. We always knew the event would provide a massive boost to the economy at a time when it was badly needed. It can only go up from here”.

Large-scale events greatly contribute to job creation, and one of the most tangible examples is Quebeka Fencing, the company appointed to produce the 7.8km of debris fencing. Quebeka ran two teams, 24/7 for 61 days. 

In addition, local labour formed part of the race compound, grandstand, and garage construction teams, and served in various essential crew capacities like security and marshaling, while local businesses received a boost through selling food and beverages from their food trucks and mobile eateries across the two Fan Villages.

“The race was a spectacular event for the City of Cape Town and for the millions of viewers that tuned in around the world. The track created perfect conditions for high-speed racing action including the fastest lap in Formula E history. Our drivers would love the chance to beat that next season and we look forward to receiving the commitments to make that happen,” Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer, of Formula E, said. 

EXCLUSIVE: “It wasn’t easy” after being dropped by Red Bull, but “DTM drive was the best thing to happen” as “I quickly overcame my frustration” and “had fun racing again” - Da Costa.

PHOTO CREDIT: TAG Heuer Porsche.

AUTHOR: Junaid Samodien

Success in life is not dished out, it's earned! But how you achieve that success is quite a complex task for everyone, including elite athletes who encounter and face many highs and lows throughout their careers. With good quality coaching and training (both mentally and physically) each individual or sportsman will have the necessary tools to overcome any obstacle and push through to succeed.  

Antonio Felix Da Costa is one such example, of overcoming a potential career-altering moment, and still persevering despite adversity coming through to succeed and enjoy racing once more. 

If we rewind a few years, da Costa’s motorsport career could have been a lot different. In 2008, the Portuguese star competed in Formula Renault, and a year later, he won the Formula Renault 2.0 NEC Championship. As a reward, he was given a test drive with Formula One team, Sahara Force India at the 2010 young drivers’ test where he placed third on the timing sheets. 

With a blossoming career, the Portuguese driver competed in GP3 Series, Formula Three Cup, and the Macau Grand Prix with the Carlin Motorsport team, and soon after was signed to the Red Bull junior driver programme headed by Dr. Helmut Marko. 

Having joined a prestigious junior driver programme, da Costa took part in Formula One test sessions with Red Bull Racing from 2012-13, alongside his regular racing programme. 

In 2013, he finished third place in the Formula Renault 3.5 championship. That year, he was informed that his future was secure with Red Bull and that he would make the step into Formula One with Scuderia Toro Rosso, but that never materialized. The seat instead went to GP3 champion Daniil Kvyat. 

Despite having his dreams dashed right in front of his very eyes, da Costa found a home in the DTM championship in 2014 with BMW, and that same year, he joined the all-electric Formula E Championship with Amlin Aguri. 

Despite the blows, he got back up and fought to succeed, as Vince Lombardi Jr. once said: “It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up.” To this day, the 31-year-old driver competes in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, as well as the FIA World Endurance Championship. 

2022 FIA WEC LMP2 CHAMPIONS - Will Stevens, Roberto González, and Antonio Felix Da Costa (right).
PHOTO CREDIT: Antonio Felix Da Costa. 

With a junior championship, and two FIA world titles to his record, Antonio Felix da Costa has a wealth of experience when it comes to dealing with all sorts of highs and lows, but as we know for athletes mental strength is one of the most important elements that goes hand-in-hand with training. 

Some may argue that racing drivers can’t be classified as an athlete, but they are wrong! Why? Simply, because driving a car competitively at high speeds takes a tremendous toll on the human body and mind. These drivers are required to be physically fit, and mentally strong, as well as have the ability to make decisions within split seconds whilst driving. But, how important is the mental strength of a driver? 

“Very, very important,” Antonio Felix da Costa told Slipstream SA. “Confidence is a big part of our performance once we're in the car. And it's easy for it to be shut down sometimes with results or maybe not having the right people around you or just being on a wave of bad results.”

“Now that I'm a little bit older, a bit more experienced, I've been through some bad slumps many, many times. And, I still worry, of course, because I don't like being in a wave of bad results, but I have enough experience and knowledge, and I work with a mental coach back home. I always kind of find my way back. And so yeah, it's actually fun, really fun part of the process when you're struggling and you come back,” he said.

In life, having a dream versus achieving it is a very difficult task, but many accomplish them with hard work and perseverance. Having had a successful junior career, as previously mentioned, and being drafted into the Red Bull junior drivers programme, Antonio could have been Portugal’s sixth Formula 1 driver behind Tiago Monteiro, but unfortunately, he received a phone call from Dr. Helmut Marko in October 2013 informing him that he will not progress to Formula 1 in 2014.

It’s never easy having your dreams dashed over the phone but dealing with that disappointment is what defines great sportsmen and women. 

“It wasn't easy, of course, because obviously not only myself but a lot of fans, family, friends, everyone was kind of thinking that it was a sure thing that I was going to end up in Formula One, and things happened the way they did. And so, obviously, it was already tough on me. But having seen everyone disappointed and sad as well, it's a bit of extra weight on you,” the Portuguese driver explained.

“But I must say, going to DTM was the best thing that happened to me, and becoming a factory driver there. I quickly overcame my frustration and I started having fun racing cars again and that helped obviously.” 

In our current day and age, we see drivers hopping from championship to championship where possible, for example, Formula E to the World Endurance Championship, but is it challenging to adapt or does it come with relative ease thanks to experience? 

“I think experience is part of it,” da Costa said. “But yeah, you know, just driving loads of different cars all the time opens your mindset and it’s actually something that I really like doing.”

Da Costa racing his TAG Heuer Porsche in Cape Town.
PHOTO CREDIT: TAG Heuer Porsche.

It is often said that once the helmet goes on a driver goes into their own zone. Friendships become rivalries, and the beast is unleashed. But, do drivers think of anything specifically when climbing onboard their cars, or when stationary on the grid moments before the start? 

“You think about different things, but I have no problems mixing things up. Once the helmet goes on we are rivals,” he explained.

da Costa believes that mutual respect is important regardless of fierce and competitive rivalries, he says: “If you have respect each other, then you just win or lose. But you need to be a good winner and a good loser. And that's it! I'm able to go for golfing sessions or lunches with these guys (the Formula E drivers). Like, just yesterday [before the Cape Town E-Prix weekend], I had lunch with Nick [Cassidy] and Jean-Eric [Vergne], and I had the great pleasure of beating Nick at golfing (which is a lie), but when the helmet goes we are rivals.” 

Antonio Felix da Costa took his first victory with Porsche TAG in Cape Town after an extraordinary drive from 11th on the grid that included two astounding high-speed overtakes at the tight turn eight. And, after a fourth-place finish last time out in Sao Paulo, Brazil, he now finds himself 28 points off the championship lead in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with ten rounds remaining.

The Cape Town E-Prix "fulfilled it’s mission to be a top three race".

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

AUTHOR: Junaid Samodien

The eagerly anticipated Cape Town E-Prix has now come and gone, and according to event promoter Iain Banner “it was a big success.”

Banner, who played an instrumental role in bringing the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship to the city, said: “Part of what we are doing with the race was to focus on making a difference, creating jobs and yes, all in the renewable sector, in the green economy.”

The E-Prix “fulfilled it’s mission to be a top three race”, Banner said, who also added that the race was a complete sell-out with 25,983 tickets sold. 

“It was really heartened by Nelson Piquet Jr, one of the Formula E commentators saying: This is the best Formula E race I have ever been to.’ Now, I take those sort of comments with humility.”

Banner also mentioned that he always had confidence that the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix would be a sell, despite the other doubting him, and has set a new target for 2024. “My target for next year is 40,000. I believe quite easily that we will sell 40,000 and that will be sold out,” he said.

Despite the successes of the Africa’s first Formula E race, event promoters E-Movement will look into ways of improving for the future. 

“There are adjustments that are required. For example, we need to improve. We had sufficient food and beverages in our fan areas. We had sufficient quantities, but we didn't have enough distribution points. So we need more local vendors and we want to support local business and I'm looking forward to us expanding on the hospitality offering. It's a full days experience. There's all these things going on that make for an incredible value day so that we will be focusing on,” Banner said. 

The 2.921 kilometer circuit provided quite challenging for the drivers, not only due to the challenging turns 9 and 10, the fast nature of the track, but the bumpy nature of the circuit was a big talking point, which the event promoter aims to address for next year. 

“There are two areas that we'd like to improve on, and that is the bumpy areas on the track, particularly down Beach Road (7, 8 and 9) and turning into Fritz Sonnenberg (turn 10), there were two heavy bumpy areas. Those will be those will be dealt with to create a smoother surface.”

“I don't have the absolute fact, but one of the reasons that Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) had an overpower penalty, was because they showed that he had too much power when the car bounced upwards, the inverter somehow showed a higher power delivery because there was no resistance from the road,” Banner said.

Teams, drivers and international media were left quite impressed with the inaugural E-Prix, and are quite hopeful of a return next season, but Banner quickly to addressed the topic, saying: “We signed a five year contract with the five year extension. It was dependent on the outcome of year one. We had to prove our ability to put on a world class race that stands up with the best, and we've done that. Now it's a case of putting the funding together for years two and beyond, which is something I'm immediately focusing my mind on. I know we can make Africa proud. Never mind the Cape or South Africa. We can make Africa proud. Let's do that. Let's do that. Not for the next 5 or 10 years, but for the next 20 years. That's my commitment. I believe that we are well entrenched with the Formula E decision makers.”

With planning well underway for next year, the provisional 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is expected to be published around mid-May, whilst the final dates are confirmed at the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting in October. 

“I'm very optimistic that we will find Cape Town for the first time on the provisional calendar [for Season 10] because last year we were not,” he said. 

FEATURE STORY: How Maserati MSG Racing designed its striking Formula E Livery

PHOTO CREDIT: Maserati MSG Racing. 

AUTHOR: Junaid Samodien

Elegance, craftsmanship, performance and pedigree, are but a few descriptive words that one could associate with the iconic Italian automotive brand, Maserati. 

With over 100-years of history, Maserati expanded from a family-run tuning business which rapidly expanded into vehicle and race car manufacturing. And, in 1926, an historic moment happened when they rolled out their first car out of the shop, named “Tipo 26”, which was later raced to victory at the Targa Florio by Alfieri Maserati. 

Soon after their early racing success, the Maserati brothers began to build customer cars to help fund their racing programme. They then decided the company required a new direction, whilst they focused on the engineering side of the company. Adolfo Orsi, an Italian entrepreneur was brought in to oversee the business, but later purchased Maserati, and moved it to Modena.

In the post-war era, Maserati moved to Formula One, which certainly was a challenge at first when going up against a strong Alfa Romeo team, as well as Talbot-Logo, and an emerging force, Ferrari. But, as the years progressed and challenges continued, Argentine Juan Manuel Fangio joined the team, and he took them to two drivers’ championships, 9 Grand Prix and 9 pole positions. The Italian brand remained in F1 until 1969. 

As life evolved, so did the Maserati brand, when the Fiat Group acquired the company in 1993, and through the years, the business began to grow in all spheres, where it then began to compete against other high performance brands, namely: Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Audi and BMW.  

PHOTO CREDIT: Maserati MSG Racing

The biggest surprise came in 2022, when Maserati took a major step forward in solidifying its future in the automotive fraternity, announcing a return to racing after 60-long years, but not in usual combustion engine championships. Instead, the iconic Trident brand will race in the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

And, whilst the announcement raised quite a few questions, including: why, what and when? In the ever-evolving world, and its technology, Formula E is the natural choice for big automotive manufacturers these days. 

“Maserati chose Formula E because it's a natural choice. We were born on track and it was great to come back to the racing circuit, but also because we have a strong mission in E-mobility and our future is electric with the Folgore range,” Giovanni Sgro, Head of Maserati Corse, said. 

“By 2025, every single one of our range, we'll have an electric version, and by 2030 Maserati is only going to produce electric vehicles. So Formula E is a great place for us to showcase our competitiveness and also focus on technology transfer from track to road.” 

The iconic “Tipo” designation returns in 2023, with Maserati’s first electric racing car. The Maserati Tipo Folgore (Type Thunderbolt) was revealed late last year, and features a timeless and iconic blue tone, synonymous with Maserati. 

But something that set’s the Italian automotive brand apart is the distinct livery, which defines the cars character, shape and show casing its history. 

And, whilst a racing livery seems more of a decorative feature in motorsport, sets race cars apart and gives partners more exposure. Just how does a team design their livery, choice the colour, and decide on the branding locations? We investigate this with the help of Giovanni Sgro, the Head of Maserati Corse. 

PHOTO CREDIT: Maserati MSG Racing

From various angles, the Maserati Tipo Folgore (Gen 3 car) captures the imagination of motorsport fans, with it’s elegant livery lines and logo placements, but why has the team actually chosen blue, as they return to racing?

“Blue is our Maserati colour, so we wanted to have that be reflected on the car strongly,” Giovanni Sgro said. 

He goes on further to explain that “the trident is the symbol competitiveness and the white line across the border, you know, this year's shape of the car is triangular, it's very flat and this line really accentuates the colour blue. The contrast is perfect. And then obviously we have the trident on the back of the car has the Italian flag in the centre. We have a couple of things that a represent Maserati on this car, which is obviously the blue, the trident and the Italian flag, we're the only Italian manufacturer in Formula E.”

The visible LGBTQIA+ rainbow colours on the front wing endplates.
PHOTO CREDIT: Maserati MSG Racing

We currently live in a world that that is very decisive, and lacks inclusion, but something that sets the Maserati MSG Racing’s livery apart is their aim to send a message worldwide about equality, diversity and inclusion, and this has been done with the inclusion of the LGBTQIA+ rainbow on the front wing endplate. 

“It's a strong message that the Maserati MSG Racing team wants to continue to, to push forward equality, diversity and inclusion. So, that is why the flag was put on the front wing endplates. It seems like a relevant positioning for that kind of visibility,” he explained. 

When conceptualizing the design of a racing cars livery, elegance, uniqueness and brand visibility are all important elements that need to be taken into account, but how much work actually goes into the design process – months, weeks or days? 

PHOTO CREDIT: Maserati MSG Racing

The Head of Maserati Course, explains the process: “Well, the car was designed by Maserati's Centro Stile, and I don't remember exactly how many weeks we took to design it, but there is a lot of back and forth. There's a lot of concepts, there's a lot of brainstorming, there's a lot of ideas that we want to put forward. You want to change small tweaks, big tweaks, a lot of different things. And so I think that it does take some time, but it's worth it because then when you put the car on track, you also have to design the car based on the visibility that it has on the track. You want to really accentuate not only the base colours, but you also want to accentuate the partners who are part of the team.”

Together with the design of a livery, comes the important placement of partner/sponsor logo’s. These logo placements allow the for more brand awareness and exposure, which helps grow a brands popularity, and funds the team(s). But, just how does a team decide on these placements? 

“That's also part of a design because you don't want to just put them anywhere. You want to make sure that there's a good flow to the car. And that's why the car looks the way it does. I'm biased, but obviously I think the car looks beautiful,” Sgro said. “The simplicity of it is the beauty of this car. And, I personally think that less is more. We did a really great job of making the car look luxurious.”

Slipstream SA would like to thank Elza Smit (Maserati South Africa) and Giovanni Sgro (Head of Maserati Corse) for their assistance in the compilation of this special feature story. 

The FIA say “once duly validated” only then will new Gen3 mirrors get introduced to improve rear-view visibility.

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

AUTHOR: Junaid Samodien

Season nine of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship has seen the arrival of a new-era, Gen3. The new Generation 3 car is a totally new concept, with more power, it's lightweight and uses new Hankook tires, but despite it being a state of the art racing machine there are of course of some issues that need to be addressed. One such issue, is the rear-view mirror visibility, which has become a talking point since the season’s pre-season test in Valencia last December (2022). 

The visibility issue(s) has been a talking point, but recently reared it’s head at the Cape Town E-Prix last week, when two-time Formula E Champion Jean-Eric Vergne (JEV) said he could not see Antonio Felix da Costa fighting from behind for race victory. 

The on-track battle between Vergne and former team-mate, now rival, Da Costa was an electrifying affair. Whilst leading the TAG Heuer Porsche driver missed a strategic Attack Mode sensor, which saw him drop behind JEV. But, with just two laps remaining Da Costa saw his opportunity and pounced. 

The Portuguese driver pulled off a ballsy over-under overtake, which meant he initially placed the car on the outside of Vergne before quickly switching direction to the left, and forcing he’s way alongside to claim the race lead. He then hung on to win the race, and whilst it was pure joy and elation for him. Vergne on the other hand was disappointed and frustrated because he couldn’t see his rival behind. 

“I am just a bit frustrated because I genuinely didn’t see him [Antonio Felix Da Costa] coming. I think it’s been four or five races that we have been complaining about these mirrors, but nothing has changed or been done, and we simply can’t see anything. So, I really hope that they can introduce new mirrors very soon because it’s very dangerous. In Free Practice, you can impede a lot of drivers because you don’t see them, and it’s the same situation in the race,” Vergne said. 

Note the rear-view mirrors of the Antonio Felix Da Costa's TAG Heuer Porsche.
PHOTO CREDIT: Slipstream SA/Junaid Samodien 

And, whilst Vergne was disappointed about the visibility issues when fighting for the race victory, the FIA Technical Regulations (for 2022-23) under Safety Equipment states that a “driver shall be required to identify any letter or number, 150 mm high and 100 mm wide, placed anywhere on boards behind the car, the positions of which are detailed has below: Height: From 400 mm to 1100 mm from the ground. Width: 2000 mm either side of the centre line of the car. Position: 10 m behind the rear axle line of the car.”

This intern means that the initial idea around the rear-view mirror visibility is correct, however, the actual design could be the issue. 

The FIA adds in their technical regulations that teams are allowed to place cameras in the mirrors, with a rear-view display on the steering wheels (teams are yet to adopt this approach).

But the question remains, can the drivers' expect a reaction from the FIA regarding the visibility issues, and is there a solution in the works? Slipstream SA caught up with the FIA’s Formula E media delegate, Éric Bellegarde to find out. 

“This [the mirrors] is something we are working on and updated mirrors will be introduced once duly validated,” Bellegarde said.

NIO 333 sets out clear path to return to competitive form.

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

Author: Junaid Samodien

NIO 333 team boss Alex Hui says he wants the team to be in the position to fight at the front of the field, as they work to address the team's lack of competitiveness. 

NIO’s last victory came in 2015 at Moscow E-Prix, but under the name: NEXTEV TCR, but ever since then the team underwent a number of changes, including a new team name (NIO) and managerial changes. 

The team's last podium came from Oliver Turvey in 2018, when he claimed a second-place finish at the Mexico City E-Prix, but ever since the team has endured a challenging time lingering at the tail end of the constructors championship. 

Having lingered at the tail end of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship teams’ championship for four seasons, the new Gen3 era, poses a new opportunity to gain ground and find improvements necessary to be competitive again. 

And, with five rounds complete in the 2022-23 season, Nio333 have thus far scored 19 points (on par with their 2020-21 seasons total tally), but team principal Alex Hui admits that the team are targeting Gen3.5 to make the necessary steps forward. 

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA FORMULA E WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP

“Our goal is to bring the team back to fighting at the front towards the second cycle of Gen 3, which is 3.5, because we know that we still have time to fix everything, we still lack resources and procedures in some areas, and we are trying to do as much as we can for this year,” Alex Hui, Team Principal of NIO 333 Racing Formula E Team, said. 

“The package is more or less frozen from this season to next. So, the big manufacturers will be able to do more development with the current package, which we will try to, but I think the rate of development for us as a smaller team will be more limited, and we are already looking at season eleven on how to make a big step forward with the new package.”

Hui added that he feels the team have made an improvement compared to the 2021-22 season, but feels there are areas where the team can do better to extract more performance.

“We have improved our package, but it’s not enough. Although there are some differences with the package, we will keep trying to extract more performance. We’ve also seen that there are some differences in performance between customer teams and manufacturers. So, there are a lot of things that the team can do better to extract performance, which we will try to polish for this season and next season,” he said.

He also admitted to the fact their results weren't good enough in previous seasons, and that is why they aren't able to attract star drivers, however, he makes it clear that Sergio Sette Camara and Dan Ticktum have been driving very well this season, and added that there feedback was relatively similar, which helps drive the team forward. 

Remarkable Da Costa claims victory at the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix after sensational overtake on Vergne.

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix Da Costa takes top honors at the fifth round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Cape Town on Sunday, having held off a charging Vergne on the final lap. 

The Cape Town E-Prix circuit provided to be a real challenge for the drivers due to it's fast flowing nature, and balls to the walls characteristic, which means any lap of concentration or error will be punished. 

Harsh as that may sound, Nissan's Sacha Fenestraz started from pole position, and looked set control the opening stages of the race after battling Maxillian Guenther and Nick Cassidy in the early stages. 

And, whilst those fought ahead running into turn 10 on the first lap, Sebastien Buemi slightly misjudged his braking point, and unfortunately, got hit in the rear by championship leader Pascal Wehrlein.

After waving some yellows to caution the drivers of an incident ahead, the full course yellow was deployed, and in the process Guenther overtook Fenestraz and held the position for quite some time. 

Further down the pitlane, Maserati MSG Racing finally showed some turn in form, but it was not to be for Edoardo Mortara, who exited the race with a technical issue. 

Maserati's neighbors in the Cape Town pitlane, Jaguar TCS Racing had a day to forget. First, it was Sam Bird who hit the barrier exiting turn 9, and ricocheting into Mortara's Maserati. The team tried all they could, but they just ran out of time. Having been taken out by he's team-mate in Hyderabad, Mitch Evans quietly got on with his race before the Stewards handed him a drive through penalty for a overpower infringement. Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) suffered a similar fate, but for a team infringement - "not respecting the minimum tyre pressures."

But that's not all folks... prior to qualifying, Mahindra Racing announced the formal withdrawal of all their powered cars due to a suspension issue. 

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

The attack mode strategies soon came into play with Sacha Fenestraz, Nick Cassidy, Jean-Eric Vergne and Antonio Felix Da Costa all fighting for track position. 

Maserati could have brought some good results today, but after attacking the braking zone into turn 1, Guenther hit the wall and exited the race. 

Who'd actually win the Cape Town E-Prix? It was actually anyone's game as the laps ticked off, one driver showed he's hand. The hand of DAC... The Porsche driver pulled off a good overtake on the inside of Nick Cassidy at turn nine, and he immediately began to pull a gap to those behind. But, whilst joy turned into elation, Da Costa missed the attack mode sensors (1 of 3) and could not reap the benefit of the additional power. 

With just five laps remaining in the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix, the Porsche driver took the attack mode he missed out on earlier, and dropped behind Jean-Eric Vergne. 

A decision was then taken by the FIA to extend the race by 2 laps, whilst Nick Cassidy faught to defend from an attacking Fenestraz, whose race unfortunately ended in the wall at turn seven.

Could Antonio Felix Da Costa actually pull-off another ballsy move to win in Cape Town? He soon showed the world what he was made of, as he used an alternate line at turn 7 forcing Vergne to back off. But, with a lap to go, JEV was not backing down. Ultimately, seeing the return of the DAC - claiming victory by 0.281 seconds. 

Speaking at the post-race press conference, Da Costa said: "Winning is great, but we go through some tough moments [in our careers]. It hasn’t been an easy first few months of the year for me. So, this win has a special place [in my heart]."

The 31-year-old admits that his defensive driving on the final lap might have been over the limit. 

"On the final lap, I think I was over the limit defending from Jean-Eric Vergne, but it was a fun race," he said.

He admits that the ballsy overtakes at turn 7 and 8 were great, but he had a lot of trust in the drivers behind. 

"Two or three of the overtakes that I managed to pull off through turn 7 and 8 were great, but I knew that I had the right guys behind me to co-operate through these overtakes. At the time, I was up on energy and I could afford to pull off these overtakes," he said. 

"Having started eleventh, as you know our car is very efficient through the start of the season. So, I know that we can go forwards, but it’s not an easy track to overtake on, but the race played out perfect for us with the second safety car forcing everyone to save a little bit of energy. So, that helped me. In the first 40% of the race, I tried to save energy and the race then came to us."

Fenestraz claims first career pole position, whilst all-Mahindra powered cars have been withdrawn on safety grounds.

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

Nissan Formula E Team's Sacha Fenetraz claimed pole position for the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix on Saturday afternoon. 

The 23-year-old Frenchman calmly made he's way through the qualifying stages beating everyone along the way. A question arose when Max Guenther set a much faster lap then his rival, but in the flat-out duel between the two for pole position, it was not to be for the Maserati driver who missed out by just 0.422 seconds. 

ENJOY THE QUALIFYING RECAP BELOW:

GROUP A

An almighty lap from Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz sees him top the group session by just 0.013s ahead of Nick Cassidy, Pascal Wehrlein and then Jean-Eric Vergne, who will progress to the duels, whilst Dan Ticktum, Norman Nato, Antonio Felix Da Costa, Jake Hughes, Andre Lotterer, Sergio Sette Camara and Nico Mueller will go no further. The latter is currently under investigation for a qualifying procedure infringement. Whilst NEOM McLaren’s Jake Hughes crashed after loosing the rear under braking and taking a wack on the right rear wheel. He was able to continue, but couldn’t set a fast enough lap to progress.

GROUP B

Rene Rast rises to the top of group B in his NEOM McLaren having set a 1:08.844.The German topped the group by 0.181s ahead of Mitch Evans, Sebastien Buemi, and Max Guenther, who will progress to the duels.

Sam Bird, Jake Dennis, Stoffel Vandoorne, Edoardo Mortara, Lucas Di Grassi, Oliver Rowland and Kelvin van der Linde on the other hand will go no further.

In the closing stages of the session, Mortara lost the rear of his Maserati, and hit the concrete barriers at turn 9. A few seconds later, a Nissan past the stricken Maserti and soon after team-mate Max Guenther, who just about avoided his team-mate.

Bird was quite unlucky. He slammed into the barrier at turn 9, the scene of Mortara’s crash, and with the speed and momentum – the Jaguar rolled into the Maserati.

James Barclay, the Jaguar TCS Racing team principal spoke after the session, and said: “no yellow flags or double waved yellows were shown” when Mortara crashed.

Lucas Di Grassi, Oliver Rowland, Kelvin van der Linde, and Nico Mueller will go no further, after all Mahindra powered cars were withdrawn for safety issues surrounding the rear suspension.

Mahindra published a statement on their media channels, saying: "Mahindra Racing Formula E team have confirmed their withdrawal from the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship qualifying sessions and race in Cape Town due to rear suspension safety concerns. (A thorough investigation on the suspension elements of the Mahindra M9Electro race cars will take place on the team’s return to the UK." 

THE DUELS

The smooth and ever consistent Nick Cassidy pipped championship leader Pascal Wehrlein in their qualifying duel by 0.152 seconds. In the second duel, Fenestraz just about beat Jean-Eric Vergne by 0.053s, whilst Buemi’s streak of bad luck continued, as he broke his front wing on entry to turn 9. The collision meant Mitch Evans just had to cross the line to progress to the semi-finals. Maserati MSG Racing were brought some form of comfort when Max Guenther won the final duel against NEMO McLaren’s Rene Rast by 0.222 seconds.

Buemi admits that everything is still possible despite locking up and removing the endplate from he’s Envision Racing car.

THE SEMIS

In the straight fight between Fenestraz and Nick Cassidy, the Nissan drive came out on top by 0.108s to progress to the finals.

The second and final semi-final, saw Max Guenther and Mitch Evans do battle. Evans had an advantage in the opening gambit, but it was Guenther who went fastest by 0.356 seconds booking Maserati MSG Racing a spot on the front row.

THE ALL IMPORTANT FINAL

Who would come out on top in Cape Town? Well... it was Nissan’s Sacha Fenestraz who claimed he’s ever pole position in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship beating rival Max Guenther by 0.422 seconds. The Frenchman’s lap is the fastest in the championships history, in terms of average speed - 1:07.848.

"Very happy! I'm also very happy for the team. Starting the season working very hard. Hopefully, this is not the last. So, let's keep it up! We are starting on pole. Let's keep it like this," the pole sitter said..

Envision Racing’s Cassidy surges to the top in Free Practice 2 in Cape Town.

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

It's all smiles, as New Zealander Nick Cassidy tops a rather cool Free Practice 2 in Cape Town. The Envision Racing driver posted an unbeatable 1:08.118, which sees him just edge Edoardo Mortara by 0.307s. 

Following right behind in third was Nio333's Dan Ticktum, who looks very calm and relax this morning. He was only 0.026s behind Mortara, whilst the Jaguar TCS Racing drivers were rounded out the top 5. 

As the session progressed there were a number of investigations for "leaving the track" involving: Jean-Eric Verge, Antonio Felix Da Costa, Max Guenther and Mitch Evans. 

Whilst it was elation for some, Brazilian Lucas Di Grassi was struck by yet more back luck. He was running last for the entire session, and attempted one last push lap, but unfortunately, ABT Cupra's van der Linde was in his way. 

The Checkered flag flew on the session, but the drama was far from over, as TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix Da Costa ground to a half with an issue. When caused Da Costa's stoppage on track at the end of the session, the spokesperson for TAG Heuer Porsche Viktoria Wohlrapp said: "He might have brushed the wall, and there are no concerns about technical issues."  

Dear Diary - The Cape Town E-PRIX-RIENCE

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

Dear Diary, this weekend a dream is about to become reality... Me, myself and I, will be walking through the gates at the inaugural Cape Town E-Prix, as an accredited FIA Journalist. Whilst the pressure is immense, and the self-belief is non-existent there is something within me that knows "I can do this!"

And, so the journey to the Cape Town E-Prix begins (Day One). Please enjoy my recount of events!

Formula E is a green/climate friendly championship, and thus trying to keep in the spirit of green, I electively opted to travel to Cape Town/Green Point via public transport (the train and/or taxi), thereafter, I began the long walk to frEEdom… strolling past the Garden Court Hotel in Green Point, and seeing two grey Maserati's outside. Could this actually for the Maserati MSG Racing crew? Maybe, just maybe, it could be them, but little to my surprise a lady to my right shouted "Hellloooo guys!", and I instantly looked to the left, and their shofars acknowledged them. But, only minutes later after walking a considerable distance from them, did I realize, those two guys walking in the middle of a group were in fact; Maximilian Günther and Edoardo Mortara. Is this real? Or a prank.... I've just seen two drivers, and some of the team personnel. This is actually real! I continued the walk and finally arrived at the circuit entrance shortly after 9am. 

It took an estimated 5 minutes to obtain my FIA accreditation lanyard/tag, and so it begun. The day, I became an official FIA Formula E journalist. It might seem strange to a few of you reading this entry, but it's something worth noting and silently celebrating.

Not knowing where to go exactly, I navigated my way around the massive paddock using the bill boards, and strangely... Yes! I got lost! Looking left and right, left and right trying to absorb the ambiance. Little to my knowledge that on my left, the FIA marshals were conducting a dumbie extraction test, removing someone from a Gen3 spec car. 

Having seen the complexity of the extrication process. I then wondered into the pitlane where I saw the TAG Porsche Formula E car freshly out of the FIA scrutineering office/garage, and the geek in me instantly started having a look at the aerodynamic package. I was quite stunned by how tiny the Generation 3 cars are. As they say, the television makes things look a lot bigger. 

Retracing my steps, I stumbled into Mitch Evans, Sam Bird, Edoardo Mortara, Max Gunther to name a few… thereafter making my way to the media center to begin something that I’ve been dreaming of for years. 

Upon arrival, I set up and then the joy began! I returned to the pitlane to capture as many photo’s as possible whilst teams prepares their cars for the shakedown session.

INTO THE DEEP END - PRESSER TIME!

The press conferences soon arrived. James Rossiter (Maserati MSG Racing), Alex Hui (NIO333), and James Barclay (Jaguar TCS Racing) were present at the Team Principals press conference, closely followed by Jean-Eric Vergne, Kelvin van der Linde and Sasha Fenestraz.

As soon as the press conferences concluded, all the drivers' assembled in front of the media pen. Will I get my opportunity to actually speak to these legends of motorsport? I actually did… I had the opportunity to chat to none other than Antonio Felix Da Costa. 

Da Costa was calm and so pleasant to speak to. I then lined up to chat to Jean-Eric Vergne to ask him about the slipstream affect, which became a talking prior to the event. The second question, I asked, was: Could you compare the speed of the Cape Town E-Prix circuit to the Monza, to which JEV replied: “It would be unfair because there is only one Monza.”

Having completed the interviews, I then walked back to the media centre to begin the joyous exercise of typing and publishing a few stories, before leaving to watch the shakedown sessions. 

Speaking for myself, it was quite exhilarating hearing the cars blasting past you, whilst struggling for grip and traction. 

Thinking that the wind had made it a bit more challenging for the drivers, I popped over to ask Jaguar TCS Racing if there drivers had any concerns about the wind after the shakedown, but unfortunately, they acknowledged me then wondered off to cater to other television media. But thankfully, ABT Cupra’s Mark Schneider came to my rescue informing me that their drivers had no concerns about the wind.

Back to the media centre, I shall go! There... I quickly updated an article, and then had a bite to eat. That all said and done, it was time for practice, and unfortunately, Envision Virgin Racing's Sebastien Buemi crashed, Kelvin van der Linde damaged a rim resulting in him stopping on track and Lucas Di Grassi suffered suspension failure. 

In a race against time, and social media. I quickly put a story together, then packed up and wondered off to the pitlane for one last time. Quickly noticing the damaged parts in the back of the Envision Virgin garage. I walked to the pitlane captured as many snaps as possible then walked back to capture the damaged parts before beginning the next journey….

The LONG GREEN JOURNEY HOME... Public transport. Not the best in South Africa, but to make it the best.. you need to support it in a way. It took an estimated 30 minutes to walk from the Cape Town E-Prix circuit to the train station where I just about caught a train home. A 15-hour day on the road has concluded. 

DAY 2 - THE BUSINESS END OF THE RACE WEEKEND

The early bird often catches the worm, or so they say… Rise and shine! It’s 4am, let’s get this day started! To continue in the green venture. This time around, I opted for the Cape Town street racers (Taxi’s). Well! That could be a bit unfair to them, but appropriate in the same breathe. Once aboard, a friendly guy, named Austin asked for direction to Green Point Traffic Department, the location of their event security meet up. Having explained everything about Formula E, Formula 1, and why I don’t watch one ball sport. We parted ways and the journey to the track began.

Arriving at the main entrance to start race day. First up on the agenda was to visit the Envision Racing garage to inspect the work done on Sebastien Buemi’s car after the heavy crash in Free Practice 1, but all seemed calm and collected. The car had all four corners lined up, and everything seemed ready for more lappage. 

Would I be the first to the media centre at 6:45am though? Nope, it was an elderly journalist reviewing footage from the previous day. And, whilst being the second journalist in the media centre, the exploring journey began. And, I opted to take a walk to the E-Fest Electric. Why? Because there was an official launch for Formula Student Africa, a series that I am quite excited by. Why? Because I participated in South Africa’s first-ever entry to Formula Student in 2012. 

With the day planned and an idea of what I am aiming to achieve… let’s just hope my body can hang on with just a few hours sleep. 

Free Practice 2 and Qualifying first on the e-lectrifying agenda… I thought why not take a stroll and watch the opening seconds of Free Practice 2 before running to the media centre to cover the session. Feeling as if I’d been hit by a bus, I ran like I’d just been powered by a Formula E battery, and made it with just a few minutes gone in the session. 

After the final practice session, I once again took a stroll to the paddock and pitlane to see what I could pick up and inquire about. 

Thereafter, I made my way back to the media centre, but upon arrival, the lovely Elza Smit from Maserati South Africa got in touch regarding an interview with Giovanni Sgro, the head of Maserati Corse. With five minutes to qualifying, how on earth would I make it in time? Well! I don't know to be honest as I ran... We successfully conducted the interview (which is soon to be published). 

Sprinting back to the media centre was the next task at hand because the qualifying session was just minutes away. And, what an interesting qualifying it was. For some, reason I expected an Avalanche Andretti pole position, but never write-off the quick young guys. Hats off to Sacha Fenestraz, who claimed he’s maiden pole position in Formula E in Cape Town. 

With a few hours between qualifying and the race, and the lack of water and/or juice in the media centre. I went on the hunt for some water or fizzy drinks, but to my disappointment the lines were longer then a Black Friday queue. And, so I returned to the media centre to sit back… Is there water? Isn’t there water? Thank god there was some cold water for a cup.

Whilst sitting back waiting for the race, I partially wrote this diary entry before planning out the rest of the afternoon. And, with the media centre situated inside the 2010 FIFA World Cup stadium in Cape Town. With just a few steps you can stand and watch the grid, and the final corner(s). After watching a couple of seconds, I immediately ran to the media centre in order to watch the proceedings. 

PHOTO CREDIT: ABB FIA Formula E World Championship

What a race it was… Congratulations to TAG Heuer Porsche’s Antonio Felix Da Costa! Such a funny and friendly character in the paddock. I saw him this morning, and said: “Goodluck, you can win this!” To which he replied: “I will try!” Guess what? He won! 

Immediately after the race, the FIA held a top three drivers’ press conference, but with no possibilities to ask questions, we left the conference, and there they were 17 drivers ready to answer the media's questions. Have a question? Ask the media representative of the team, and if given the green light, do go ahead. 

As you might have expected, I asked a couple of questions… but most of all enjoyed the experience!

At this point reality begins to sink it.... The Cape Town E-Prix was officially over! But it isn't over just yet for the media present. Many photographers were editing and sending off their photographs. Videographers were editing and preparing their videos, and journalists were wrapping up their stories. 

It was 19:23pm, and it was time to call it a day.... and take the long walk to the station, which meant I'd continue my green experience. I once again resorting to the minibus taxi.

So, would I ever apply to any other Formula E race(s) abroad? Hell yes! Buuuuttt… it is so easy to say “yes”, but money is required, and tons of it (due to exchange rates). So, maybe one day, I can live that dream, but as for now, the Cape Town E-Prix was an event that opened my eyes to the possibilities. 

THANK YOU FIA, FORMULA E, E-MOVEMENT AND MASERATI SA!!! 

- The End -