Projekt E all-electric rallycross car unveiled.

PHOTO CREDIT: FIA World RX Media. 

The first all-electric rallycross car has been unveiled at the Riga Motor Museum in Latvia.

Projekt E will showcase electric-powered cars developed in collaboration between IMG and Austrian company STARD (Stohl Advanced Research and Development) which will race on the same event schedule as traditional World RX Supercars at selected European rounds of the championship in 2020.

"Today we reached a tipping point in the future of production-based motorsport with the unveiling of the racecar which will feature in the electric support series in 2020, codenamed Projekt E," said Paul Bellamy, Senior Vice President of IMG Motorsports. 

"The car we revealed today is the result of months of collaboration with our technical partner, STARD. That work has centred on developing electric technologies, charging and safety systems for the Projekt E racecars."

"The advanced technology which powers the Projekt E racecar will produce torque levels we have never seen in rallycross before.

"It’s an exciting time for the sport of rallycross. Our aim with the new-look race weekend format for 2020, with the inclusion of Projekt E, is to allow rallycross fans to enjoy the traditional internal combustion engines – and be given a flavour of the future at the same time."

Projekt E will use STARD’s “REVelution” EV powertrain systems which will produce up to 450kW (613bhp) combined power, 1100Nm of instantaneous torque and produce a top speed of 240km/h.

The plan is to use current chassis technology such as the 2019 STARD World RX Ford Fiesta. The concept allows for the conversion of current cars or new builds to current chassis regulations using the REVelution drivetrain.

The STARD "REVelution" EV powertrain.
PHOTO CREDIT: STARD.at

And, in a first for motorsport, Projekt E will enable the use of road car electric motors in racecars.

"There is a lot of activity in hybrid and electric racing at present but what sets Projekt E apart is the fact that the Projekt E race car can utilise road car electric motors," Manfred Strohl, President of Stohl Group, said.

"The performance of the racecar will be impressive when you consider that in terms of torque, the power unit is capable of 0-90% in about 32 milliseconds. The motors rotate at up to 14,000rpm. Projekt E will add a whole new, innovative dimension to rallycross in 2020."

STARD's CEO Michael Sakowicz told Motorsport.com "the powertrain has such a high flexibility, especially the transmission which is an exclusive development, that we can run practically any road car electric motor and use it in the Projekt E kit." 

Motorsport.com has also learned that teams can buy a complete powertrain kit, retailing at €194,000. In addition to purchasing a complete powertrain, STARD have also created an initiative where teams will be able to provide their own motors from road-going electric cars.

The aim of Projekt E is to evaluate electric racecars in a World RX environment in accordance with the roadmap for electrification of the FIA World Rallycross Championship which was has been ratified by the FIA World Motorsport Council.

Written By Junaid Samodien