The 24 drivers from 12 teams lining up to go green, for two back-to-back races in Diriyah today and tomorrow, will make further history for the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
The series’ elevation to the élite World Championship category of international motorsport, only six seasons since its inception, is exceptional – as is the use of a night-racing format for the season-opening races.
This innovative spirit is at the heart of ABB Formula E and the championship will once again be a showcase for the extraordinary electric vehicle (EV) performance made possible by advances in e-mobility. At the same time, it will highlight the technology achievements of title partner ABB in support of the rapid transition towards EV adoption.
Set in Riyadh’s historic Diriyah locale, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the races will be the first ABB Formula E events to run after dark. Thanks to the zero-emissions nature of the Gen 2 race cars, Diriyah’s ancient city walls face no risk from additional combustion-engine pollution. Advanced electric drivetrains are what make race venues in historic urban centers viable.
Diriyah’s 2.5-kilometer (1.5-mile), 21-turn layout is reckoned to be one of the year’s most complicated, in part because of the sandy surrounds, which leave no room for error. Dusty track surfaces also cause changes in grip levels that can catch out the over-zealous.
Among those seeking a strong start to the season will be Sébastien Buemi, an ABB ambassador in the championship and driver for the Nissan e.Dams team.
“It’s critical to make a positive start in the first races,” says Buemi, who won the championship in its second season. “We’ll be looking to improve on our previous results, though it’s tough at the double races. The teams have to work extra hard to analyze data between the rounds to improve the car.”
Simona De Silvestro also continues as an ABB ambassador, holding down the role of reserve driver for ABB partner team TAG Heuer Porsche.
Season 7 races will continue to be held in accordance with the strict health and safety protocols that were established to allow the conclusion of Season 6 in Berlin, where six races were staged in nine days last August. There, António Félix Da Costa and his DS Techeetah team captured the Drivers’ and Teams’ championship titles.
Following the Diriyah races, Season 7 picks up in April with a European swing starting in Rome and continuing on to a new bespoke Formula E track in Valencia, Spain, where pre-season testing has been held for the past three seasons. Then it’s off to the Monaco and Marrakesh races, with rounds 7 and 8 scheduled for Santiago, Chile, as a June double-header. The remainder of the season’s calendar will be finalized in the context of the global health situation.
ABB’s commitment to e-mobility and the mission of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is deepening as the series expands its reach. In Season 9, ABB will become Official Charging Supplier for the Gen 3 racecars, which will replenish their batteries during the race, leveraging the charging technology and experience of ABB. The technology leader entered the e-mobility market back in 2010, and today has sold more than 400,000 electric vehicle chargers across more than 85 markets; more than 20,000 DC fast chargers and 380,000 AC chargers, including those sold through Chargedot.
The alignment of ABB’s mission of sustainability with ABB Formula E is explored in greater depth in a new video series, Drivers of Progress.
“Rethinking how we can live, work, move and produce without consuming the earth is how ABB is working to raise the profile of sustainable development in transport, electrification, cities and factories,” Björn Rosengren, CEO of ABB, says. “At ABB, we embed sustainability in everything we do in order to create long-term value.”
Track map and ways to watch
Population: (Riyadh): 7,231,000
Elevation: 668 meters
Good to Know: Diriyah, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is a cultural landmark and the original governmental seat for the Al Saud family.
