Electric GT Racing is here

[tux]

FIA have released the technical regulations for an all new fully electric GT series running at GT3 pace on full circuits.

https://www.fia.com/news/fia-announc...ic-gt-category

[LC2guy]

With no competition, just one battery supplier. That will advance the technology, not....

[Akrapovic]

Originally Posted by LC2guy

With no competition, just one battery supplier. That will advance the technology, not....

I don't think this is a fair criticism given these are to be based on GT3s, and GT3s are BoP'd. They are customer cars, not meant for progressing technology.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by Akrapovic

I don't think this is a fair criticism given these are to be based on GT3s, and GT3s are BoP'd. They are customer cars, not meant for progressing technology.

I think you are very right.

The top tier of WEC should be where OEMs go to develop tech.

GT3 has never been about new tech and this is a continuation of that.

It’s not just the top tier of WEC that needs to move electric eventually... eventually every single motor car will need to go electric, or hydrogen. Or (hopefully!!) green fuel for a traditional combustion engine.

GT3, GT4 will need affordable approaches to that

[Baliwa]

I just only hope, this not become like that Tesla GT event failed so hard.

[GT6]

well they are all jumping on the fully electric band wagon, but not sure that is the right way to go, but time will tell.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by Baliwa

I just only hope, this not become like that Tesla GT event failed so hard.

Well, I think the difference here is the FIA backing.

There remains a lot to be seen here, how interested manufacturers will be, whether they can really replicate GT3 racing, and if so for how long?

I think the key thing for me is how serious the racing will be with these things, love it or hate it Formula E produces some pretty compelling action. But the Jaguar SUV racing that ran as support was mind-numbingly boring, so there's really no telling yet.

[Tel 911S]

With the spec of the cars as shown , at racing speeds they will only run for about 12 minutes before needing charging .
One factor of racing is to spend as little time as possible on the brakes , so I doubt regenerative braking will ad even 1 minute to the run time .

If the format is to be 20 or 25 minute races with only 1 recharge , [ a 6 hr race would mean 2 hrs in the pits charging up ], then between 12 to 16 minutes into the race there would probably be no cars on the track .
To do a recharge in 5 or 6 minutes would need a generator truck http://www.truckinchina.com/ISUZU-Em...d78980987.html
for each car .

So , although it ticks some boxes for the Greens , I cant see it being very exciting for the spectators or the teams who would have to spend well over £100,000 on a generator for each car .

[hondafan37]

https://sportscar365.com/ev-racing/p...ctric-concept/

[joeb]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

https://sportscar365.com/ev-racing/p...ctric-concept/

Looks interesting, but the design reminds me more of an Audi. No mention of actual racing plans here either.

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by joeb

Looks interesting, but the design reminds me more of an Audi. No mention of actual racing plans here either.

I think its just a study of whether they could potentially do the FIA's new Electric GT formula and make it look like a Porsche.

There's some nice touches, but the car looks more GT4 proportion than GT3. Then it has fairly non GT4 aero. It's a bit of a mismash.

[Spyderman]

Long may it stay a concept car.

[FIRE]

Originally Posted by hondafan37

https://sportscar365.com/ev-racing/p...ctric-concept/

Don't ask me why but for some reason it reminds me of the Deutsche Rennsport Meisterschaft in the late 70s/early 80s.

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Spyderman

Long may it stay a concept car.

Strangely, I rather like it......


But then I realise it's all electric.......

[Spyderman]

Originally Posted by Aysedasi

Strangely, I rather like it......


But then I realise it's all electric.......

I think it looks good enough. I like it too; all but the drivetrain.

[Aysedasi]

Then we have an accord, as they say.......

[BertMk2]

Porsche appear to have designed an electric Audi R8.

[broadrun96]

It definitely looks R8ish from the sides, the rear haunches disappear from the top view to the side so it looks slabsided.

But to Porsche's credit it is cutting edge and new tech for the charge and pushing the charging time concerns. But then they have always realized this and make an electric car that doesn't have to be driven like a granny or it overheats and limps home

[Ferrari333SP]

If/when racing transitions to electric, I'm out.

[Bcarr6]

Personally, don't hate the idea of electric racing, sure it doesn't sound as good, sure it has different implications on the cars, but I think Formula E has shown there is good potential for wheel-to-wheel racing. I think it's near-inevitable that racing will go to electric racing at some point in the future.

The only chance it won't- if the eco-friendly synthetic fuels manage to become worthy substitutes for electricity.

I for one really hope they do, so we get to keep the noise!

[Aysedasi]

Originally Posted by Bcarr6

Personally, don't hate the idea of electric racing, sure it doesn't sound as good, sure it has different implications on the cars, but I think Formula E has shown there is good potential for wheel-to-wheel racing. I think it's near-inevitable that racing will go to electric racing at some point in the future.

The only chance it won't- if the eco-friendly synthetic fuels manage to become worthy substitutes for electricity.

I for one really hope they do, so we get to keep the noise!

I agree. I won't be 'out' as such if we end up all electric but I won't be singing and dancing about it....

[AndrewCherry]

I think it's almost inevitable. Once the majority of road vehicles are electric, most motorsport won't have much choice - most race cars are modified road vehicles, and manufacturers won't be producing ICEs in sufficient volume to make them economically viable for grass roots motorsport. F1 and the like can carry on forever, they've got the budget for bespoke engines anyway, but what happens to something like Formula Ford when they haven't made a suitable ICE (or spare part) for 10 years?

[tux]

One step closer friends. https://sportscar365.com/ev-racing/p...man-gt4-racer/

[Bcarr6]

Originally Posted by tux

One step closer friends. https://sportscar365.com/ev-racing/p...man-gt4-racer/

Looks great to be fair, the sound will be a far bigger loss than looks.