The FIA Formula E Championship is the world’s first all-electric single-seater racing series. But what do those words actually mean, how does the technology work, and who are the key players behind the scenes?
Read on to find out more…
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Abt Sportsline
The German Abt Sportsline team was the seventh to sign up for the Formula E series. While the team has enjoyed success as a single-seater outfit before, it’s been in the German DTM series where it forged its reputation as one of the best in the business. As well as building and preparing race-winning racing cars, it also builds luxury, high-performance versions of a series of cars in the Volkswagen Audi Group.
For Season 2 it partnered with the global engineering giant Schaeffler to produce its own powertrain, a relationship that led to numerous race wins and second place in the Teams’ Championship.
Abt, Daniel
Daniel Abt has been a mainstay of Formula E since the series started in 2013, driving for the Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport team throughout. He scored his maiden podium finish in the Season 1 race at Miami, while his first pole position followed at the Season 1 race in Long Beach.
He’s the son of Abt Sportsline Team Principal Hans-Jurgen Abt, and was 2009 ADAC Formula Masters Champion.
Acee
Acee is one of the two Formula E mascots. Together with Dcee, he can be found wandering around the Allianz eVillage entertaining the fans. Be sure to grab a photo with him if you see him!
Agag, Alejandro
Alejandro Agag is the CEO and Founder of the FIA Formula E Championship. Born in Madrid in 1970, Agag enjoyed an international upbringing in Madrid, Paris and New York, gaining fluency in English, Spanish, French and Italian. After graduating from university, he moved into politics, quickly establishing himself and becoming the personal assistant to the Spanish Prime Minister at 25.
In 1999 he won a seat in the European Parliament, becoming the youngest Spanish person to ever do so at the age of 28. In 2001, he decided to leave the world of politics and move into motorsport where together with his business partner Flavio Briatore, they purchased the F1 TV rights in Spain. A few years later Agag purchased the Campos Racing GP2 Team, revamping it into the highly successful Barwa Addax Team. After investing in English football club QPR, Agag, together with business partner Enrique Bañuelos, began Formula E Holdings, winning the tender to promote the FIA Formula E Championship.
Team Aguri
Team Aguri was the sixth outfit to sign up to Formula E. Owned by Japanese ex-F1 racer Aguri Suzuki, the team was loosely based on the Super Aguri F1 team, which competed between 2006 and 2008.
With Antonio Felix da Costa behind the wheel, the team scored its only Formula E win in the Season 1 Buenos Aires ePrix. Following the end of Season 2, the team was sold to Chinese marketing and management experts Seca, who rebranded the team TECHEETAH for Season 3.
Alguersuari, Jamie
Jamie Alguersuari was one of the 20 drivers who lined up on the grid for the inaugural Formula E race in Beijing 2013. The ex-Toro Rosso Formula 1 driver, took part in nine races for Virgin.
In total he scored 30 points, which included setting the Visa fastest lap in Putrajaya, starting on the front row in Buenos Aires, where he also recorded his best finish of fourth place.
Allianz
Allianz is the Official eVillage Partner of Formula E. The German financial service giant joined Formula roll call of Official Partners in Season 3, and lends its name to the eVillage fan area where a host of fun, fascinating and interactive displays keep the crowds entertained throughout the whole event.
Andretti Autosport
After starting life as Forsythe Green Racing in 1993, the team became known as Andretti Green Racing in 2003 when US racing legend Michael Andretti purchased a majority stake in the team. At the time, the outfit was solely focused on Indycar-style racing in the States. But over the years the organisation has grown and expanded into programmes in series such as the American Le Mans Series, A1GP, Global Rallycross and in 2013, Formula E.
Andretti Formula E was on the podium first time out in Beijing, while its first pole followed in Punta del Este. A race win continues to prove elusive, however. For Season 3, Andretti announced that it had entered into a strategic partnership with BMW Motorsport.
Andretti, Marco
The Indycar race winner made a one-off appearance for his father’s team in Buenos Aires Season 1. It made him the first American to race in the all-electric championship
App
The Formula E app is a great way to get under the skin of the most exciting new form of motorsport. Available on iOS and Android, the app is full of unique functions such as live streaming of team radio during the races as well as all the vital information about the teams, drivers and car technology.
To download for iOS, click here
To download for Android, click here
Aquafuel
Formula E is committed to making its events as close to carbon neutral as possible. To this end it contracted a company called Aquafuel to build a pair of ‘emission free’ generators, which are used to produce the electricity that is needed to charge the cars.
The generators started life as standard diesel units, but were converted by Aquafuel to run on glycerine, which releases practically no toxic chemicals when it burns.
To learn more, click here
Audi Sport
The sporting arm of the German luxury car manufacturer has enjoyed considerable success during a sustained period of competing in the World Endurance Championship and the blue riband Le Mans 24 Hours event.
However, that project has ended and it has turned its attention to Formula E, where it will join the series as a powertrain supplier in Season 4, turning its support of the Abt Schaeffler team into an official factory racing programme.
Autograph session
At every single Formula E race, the fans who pack the eVillage get the opportunity to meet their heroes. This takes the form of the autograph session, where all 20 drivers spend 30 minutes signing their driver cards, taking selfies and engaging with fans.