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In the heat of the moment, as 20 all-electric cars blast through the city centre, it's easy to forget the unsung hero of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship - the BMW i8 Qualcomm safety car.
"Ever since the very first race in 2014, the Qualcomm safety car has sat proudly at the front of the grid,” said Formula E Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag, speaking at the launch of the latest version ahead of the 2018 Antofagasta Minerals E-Prix on Saturday 3 February. "When we first started Formula E, many people said that this series would not have a future. BMW was amongst the first who opened its doors and believed in our championship," he added.
While it certainly looks the part, it's what's on the inside that counts or - in this case - how it drives. With that, we caught up with Bruno Correia, Formula E's Saftey Car driver, to find out what's changed, how it performs and what his predictions were for the inaugural race in the streets of Santiago.
So, what's changed on the car?
The car is slightly lighter - we changed the roll cage and the battery has been improved - in terms of power but also in terms of range. So, the car still has the same brakes, supplied by BMW's M division, adjustable suspension and aero kit. Essentially, it's a production car that's been adapted for the race track.
What's it like to drive?
I first drove it in Marrakesh - it was like a covert test, shall we say! I did a short shakedown - just five laps around the track - and I was amazed by the setup. For my driving style, it's perfect - I can do whatever I want with it.
We're just hours from the start of the 2018 Antofagasta Minerals Santiago E-Prix - what do you think of the circuit?
This is a fantastic location. I didn't think it would be possible to build a track here, in the heart of Santiago. If I wasn't here, I wouldn't believe it. But, at the same time, it's a big challenge for everyone - the track is tricky - there's a lot of undulations, different kinds of tarmac as well as some fast areas - it's going to be an intense race!
As I always say, I don't like to be out because that usually means someone has crashed. But you never know - on the street circuits, anything can happen!