FIA confirms Porsche and Mercedes entry into Formula E

FIA has given the green light for Porsche and Mercedes to enter the electric racing series as the governing body accepted their applications to produce powertrains for the Formula E. They will start in season 6, while BMW is in for season 5 and just showed off their racer in action.

Mercedes and Porsche are among the 11 Formula E manufacturers that have been homologated for the 2019/20 season. They join existing FE manufacturers Audi, DS, Jaguar, Mahindra, NIO, Penske and Venturi as well as Nissan for season six. The two additions for season six will have a two-year homologation period, until the next cycle begins for the 2021/22 Formula E races.

BMW is joining for this coming season five though and has just sported its electric race car, the BMW iFE.18, on their Driving Academy site in Maisach, near Munich. It is powered by a new drivetrain, which has been jointly developed by engineers from BMW i production development and from BMW Motorsport.

The press release compares the racer with its production counterpart, the motor used in the i3, saying “the race machine is 50 percent lighter, 66 percent more compact and produces 100 percent more performance (than the i3).”

The BMW iFE.18 will make its first public appearance at the official Formula E test in Calafat from 17th to 19th April 2018.

autosport.com (Porsche, Mercedes), bmwgroup.com (BMW iFE.18)