Indianapolis Formula E Super Formula
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Nr. 28 Anno 2013 MAGAZINE PUBLISHED BY DALLARA "Periodico regolarmente registrato presso il Tribunale di Parma (n.16, 03/09/2010)" FORMULA E 2014 WILL SEE THE INAUGURAL FIA SANCTIONED CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ELECTRICALLY POWERED SUPER FORMULA RACING CARS. ENGINEER PIGNACCA EXPLAINS HOW INNOVATIONS THE FIRST CARS DESIGNED FOR THE JAPANESE IN AERODYNAMICS AND MATERIALS CHAMPIONSHIP WILL BE READY THIS SUMMER. CAN HELP TO CREATE A "SUSTAINABLE" WE REVEAL ALL THE SECRETS OF A PROJECT FUTURE FOR MOTORSPORTS THAT HAS BEEN DEVELOPED IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH THE JAPANESE DRIVERS AND ENGINEERS, THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO THE BENEFITS OF THE DALLARA SIMULATOR INDIANAPOLIS THE NEW INDYCAR SEASON HAS JUST OPENED WITH THE FACTORY FROM VARANO CELEBRATING ITS 200TH VICTORY IN THE CATEGORY. BUT THE COMPANY IS NOW A FIRMLY ESTABLISHED PRESENCE IN THE USA TOO. IN A LENGTHY INTERVIEW, STEFANO DE PONTI GIVES US AN OVERVIEW OF THE PROGRESS BEING MADE IN NORTH AMERICA Formula E THE 2 FORMULA E RESPONSIBLE FUTURE 2014 WILL SEE THE INAUGURAL SEASON OF THE NEW, TOP LEVEL FIA CHAMPIONSHIP FOR ELECTRICALLY POWERED CARS. DALLARA WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MANUFACTURING THE CHASSIS AND, AS PROJECT MANAGER ENGINEER LUCA PIGNACCA EXPLAINS, THE OBJECTIVE IS TO PRODUCE A RACING CAR CAPABLE OF COMBINING EXCITEMENT, INNOVATION AND SUSTAINABLE TECHNOLOGY IN TERMS OF CONSUMPTION AND EMISSIONS 3 Formula E Engineer Pignacca, what were you other models, as well from other cars. applies if the weight of the car is asked to produce for Formula E? At the same time, this is a completely reduced – without compromising on «Spark Racing Technology (SRT) different type of product and it will safety of course». wanted to build a single-seater be fun and stimulating to work on electric car capable of competing such a new concept. The greatest Will you be forming a working group in the 2014 FIA Formula E challenge was packaging the cells and together with McLaren, who will be championship. In order to achieve battery modules, the safety of the supplying the electronics, engine and this they needed partners and they monocoque, which will have a gearbox? chose Dallara to design the chassis radically different rear section, and «SRT’s partners for the electrical drive and supply the main components for the electrical system, which will system and control system are it: the safety cell, the battery safety operate at very high voltage». McLaren Electronic Systems. Hewland cell, the steering system, the will supply a specially designed supensions uprightss. We are There’s a lot of talk about zero- gearbox». practically designing the car for, and emission engines: in what ways is it together with, them». also possible to obtain a low Does Formula E really represent a environmental impact by working on glimpse of the future? Is this type of Do you already know how many cars the type of materials that are used car the answer to the drive to reduce you have to supply, and when? and the aerodynamics of the car? the cost and environmental impact of «We’ve got an order for 42 cars, two «We have an enormous responsibility competitions, while ensuring to be delivered in July, and the rest by towards future generations: as increasing safety standards? March 2014». engineers and designers we have to «As always, the races will show the consider all the possible aspects in world that the developments made by What challenges does a project like order to find ways of decreasing fuel the motoring industry can function at this pose when designing the chassis consumption and pollution. We have the very highest level. If we do our for the car? Did you start from to have a 360° outlook. At Dallara we work properly, Formula E will act as a scratch or was it based on existing have a great deal of expertise in launch pad for promoting this concept projects? aerodynamics and the use of all over the world. We have many «At the end of the day we’re talking lightweight materials: if the challenges ahead of us and numerous about a racing car, and for this reason aerodynamic resistance is low the car practical problems to solve before we we drew on all our experience and will use less fuel or current when can answer the second question. But used various components from our running at a given speed. The same I’m certain we’re up to it». → “WE HAVE AN ENORMOUS RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS FUTURE GENERATIONS: AS ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL THE POSSIBLE ASPECTS IN ORDER TO FIND WAYS OF DECREASING FUEL CONSUMPTION AND POLLUTION. WEHAVETOHAVEA360° OUTLOOK. AT DALLARA WE HAVE A GREAT DEAL OF EXPERTISE IN AERODYNAMICS AND THE USE OF LIGHTWEIGHT MATERIALS: IF THE AERODYNAMIC RESISTANCE IS LOW THE CAR WILL USE LESS FUEL OR CURRENT WHEN RUNNING AT A GIVEN SPEED. THE SAME APPLIES IF THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR IS REDUCED – WITHOUT COMPROMISING ON SAFETY OF COURSE” 4 5 Formula E AN “ELECT Even in China they believe in electrically powered racing. A few weeks ago, at the headquarters of FIA, “Fia Formula E Team China Racing” became the second team (after Dryson Racing) to sign up for the 2014 Formula E championship. The cars, which will be produced by Spark Racing Technologies, will feature chassis (and associated components) manufactured by Dallara Automobili, McLaren engines and electrical components and a Hewland gearbox. «I believe that Formula E represents the ideal opportunity for China to get involved in the future of motorsports – said the company president, Yu Liu – our presence will encourage millions of fans to follow the championship». The China Racing team, the first Chinese racing organisation, is a de facto state-run team that debuted in A1GP in 2004 6 Is it possible to envisage a complete «The debate about noise and Formula towards a zero-emission production competitive organisation for E is still open. car for Dallara as well? electrically powered cars, from the Some feel that noise is an essential «Engineer Dallara has been feeder competitions right through to element for the race-going public, dreaming of building a production an elite championship? whereas others, and this is the car for a number of years, and now «Why not? Battery technology is the majority view, believe that we are his dream is coming true. key to success for electric cars. The beginning to attract fans whose tastes Nevertheless, given the current state world’s leading motor manufacturers are different. We could play rock of battery technology, it's highly and many of the brightest engineers music during the races, for example, unlikely that our production model are working hard on it, and we will and the fans would be just as happy. will be electric or hybrid. be seeing some major breakthroughs Some purists even point out that we However, as I said, sometimes over the next few years that will will be able to enjoy the screech of engineers perform miracles…». open up the way for new and the tyres on the bends; at the moment exciting challenges». traditional, noisy cars drown out the Stefano Semeraro noise of the gearbox, so the public has Do you think that races fans will be no idea what it sounds like. But this able to adapt to races that are so...... high pitched sound will soon be very quiet? After all Le Mans and the familiar to every fan. We’ll have a latest Ferrari and McLaren supercars better idea after the first race». have already adopted the new hybrid technologies. Could Formula E be the first step CTRIFYING” CALENDAR under the patronage of the Asian Speeds will be limited to around an interest. FIA has awarded the audience of young fans». giant's Ministry of Sport. The 220 km/h (but with acceleration licence to organise the Will we soon be seeing Formula E drivers include Qinghua Ma, from 0 to 100 in three seconds), championship to Formula E events taking place on the same CongFu Cheng, HopIn Tung, and zero emissions and “roar”, and Holdings Ltd, a Hong Kong weekends as its big sister, and competes in numerous organised maximum stints of 25 minutes consortium whose main investor maybe even taking her place in race events in Beijing, Shanghai, between recharging. In fact, is Enrique Banuelos a Spanish the not-too-distant future; who Chengdu, Zuhai and Ordos. battery life is the Achilles' Heel of businessman, and whose chief knows? It’s difficult to say, Evidently satisfied, Alejandro the new technology and this executive, Alejandro Agag, is a although the future certainly Agag, the CEO of Formula E means that, in order to complete nephew of the ex-Spanish Prime seems to be moving in that Holdings, who are organising the a full one hour race, it will be Minister Aznar and has already direction. Cities such a Seoul are event, declared: «We fully expect necessary to switch cars. been involved with Gp2, Gp3 and already experimenting with new to feature a number of Chinese However, with respect to its F.1 in the past. Another important concepts based on the concept of drivers in Formula E». The 10 predecessors, Formula E has a figure involved in the project is small car lanes featuring an races that FIA expects to organise very significant advantage: street Paul Drayson, ex-Minister for electrical coil installed under the in the first season will all be held circuits. The low-pollution Science and Technology under road surface, capable of on street circuits; currently races engines, and “soft” environmental Tony Blair, and a keen gentleman supplying the vehicles with are already planned for Roma impact, could convince large driver.