Jordan's Track Talk

Tag: Valencia

  • Formula E moves pre-season test

    Formula E has cancelled its Valencia pre-season test in the light of the horrific flash flood in the region and will instead head to fellow Spanish circuit Jarama.

    At least 155 people have died in Valencia and its surrounding areas since the devastating floods hit parts of Spain on Wednesday, with that total expected to rise further.

    Valencia’s Circuit Ricardo Tormo has hosted Formula E’s pre-season tests since 2017 and this year was due to host the first public outing for the Gen3 Evo car design that will be used for the next two seasons.

    But the damage to some of the circuit’s facilities – notably its main access road – and consideration for the wider situation meant it soon become clear that holding the test there was impossible.

    Its place will instead be taken by the Jarama circuit, approximately 20 miles north of Madrid.
    Running at the former Formula 1 grand prix venue, which is now primarily used for testing and national series, will still take place across four days but commence a day later, running from November 5th to 8th.

    We have all been monitoring the tragic situation in Valencia, where flash floods have devastated the region and claimed many lives. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by these terrible events and we at Formula E are looking at how we can practically support the region during this awful time. Following consultation with local authorities, the FIA and our colleagues at Circuit Ricardo Tormo, we have decided not to proceed with our pre-season test in Valencia, planned for 4-7 November. While it may have been possible to go ahead logistically, it is important not to create any distraction or use valuable resources that are much better served supporting the local community. We have a number of Formula E team members who have been working on the ground in Valencia over the past week, and we want to personally thank them for everything they’ve done, and continue to do, to support the area.  The pre-season test is an important moment in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship calendar ahead of Season 11 starting in Sao Paulo on 6-7 December, as it allows us to check the new Gen3 Evo cars for safety, and also to establish that we can safely and effectively deploy new technologies. We have also planned for the first-ever women’s test to take place during this event. Therefore, we have taken the decision to secure an alternative location, and Circuit del Jarama in Madrid will host both the FIA Formula E Official Test and the Women’s Test next week, scheduled for Tuesday 5 to Friday 8 November. The full event schedule will be confirmed in due course, as we navigate a number of logistical and operational challenges which will determine if it’s possible to move our test operations to Madrid within this timeframe. Our first thoughts are with the community of Valencia. The city has a special place in our hearts: it has been ever-present on our calendar since 2017 and we have recently moved our operations base there. It is like a second home for Formula E. We will support the community to recover from these tragic events in any way we can, and ensure that while our testing continues in Madrid, it is done with the utmost sensitivity.
    Formula E’s statement.

  • Formula E dedicates pre-season test for women

    Formula E has announced a world-first for an FIA Championship in holding a dedicated test session for women racing drivers in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

    The test will be taking place on Thursday 7th November at Ricardo Tormo circuit in Valencia.

    The first of its kind test in the all-electric championship provides elite women racing drivers the opportunity to driver the new for Season 11 Gen3 Evo car, which is capable 0-60mph in just 1.82 seconds.

    The car will also be tested during the same week by the 11 world-class race teams and 22 drivers currently competing in the series.

    Each of the race teams in the championship will be required to field at least one woman driver for the half-day test, but is encouraged to field two, who will all drive in the current-season cars.

    With all the women on track at the same time, the session creates a tangible platform for a wide pool of elite drivers who wouldn’t get otherwise an opportunity to drive machinery at this level.

    The test aims to provide the women not only with a destination but also a pathway to develop their careers and skills using current technology at its full potential.

    While at the Valencia track, drivers will take part in multiple media opportunities, including press conferences, briefings, interviews and capturing content for broadcast and social media on behalf of Formula E and their respective teams.

    We know there isn’t a simple solution for greater diversity in motorsport. If we’re going to truly give women equality, opportunity and visibility in our series, however, conditions for all need to be the same to aid their development and test themselves against those already on the starting grid. Unlike other series where women drivers have to use old or restricted machinery, they’ll be using the state-of-the-art GEN3 Evo car that accelerates 30% faster than an F1 car, just as our Championship drivers do. We also recognise that one test will not solve the longstanding issue, but we have to start somewhere, knowing there is a long way to go and making sure we’re making proactive, consistent steps that continue to make forward progress. As a motorsport with an almost-equal split of male and female fans, as well within Formula E including my Exec and Director teams, we believe it’s only right that our drivers and wider ecosystem is representative of those that follow and support the sport.
    Jeff Dodds, CEO at Formula E.

  • F3 Test Day 2 & 3

    We are back with the results from day 2 and 3 of the post season test in Valencia, lets see who tops the time of each session!

    Day 2 Morning-

    There was a number of different driver changes for the second day of testing with the main two being Paul Aron replacing Arthur Leclerc at PREMA Racing and Oliver Rasmussen switching to ART Grand Prix.

    David Vidales was the first to set the lead time with a 1:21.723 for Campos with Stanek setting an almost identical time shorty afterwards and Saucy set the top 3.

    Crawford was then a familiar name at the top during the final hour of the morning session as he went quickest with a 1:21.368 but shortly after there was a red-flag due to Johnathan Hoggard.

    The action then resumed but the order didnt really change with the top three being Crawford, Saucy and Stanek.

    The top 10 from Tuesday’s morning session:

    DriverTeamLaptime
    1Jak CrawfordPREMA Racing1:21.368
    2Grégoire SaucyART Grand Prix1:21.447
    3Roman StanekTrident1:21.453
    4Caio ColletMP Motorsport1:21.475
    5Jack DoohanVan Amersfoort Racing1:21.521
    6Oliver BearmanPREMA Racing1:21.593
    7Zane MaloneyTrident1:21.666
    8David VidalesCampos Racing1:21.723
    9Kaylen FrederickHiTech Grand Prix1:21.839
    10Reece UshijimaVan Amersfoort Racing1:21.889

    Afternoon-

    Three rookies set the standard for the afternoon session, with Colapinto leading Jenzer Motorsport duo Enzo Trulli and William Alatalo with a lap time of 1:22.757.

    Edgar then put in a 1:22.739 which put the 2021 Team Champion, Trident at the top of the leaderboard before Saucy brought the session to a halt with a red flag.

    Collet was the first to break the 1m 22s on this afternoon session after lapping a 1:21.843 which many drivers tried to beat and failed at doing so. But with only 15 minutes left of the session, Saucy decided to put on new tyres and to knock off the driver off P1 when he lapped a 1:21.789.

    The top 10 is as follows for Tuesday’s afternoon session:

    DriverTeamLaptime
    1Franco ColapintoMP Motorsport1:21.759
    2Grégoire SaucyART Grand Prix1:21.789
    3Caio ColletMP Motorsport1:21.843
    4Paul AronPREMA Racing1:21.857
    5Roman StanekTrident1:21.864
    6Kaylen FrederickHiTech Grand Prix1:21.913
    7Zane MaloneyTrident1:21.927
    8Jak CrawfordPREMA Racing1:21.941
    9David Vidales Campos Racing1:21.951
    10Oliver Bearman PREMA Racing1:21.979

    Day 3- Morning-

    The drivers didn’t hang about to get out on track this morning as soon as the lights went green the action started. We had Caio Collet set the early pace at 1:21.392 ahead of MP’s Colapinto and Ushijima.

    Smolyars return to Formula Three machinery didn’t last long as his VAR came to a stop in the first hour which paused the session. Once it resumed Saucy took P1 from Collet by only 0.092s there was then two further stoppages as Bearman came to a halt at Turn 12 and Marti stopped at Turn 4.

    Focus then went to data gathering in the second half of the morning and Saucy kept his place at the top of the leaderboard.

    The top 10 is as follows for the morning session:

    DriverTeamLaptime
    1Grégoire SaucyART Grand Prix1:21.300
    2Caio ColletMP Motorsport1:21.392
    3Jack DoohanVan Amersfoort Racing1:21.401
    4Roman StanekTrident1:21.422
    5Franco ColapintoMP Motorsport1:21.543
    6Zane MaloneyTrident1:21.597
    7Kaylen FrederickHiTech Grand Prix1:21.629
    8Jak CrawfordPREMA Racing1:21.767
    9Paul AronPREMA Racing1:21.835
    10Victor MartinsART Grand Prix1:21.873

    Afternoon-

    There was lots of long-runs in the afternoon stint until the last half an hour. Collet kept up his impressive work and set the time of 1:22.811 ahead of Edgar and Ushijima.

    Collet remained at the top for 2 hours and a half until Doohan pushed him off after there was a red flag due to Benavides stopping on track.

    Zak O’Sullivan managed to break into the top 10 after spending the first two days if testing in the latter half of leaderboard. He finished ahead of teammate Logan Sargeant.

    The top 10 is as follows for the final session of the 3 days:

    DriverTeamLaptime
    1Jack DoohanVan Amersfoort Racing1:22.354
    2Reece UshijimaCampos Racing1:22.545
    3Jonny EdgarTrident1:22.658
    4Alexander SmolyarVan Amersfoort Racing1:22.794
    5Filip UgranVan Amersfoort Racing1:22.801
    6Caio ColletMP Motorsport1:22.811
    7Hunter YeanyCampos Racing1:22.884
    8Zak O’SullivanCarlin Buzz Racing1:22.940
    9Logan SargeantCarlin Buzz Racing1:23.046
    10Isack HadjarHiTech Grand Prix1:23.011

    And this wraps up the post-season testing! Keep your eyes peeled for announcements on which drivers will be on track next year and when the testing calendar for 2022…