Three lessons learned – the Santiago E-Prix.

Munich. The BMW i Andretti Motorsport team is contesting its
first season in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. The engineers
gain more experience with every race weekend and incorporate their
new findings in the development of the BMW iFE.18 and the
preparation for the next races. In our new series “Three lessons
learned”, we present three of the findings made by BMW i Andretti
Motorsport after each race – starting with last Saturday’s Santiago E-Prix.

 

1. No chance in qualifying group one.

António Félix da Costa (POR), winner of the opening race in Ad
Diriyah (KSR), took to the track in the first of four qualifying
groups in Santiago (CHL) – a fact that left him with no chance. The
track conditions were so difficult that no driver in group one
qualified higher than 13th. As of group two, which included
Alexander Sims (GBR), conditions allowed faster lap times. Sims was
able to match the pace of Sebastien Buemi (SUI), who set the fastest
time in group two, in the first two sectors. Only in the third sector
was there a substantial difference in times. Sims eventually qualified
ninth. As the groups are decided by positions in the Drivers’
Championship, the best-placed drivers are faced with the most
difficult conditions. This is intended to make the race even more exciting.

 

2. Heat plays a key role.

In Chile, the teams were faced with extremely hot conditions. During
the race, the air temperature was approaching 40 degrees Celsius. This
put the focus on the battery temperature. Thanks to a good energy
management strategy, BMW i Andretti Motorsport was able to stick
within the temperature limits of the Gen2 batteries. While energy is
usually the restricting factor at Formula E races, this time it was
the battery temperature in the heat of Santiago.

 

3. Precision is vital.

One particular challenge for the teams in Season 5 is adhering to the
mandatory limits in a wide range of areas of the car – for example,
energy consumption, battery charge level, brake temperatures and tyre
pressures. High-precision work is vital, both from engineers and the
drivers, as infringements and the slightest discrepancies are
consistently punished with penalties.