Stacey Barhydt, ClipperCreek’s Engineering and Production Project Manager, attended the sixth round of Formula E races in Long Beach last weekend with her husband, Andy. There are 11 races total; the next race takes place May 9 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. View the calendar for the Formula E races here.
Formula E is a new FIA single-seater championship and the world’s first fully-electric racing series. There is a total of 10 teams with two drivers each. Formula E promotes three core values of Energy, Environment and Entertainment. “The first thing I noticed was that it was very laid back and family-friendly! It seemed like kind of a California Picnic attitude throughout the whole day,” said Barhydt. “Kids did not need earmuffs and there was no smell of fuel; just clean ocean air. The Formula E cars sound exactly like large remote control cars, and it was hard to tell when they were coming, but that actually made it more exciting. Because Formula E cars are so quiet, except when they are right in front of you, it means that you can easily have a conversation with everyone around you without having to shout at all.”
“We sat at Turn 6 which I think were the best seats in the house,” said Barhydt. See a video of the First Official Lap at Long Beach here. Top speeds can be as high as 225 mph. “The first season’s race rules limit the power that can be used by drivers. The power output can be temporarily increased for 5 seconds per car for the drivers with FanBoost.” FanBoost allows fans to vote online for their favorite drivers. The three drivers with the most votes right before the race get a speed boost during the race.
To learn more about Formula E racing visit their website at http://www.fiaformulae.com/
Additional videos of the Formula E can be seen here: Long Beach laps and BMW-i8 ride alongs
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