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4
WORLD AND LIFE
TCR 2018
The development of the Cupra e-Racer
– the first ever fully electric
competition Touring Car that was
unveiled at the Geneva International
Motorshow in March – has moved on
to the dynamic phase.
The first step was to check the
integration of the electric battery
pack in a short test at Grobnik, in
Croatia. The battery pack is made up
of 6,072 round cell batteries, which
is equivalent to a battery for 9,000
mobile phones.
A few days later, the Cupra technical
team directed by engineer Xavi Serra,
moved to Parcmotor Castellolí, near
Barcelona to begin with the actual
track test programme.
Former WTCC race winner and Cupra
testing and development driver Jordi
Gené took the wheel of the car for a
series of dynamic tests that were
used to verify the maximum output
of the electric motors, power
management with regards to the
temperatures of all the elements and
especially the batteries, and its
driveability, by closely examining
accelerator response, the brake
system and
energy recovery.
The goal of these
sessions is to
continue making
adjustments and
maximise
performance and
reliability of
every component.
During the next
round of testing
in September,
engineers and
technicians are
going to focus on
the lap times of
the electric
racing car, in
view of
the participation
in the first
ever E-TCR
championship.
Cupra Racing
director Jaime Puig
explained:
“We want to prove that
this is the future of competition and
that an E-TCR car can be as
The Cupra e-Racer
began its
testing programme
competitive as a petrol-powered
Touring Car and even more.
We hope the track tests we are
performing will encourage other
brands to commit to the E-TCR
championship.
”
Gené was pleasantly surprised
by his first foray into the world of
electric competition cars:
“It delivers impressive acceleration,
and the excellent distribution of its
batteries gives it a low centre of
gravity with a much better than
expected driving feel. The only scope
for improvement we see is with the
braking, as it is obviously a heavier
car and more difficult to stop with
precision.
”
Dr. Matthias Rabe, SEAT Vice-
president for Research and
Development attended the test and
commented:
“With the Cupra e-Racer
we want to bring racing to the next
level, proving
that we can
reinvent
motorsport and
achieve
success. We are
proud of the
team that is
making this
electric touring
race car
possible.
”
While waiting
to compete in
the new E-TCR
championship,
the Cupra e-
Racer could
make his
racing debut
soon.
“The
first objective
is to compete
in a race this
year, we will
do it if we are
well prepared, face to face with the
rest of those involved in the TCR
series; of course out of the
competition
,” Puig concluded.