Munich. Next Saturday, the Ad Diriyah E-Prix (KSA) kicks off
the fifth season of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. It also
marks the first race appearance for the BMW i Andretti Motorsport
team and the BMW iFE.18 race car with its BMW i powertrain. Two BMW
works drivers, Alexander Sims (GBR) and António Félix da Costa
(POR), will be the drivers. Sims is set to contest his first Formula
E season, while Félix da Costa will enter his fifth year in the
first race series for fully-electric single-seater cars. Once again
in Season 5 BMW i, as “Official Vehicle Partner” of Formula E, will
provide the safety car fleet for all races.
Quotes ahead of the Ad Diriyah E-Prix:
Jens Marquardt (BMW Motorsport Director):
“The long period of preparation for our official works entry into the
ABB FIA Formula E Championship is coming to an end. For us, Formula E
is the ‘Tech Lab’ for iNEXT. Our powertrain was developed in close
collaboration between motorsport and production, and the findings from
this overarching collaboration will flow into future BMW i models. Now
the excitement for the first race and the first comparison with our
rivals is building. We feel ready for this new challenge.”
Roger Griffiths (Team Principal BMW i Andretti Motorsport):
“Everyone at the BMW i Andretti Motorsport team is approaching the
new season with a sense of excitement and anticipation. After several
years of working together in an unofficial manner, the new works
partnership comes to Season 5 ready to take up the challenge with the
all new BMW iFE.18. Testing so far has been very positive, but
testing is testing and now the real competition starts. We have two
proven, first-class drivers in Alexander and António, who I know are
both hungry for success. The team is backed by an innovative group of
partners, each of which are industry leaders in their own fields. All
of us feel the potential of the team and are looking forward to the
green flag.”
Alexander Sims (#27 BMW iFE.18):
“I’m really looking forward to the first race of the season. Testing
has gone reasonably well and we have been able to get a lot of mileage
under our belts, which feels like we’re in a good position for the
season opener. The team has also been working really well and we are
all enthusiastic to finally kick off as BMW works team. I personally
hope for a smooth first race weekend in Season 5 without any big
mistakes – that is realistically my main goal as a rookie.”
António Félix da Costa (#28 BMW iFE.18):
“A completely new challenge lies ahead of us. I’m really happy to be
part of it. We are very motivated after the testing, which went well.
It doesn’t really mean a lot for the first race itself but it gives a
good feeling already. We do have high goals but we’re down to earth
with our approach, as anything can happen in Formula E. I’m sure we
have the right people in the team, so I’m really looking forward to a
strong season ahead of us.”
The FANBOOST vote.
FANBOOST gives Formula E fans the opportunity to vote for their
favourite driver and award them an extra boost of power during the
race. The five drivers with the most FANBOOST votes are awarded a
significant burst of power, which they can deploy in a 5-second window
during the second half of the race. Fans can vote for their favourite
driver in the six days prior to, and leading up to 15 minutes into,
each race. There are three ways to vote: Online at https://fanboost.fiaformulae.com/,
via the official Formula E App or on Twitter using the hashtag
#FANBOOST plus the drivers first and last name as a one-word hashtag.
Hashtags of the BMW i Andretti Motorsport drivers:
#AlexanderSims
#AntonioFelixdaCosta
The BMW i Fleet
BMW i is “Official Vehicle Partner” of the ABB FIA Formula E
Championship in Season 5. Spearheading the BMW i fleet is the BMW i8
Coupé Safety Car, modified with BMW M components (combined fuel
consumption: 1.8 l/100 km; combined energy consumption 14.0 kWh/100
km; combined CO2 emissions: 42 g/km)*. As well as the BMW
i8 Coupé, the BMW i fleet for the ABB FIA Formula E Championship also
includes the BMW i3s (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km;
combined energy consumption: 14.3 kWh; combined CO2
emissions: 0 g/km)* as “Race Director Car”, and the BMW 530e
iPerformance (combined fuel consumption: 2.2-2.1 l/100 km; combined
energy consumption: 13.6-13.3 kWh/100 km; combined CO2
emissions: 49-47 g/km)* in its role as “Medical Car”.