Tag Heuer Porsche has revealed its GEN3 Evo car that will compete in the FIA Formula E championship for the next two seasons.
The Porsche 99X Electric is the challenger that it hopes will enable Pascal Wehrlein to successfully defend his title, and carries a new and vibrant colour scheme.
Ditching the white, black and red colours of previous seasons, the German marque has opted for a “Purple Sky Metallic and Shade Green Metallic” blend, the colours it used to introduce the Taycan Turbo GT, the car it described as “the most powerful production car the brand has ever built”, adding:
“They symbolise the technology transfer from motorsport to production. The colour change also represents electrification and Porsche’s pioneering spirit: The aim being
to also visually express the company’s innovative strength in the progressive Formula E.”
Florian Modlinger, Porsche Team Principal, said:
“The biggest development task was and is the implementation of the temporary all-wheel drive.
“Since the hardware was already available for GEN3, a huge amount of work has gone into aligning the software. On the one hand we want to maximise acceleration and
cornering speeds with the all-wheel drive.
“On the other hand, the goal is to not consume too much energy and to keep the car balance to the liking of the drivers. A task that is also relevant for our sports cars for the road.”
Wehrlein to use #1 as reserve driver Beckmann touted for Kiro drive
World Champion Wehrlein, who snatched the title from under the noses of Jaguar pair Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy at the final round in London, will bear the #1 on his car.
The German described the new car as “very cool,” adding: “I love the colours so much that I designed my helmet the same way. It also goes without saying that I am proud to now have number 1 on the nose of my car. I want to defend my title and the preparations for the new season are going according to plan.”
Team-mate Antonio Felix da Costa, took a brilliant four wins to secure his future with the team for another year, said the team is “excited to see where we are at,” adding: “The all-wheel drive, the new tyres, and the comprehensive overhaul of our own components may shake things up a bit, even though there aren’t any major changes to the regulations.
“I’m optimistic and am pleased that we will be lining up in São Paulo again at the beginning of December. Hopefully the fans will love our new colours.”
One of Porsche’s additional developments for Season 11 is the supplication of year-old powertrains to Kiro Racing Co, and its influence is now possibly being felt within its driver line-up.
On Monday, Motorsport Monday reported that Kiro were set to run an as-of-yet-unamed driver in pre-season testing in Valencia next month alongside Dan Ticktum, who is thought to be staying with the now-American team.
The Race reported yesterday that the driver in question is Porsche’s reserve driver, David Beckmann.
The 24-year-old German is a multiple F3 race-winner and F2 podium-scorer, and as well as his reserve role, also drove a one-off weekend in Formula E for fellow Porsche customer Andretti in Season 9, deputising for Andre Lotterer in the Jakarta double-header.
The report also touted Thomas Preining, who partook in the Berlin rookie test last season for Porsche, is an option, as well as Marta Garcia, who drove in the same test for Kiro [then ERT] and will drive for Porsche in the all-female test in Valencia.
Sergio Sette Camara is thought to be still in the running, but it appears that the team, given a new lease of life by the Forest Road investment group, is, for now, leaving the Brazilian dangling and waiting to hear about his future.
