Mitch Evans finishes Jarama test in lead

After a real logistical feat, the pre-season tests of Formula E were able to be held in Jarama, rather than Valencia, where they are usually held. The Ricardo Tormo Circuit was not significantly damaged by the floods, but destroyed access roads and a desire to support the Valencian people led the all-electric championship to explore a new option a few hundred kilometres away.

Although postponed by one day, the tests were still able to take place over a total of seven three-hour sessions, the last one being reserved for female drivers, and a practice race was organised, in order to test the new systems of the GEN3 Evo, in particular the four-wheel drive, and the rapid charging devices, which could translate into races with pit stops this season.

Unsurprisingly, the times improved throughout the four days of testing, and it was ultimately Mitch Evans and his Jaguar who took the top spot on the timesheets. The New Zealander was ahead of Dan Ticktum and his Kiro Race Co, the team that is taking over from ERT, which was no longer so used to topping the rankings! The team, which now flies the American flag, is equipped this season with a powertrain Porsche, who still seems to be in very good shape, as evidenced by the third position of the reigning champion of the discipline, Pascal Wehrlein.

The second Kiro, that of David Beckmann, finished the week in fourth place, while Taylor Barnard, the new holder McLaren, completes the top 5. As is often the case, it is difficult to read the results of the Formula E pre-season tests in more detail, as the teams have to adapt to new features, including four-wheel drive, and test different things over the course of the sessions. This is how Mahindra, a team that has been struggling in recent seasons, for example, led the fifth session of the week, thanks to Nyck de Vries, ninth in the combined rankings.

The tests also saw the official return of Lola to motorsport, with the ABT team and the support of Yamaha. Zane Maloney completed the six sessions with the thirteenth fastest time, seven positions ahead of his team-mate Lucas di Grassi. In the test race, carried out as part of the fifth session, on Thursday afternoon, Pascal Wehrlein won, while several teams, including DS Penske, suffered problems with the 600 kW fast charging system. These problems are mainly due to the system itself, standardized and supplied by the FIA, rather than the interaction between it and the single-seaters. Everyone therefore has their work cut out for them before the season opener on December 7 in São Paulo, Brazil!

Jarama Trials – Combined Ranking

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