PressClub Global · Article.
Track facts and key factors: the BMW i Andretti Motorsport preview for the Mexico City E-Prix.
Tue Feb 11 14:30:23 CET 2020 Press Release
Our preview provides you with the most important facts about the new circuit and the key factors for a successful Mexico City E-Prix.
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Author.
Matthias Schepke
BMW Group
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Munich. The Mexico City E-Prix (MEX) this coming weekend sees the fourth race of the season in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. After wins for Alexander Sims (GBR) in Diriyah (KSA) and Maximilian Günther (GER) in Santiago (CHI), the BMW i Andretti Motorsport Team is travelling to Mexico at the top of the team standings. Sims and Günther are in second and fourth places in the drivers’ championship. Our preview provides you with the most important facts about the new circuit and the key factors for a successful Mexico City E-Prix.
You can find the BMW i Motorsport Media Guide for Season 6 attached to this Media Information and also access it here: https://b.mw/Media_Guide_E. It contains detailed information on the technology of the BMW i drivetrain and the BMW iFE.20, as well as background on the technology transfer between motorsport and production development, on the BMW i Andretti Motorsport team and the drivers.
TRACK FACTS MEXICO CITY. | |
Circuit length | 2.606 km. Clockwise driving direction. |
Location | The circuit is at 2,234 metres above sea level. Low atmospheric pressure affects tyre pressure and the cooling system. |
Corners | 16 corners, of which 6 are left turns and 10 are right turns. Very fast right turns. Distinctive, tight stadium section between T10 and T15 is decisive for a good lap time. |
Track surface | Quite level. No vertical differences. |
Grip level | High. Disadvantage for qualifying Group 1 should not be as pronounced as in Santiago. |
Track layout | Completely new track section between T3 and T8. Sequence of corners also changed from T9 to T11. Chicanes removed between T8 and T9 and in T16. This leads to a significant increase in average speed compared to season 5 and to significantly higher energy consumption. |
Tyre wear | Very high, especially for the left rear tyre. Highest level of wear in the entire season. |
Top speed | Approx. 240 km/h before T9. |
Attack zone | ATTACK MODE is activated between T11 and T12. |
Key factors | Tyre management in qualifying and in the race, energy management, mechanical grip and rear axle stability. |
Quotes ahead of the Mexico City E-Prix:
Roger Griffiths (BMW i Andretti Motorsport Team Principal):
“We have not been taking it easy after our successes in Diriyah and Santiago. We have been focused on all aspects of a Formula E weekend to ensure that we can continue to improve while our fans in Mexico City are watching. We realise that consistency and avoiding errors are the key to success in Formula E. The circuit in Mexico City should be well suited to the strengths of the BMW i drivetrain. Our podium finish last year showed that. The changes to the track layout should also have no effect. The downside of our successful start to the season is that our two drivers will have to compete in qualifying Group 1. However, we think that this will be less of a problem in Mexico City than on many other circuits. Our aim is to record some good results and get into the points with both cars.”
Alexander Sims (#27 BMW iFE.20):
“I think that there have been some very interesting changes made to the track layout, which will hopefully make the racing even better. The last corner in particular is very long by Formula E standards and could be a lot of fun. All in all, I think that those in charge have managed to improve on what was already a very cool circuit. I expect energy management to play an even bigger role than it did last year but we have a good package and a strong team. We are also confident enough to be aiming for some more top results. However, we have been involved for long enough to know that everything can change so quickly in such a hard-fought race series. That is why we have to stay focused and work hard.”
Maximilian Günther (#28 BMW iFE.20):
“Mexico City is a very special race location for many reasons. We are at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, which will certainly affect the cooling system. This track is also one of just a few on the calendar that is not a street circuit. That means that it is wide and not very bumpy, while also having long straights that you can drive on at maximum energy. Of course, driving through the baseball stadium with thousands of spectators cheering us on is a real highlight. I am really looking forward to my first start in Mexico City, as I was sadly not able to take part last year.”
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 receive an extra 100 kJ of power, which they can make use of during a brief time frame in 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. Each fan can vote once per day. 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:
The BMW i Safety Cars.
BMW i is “Official Vehicle Partner” of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in Season 6. Spearheading the fleet are two Safety Cars: The BMW i8 Roadster Safety Car (combined fuel consumption: 2.0 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 46 g/km)*, which has been specially modified for use at the racetrack, and the BMW i8 Coupé Safety Car (combined fuel consumption: 1.8 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 42 g/km)*. The BMW i fleet also includes the BMW i3s (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined energy consumption: 14.6-14.0 kWh; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km)* as “Race Director Car”, the BMW 530e (combined fuel consumption: 1.8-1.6 l/100 km; combined energy consumption: 14.5-13.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 40-36 g/km)* in its role as “Medical Car” and the BMW X5 e45 (combined fuel consumption: 2.0-1.7 l/100 km; combined energy consumption: 23.5-21.3 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 46-38 g/km)* as “Rescue Car”.
CO2 EMISSIONS & CONSUMPTION.
The values for fuel consumption, CO2 emission and energy consumption
shown were determined in the standardized test cycle according to the
European Regulation (EC) 715/2007 in the version applicable at the
time of type approval. The figures refer to a vehicle with basic
configuration in Germany and the range shown considers optional
equipment and the different size of wheels and tires available on the
selected model.
The values are already based on the test cycle
according to the new WLTP regulation and are translated back into
NEDC-equivalent values in order to allow a comparison between
vehicles. With respect to these vehicles, for vehicle related taxes or
other duties based (at least inter alia) on CO2-emissions the CO2
values may differ to the values stated here.
Effective
06.12.2018
Further information about the official fuel
consumption and the official specific CO2 emission of new passenger
cars can be taken out of the „handbook of fuel consumption, the CO2
emission and power consumption of new passenger cars“, which is
available at all selling points and from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand
GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen, and
under https://www.dat.de/co2/.