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2020 Valencia Test
Circuit Ricardo Tormo
'
Test Information
Date 28 November - 1 December 2020
Location Flag of Spain Cheste, Valencia, Spain
Lap length 3.138 km (1.949 mi)
Fastest Lap
Driver Flag of Germany Maximilian Günther
Time Day Laps
1:11.760 3
Testing Guide
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The 2020 Valencia Test, otherwise known as the 2020/21 Formula E Pre-Season Test, was the first and only collective pre-season test for the 2020/21 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, staged over three days at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Cheste, Valencia, Spain.[1]

Background[]

There was a lot of debate surrounding the pre-season test for the first edition of the FIA Formula E Championship as a World Championship, which had been pushed back until late November due to the 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic.[1] Ultimately, however, the decision was made to host the collective test, the only collective test before the start of the season, at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, Spain, as in previous seasons, despite the continued threat of Coronavirus in Spain.[2] There would, however, be some changes to the procedures, with a bubble system implemented for teams and media attendance heavily restricted.[2]

Valencia Variance[]

Ahead of the pre-season test it was announced that the Circuit Ricardo Tormo would be changed to how it had been compared to previous seasons, with the temporary chicane that was previously installed on the start/finish straight removed.[3] The removal was cited by the FIA and Formula E as a safety and maintenance measure, with the chicane having been the scene of several accidents that resulted in heavy damage to cars.[3] That damage would potentially have made it difficult for teams to repair the cars and get them shipped to the planned opening round in Santiago on time, hence the removal.[3]

While teams appreciated the sentiment, many drivers would question the decision for the removal of the chicane made the circuit unrepresentative in their eyes compared to the rest of the FE calendar.[3] Indeed, the circuit was far more flowing that the average FE circuit without the chicane, with limited options to re-gen energy around the lap, meaning longer runs would be difficult.[3] However, there would be no formal objections made to the modification before the test.[3]

Costing Controls[]

Elsewhere, the FE Championship implemented a series of cost-cutting measures ahead of the seventh FE season, all a direct result of the Covid-19 Pandemic.[4] These changes included the postponement of the planned "EVO" cosmetic package for the Spark SRT05e, as well as a two-year homologation for manufacturers, meaning they would have to run either their season six or season seven powertrains for two seasons.[5] There were also restrictions on the number of personnel each team could have at a race meeting, and a restriction on how much data could be sent to and from race meetings to each team's base.[6]

There would, however, be a positive change to the rules, with a new 80kg allowance for the driver and their equipment, which included their seat insert.[7] This change was made to better balance the weight tolerances for taller drivers compared to shorter drivers, making it compulsory that all teams allow a minimum of 80kg for their driver and their seat insert.[7] This would help to prevent taller or heavier drivers adopting low calorie diets or training regimes that could potentially affect their health, and ensure that teams could not play with ballast as much to alter their pace.[7]

FETAMA Favour[]

Elsewhere, the Formula E Teams and Manufacturers Association nominated a new leader for their organisation, which served as a combined voice for teams and manufacturers to present their interests and concerns to FE and the FIA.[8] The new leader of the group was revealed as Envision Virgin boss Sylvain Filippi, who replaced Jaguar Racing head James Barclay at the end of Barclay's two year service in the role.[8]

Entry List[]

Below is a complete entry list for the full 2020 Valencia Test across each day:

2020 Valencia Test Entry List
No. Name Entrant Constructor Car Sessions
4 Dutch Flag Robin Frijns Flag of the United Kingdom Envision Virgin Racing Audi e-tron FE07 All
5 Flag of Belgium Stoffel Vandoorne Flag of Germany Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 02 All
6 Flag of Switzerland Nico Müller Flag of the United States Dragon/Penske Autosport Penske EV-4 All
7 Flag of Brazil Sérgio Sette Câmara Flag of the United States Dragon/Penske Autosport Penske EV-4 All
8 Flag of the United Kingdom Oliver Turvey Flag of China NIO 333 FE Team NIO 333 FE 001 All
10 Flag of the United Kingdom Sam Bird Flag of the United Kingdom Jaguar Racing Jaguar I-Type V All
11 Flag of Brazil Lucas di Grassi Flag of Germany Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler Audi e-tron FE07 All
13 Flag of Portugal António Félix da Costa Flag of China DS Techeetah DS E-Tense FE20 All
17 Dutch Flag Nyck de Vries Flag of Germany Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 02 All
20 Flag of New Zealand Mitch Evans Flag of the United Kingdom Jaguar Racing Jaguar I-Type V All
22 Flag of the United Kingdom Oliver Rowland Flag of France Nissan e.Dams Nissan IM02 All
23 Flag of Switzerland Sébastien Buemi Flag of France Nissan e.Dams Nissan IM02 All
25 Flag of France Jean-Éric Vergne Flag of China DS Techeetah DS E-Tense FE20 All
27 Flag of the United Kingdom Jake Dennis Flag of the United States BMW i Andretti Motorsport BMW iFE.21 All
28 Flag of Germany Maximilian Günther Flag of the United States BMW i Andretti Motorsport BMW iFE.21 All
29 Flag of the United Kingdom Alexander Sims Flag of India Mahindra Racing Mahindra M7 Electro All
33 Flag of Germany René Rast Flag of Germany Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler Audi e-tron FE07 All
36 Flag of Germany André Lotterer Flag of Germany TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team Porsche 99X Electric All
37 Flag of New Zealand Nick Cassidy Flag of the United Kingdom Envision Virgin Racing Audi e-tron FE07 All
48 Flag of Switzerland Edoardo Mortara Flag of Monaco ROKiT Venturi Racing Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 02 All
71 Flag of France Norman Nato Flag of Monaco ROKiT Venturi Racing Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 02 All
88 Flag of the United Kingdom Tom Blomqvist Flag of China NIO 333 FE Team NIO 333 FE 001 All
94 Flag of the United Kingdom Alex Lynn Flag of India Mahindra Racing Mahindra M7Electro All
99 Flag of Germany Pascal Wehrlein Flag of Germany TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team Porsche 99X Electric All
Source:[9]

Day One[]

Report[]

Results[]

Below is the full result from the first day of the 2020 Valencia Test:

References[]

Images and Videos:

References:

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sam Smith, 'FORMULA E COMMITS TO VALENCIA PRE-SEASON TEST DATES', the-race.com, (The Race, 02/10/2020), https://the-race.com/formula-e/formula-e-commits-to-test-at-valencia/, (Accessed 02/10/2020)
  2. 2.0 2.1 '2020/21 Formula E pre-season testing details revealed', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 13/11/2020), https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2020/november/valencia-testing, (Accessed 15/11/2020)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Sam Smith, 'NOTORIOUS FORMULA E CHICANE BINNED – BUT DRIVERS UNHAPPY', the-race.com, (The Race, 13/11/2020), https://the-race.com/formula-e/notorious-formula-e-chicane-binned-but-drivers-unhappy/, (Accessed 28/11/2020)
  4. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EVOEnd
  5. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Powertrain
  6. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named Data
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 Peter McCool; Sam Smith, 'THE FORMULA E RULE CHANGE THAT ‘WILL IMPACT EVERY TEAM’', the-race.com, (The Race, 28/10/2020), https://the-race.com/formula-e/the-formula-e-rule-change-that-will-impact-every-team/, (Accessed 28/11/2020)
  8. 8.0 8.1 Sam Smith, 'FILIPPI REPLACES BARCLAY AS ‘FETAMA’ CHAIRMAN', the-race.com, (The Race, 14/10/2020), https://the-race.com/formula-e/filippi-replaces-barclay-as-fetama-chairman/, (Accessed 28/11/2020)
  9. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named EL
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