Just Electric

Mercedes car makes Formula E track debut in Italy

The new Mercedes Formula E car has made its track debut ahead of the German marque’s 2019/20 entry into the all-electric series.

HWA Racelab driver Stoffel Vandoorne and Venturi’s Edoardo Mortara tested the Mercedes-Benz EQ Silver Arrow 01 at Varano, Italy.

Ex-Mercedes DTM driver Mortara tested for the team instead of Gary Paffett asPaffett was competing in Intercontinental GT at Laguna Seca.

HWA entered the series as a Venturi customer team and will run the Mercedes outfit with support from Mercedes’ Brixworth F1 engine base.

“When a new racing car comes to life for the first time and goes out onto the track, that’s always a very special moment,” said Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport Toto Wolff.

“Not only have we reached an important milestone for our as yet young team, but we have also laid a solid foundation for further development. But there is still a lot of work to do before our race debut when the next season starts towards the end of this year.”

The test lasted three days with the first being used for a shakedown which was limited to a distance of 50km. This is so the team can check the systems of the car are working.

The second and third days were part of the allocated 15 days for manufacturers and Mercedes covered 527km in total across three days.

 “We are very pleased with the progress made during our first test with the new car,” said Ian James, Managing Director of Mercedes-Benz Formula E Ltd.

“The first days of testing at Varano were a very important step in the development of our team.

“We brought together experts from our different sites at Affalterbach, Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart, and at the end of a successful three days, they left as members of a team – it was the birth of the Mercedes-Benz EQ Formula E Team.

“In the coming weeks and months, many more milestones will follow on the way to our first race.”

Photo courtesy Daimler Media

Jack Amey

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