A new electric single-seater championship that is intended to create opportunities for new talent to break into zero-emission racing is set to launch in 2024.
The new ACE Championship is being positioned as a feeder series to the ABB Formula E World Championship, and unusually will feature two levels: a top-level Championship and an entry-level Challenger Series.
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Series bosses say that the series will run in a ‘regional format’, suggesting that similar to some junior single-seater series there could be a number of different series in varying regions of the world. The focus will be on areas underrepresented by existing categories.
Teams will each run two cars, and unusually will be able to run the same cars – with different drivers – in both the Championship and Challenger Series.
The electric single-seater car that will is described as an “evolved vehicle similar in performance to the Gen2 Formula E car” – and the press images put out by the series appear to show one of the now-retired Gen2 Formula E cars with some bodywork modifications. It is not known if the series will be open to manufacturers to supply their own powertrains, as with Formula E, of if it will be a one-make category.
As well as the focus on talent development by offering an “affordable entry into racing for young drivers”, ACE Championship bosses say that the category will be used to develop technology that can be “fast-tracked” for manufacturing in the wider automotive industry – with a focus on sustainability and renewable technology.
Oh, and in case you were wondering, series bosses also promise that it will deliver “thrilling racing”. Well, you’d be disappointed if they didn’t. The category will use “short format” racing, with a promise that it will be “daring, different and digital”.
The ACE Championship will be run by Dilbagh Gill, the former boss of the Mahindra Racing Formula E team, and is backed by the ACE Group. Former Formula 1 racer Nick Heidfeld will serve as a development driver and advisor.
Gill said the category was “about innovation in motorsport and about opportunity.”
He added: “We are looking at the ACE Championship to provide representation to people who are interested in driving, and engineers, around the world who have not had the opportunity to date and giving them a chance to level up.”
Formula E founder Alejandro Agag said: “The ACE Championship is an important initiative. To create opportunities for young drivers to enter motorsport via the ‘electric avenue’ is crucial – and was missing until now.
“The ABB Formula E World Championship is the pinnacle in electric motorsport, but to have categories which can facilitate younger drivers coming through is crucial and that’s why the ACE Championship is very important.”
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