The DTM marketer ITR has presented a concept for a purely electric racing series, which could be launched in the future as part of the supporting programme of the touring car series. The plans go beyond the concepts of other electric racing series such as Formula E or ETCR – also with regards to the powertrain.
The vision sets out the possibility of standard vehicles whose electric motors should enable power peaks of up to 736 kW – the important 1,000 hp mark in the old world – and top speeds of well over 300 km/h. The new car will be equipped with a new generation of electric motors, which will be used in the future. It becomes interesting with the energy storage system, where it will be possible to use either batteries or a fuel cell with hydrogen tank.
There are also plans for fully automatic pit stops in which robots change batteries and tires. In the coming months, ITR intends to continue work on a detailed feasibility study. “This is a courageous and innovative concept,” says Gerhard Berger, Chairman of the ITR. “Anyone who wants to shape the future of motorsport and also offer racing with alternative drives that inspires fans must look further ahead. And it’s obvious that manufacturers who want to get involved in motorsport are increasingly focusing on alternative drive concepts.”
According to DTM CEO Berger, the concrete implementation still depends on several factors. “First of all, technical feasibility. But we’ve been investigating this area quite intensively, and now need to draw on the expertise of specialists as we continue to evaluate its feasibility. This includes battery and robot manufacturers, for example, when you consider the ambitious and ground-breaking technology for the pit-stops,” says the former Formula 1 driver. “Naturally, financing the development also plays a major role – you have to get that properly balanced.”
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