With pre-season testing in Valencia finished earlier this month and Season 7 of Formula E fast approaching, quite a few teams are looking very promising going in.
One of those teams is the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team. Season 7 will be the team’s second season in Formula E and, with a new driver addition in Pascal Wehrlein, the team had lofty goals and high expectations when they showed up at Circuit Ricardo Tormo.
The two Porsche 99X Electrics completed over 1,522 kilometres of testing during the weekend, with André Lotterer completing 774 kilometres and Pascal Wehrlein completing 748.
Lotterer also managed to get the fastest time on day 1, something which would have definitely raised a few eyebrows amongst Porsche’s competitors. No major issues happened during the testing, which included qualifying and racing simulations.
Porsche’s Head of Operations for Formula E Amiel Lindesay said that the team’s time in Valencia “was a very positive test for us… It was a nice feeling for everyone in the team to be back in race mode after the long break.
“Although the Valencia circuit is not your typical Formula E track, we were still able to complete a demanding programme… We are now looking forward to the start of the season in Chile. The challenges awaiting us against such strong opposition are huge. However, we have prepared well and are ready.”
“Our fastest time on the opening day of testing was a good start and gave us an extra boost. However, it was primarily about getting to know our car even better and seeing how we fared compared to the opposition,” said Lotterer.
“For us, every kilometre on the track is important. The goal for our rookie season was to finish on the podium. We achieved that. Now we want to win races. The key to success in Formula E is to be well prepared when you arrive at the circuit, and then to call on everything you need to make it a successful race day.
“That includes being able to react quickly and correctly to unpredictable situations. That will be the big challenge for us in the new season. After Valencia, we are well prepared.”
“As a newcomer to the team, this test was very important for me,” said Wehrlein. “I got an even better feeling for the car and was able to try out different things… I may be familiar with Formula E, but every team works differently. As a driver, I have to adapt to that. In general, we have everything we need to be successful.
“However, to win races – which is our goal for the new season – we must find a way to make the most of our opportunities and to get everything spot on when it comes to race day. It is an exciting challenge, which I am looking forward to.”
The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team will start its Season 7 campaign at the Santiago ePrix on 16 January 2021. Due to the current COVID-19 situation in Chile, the race will take place behind closed doors.
