POINTS FINISH FOR SAM BIRD DESPITE DIFFICULT SANTIAGO E-PRIX

Envision Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird battled his way back through the pack during today’s scrappy Formula E Santiago E-Prix – that saw track temperatures soar to 38°C – to finish the race just inside the points and secure the fastest lap.

Earlier in the day, the opening practice session showed the team had strong pace, with Briton Bird topping the timings, but a red flagged second session saw both Bird and team-mate Frijns unable to complete full power laps ahead of qualifying. Air and track temperatures continued to rise throughout the morning, with the evolving conditions playing a major role in the team’s qualifying positions – with no drivers from group one or two making it through to the Superpole shootout.

Following an incident-riddled start to the race – with both Envision Virgin Racing drivers being pushed down the pack – Bird fought hard to make his way up into the points. Finishing the race in 10^th place [following post-race penalties] he then managed to secure a further point by gaining the fastest lap.

Meanwhile, Dutchman, Robin Frijns suffered a puncture during first lap contact at the hairpin and was forced to return to the pits for a tyre change, meaning he remained a lap behind the other drivers yet still finished the day in P15.

Sylvain Filippi, Envision Virgin Racing’s Managing Director, said: “It’s been a difficult day for us here in Santiago but to come away with points is very important for the team. This morning we showed that we had the pace – with Sam topping the timings in FP1 – but the ever-evolving track conditions made qualifying very difficult. Sam [Bird] drove a fantastic recovery race today, having been spun twice on track during the race, and really showed the true pace of the car. It’s still very early on in the season and continuing to score points every weekend is our goal.”

Bird, 33, said: “It’s positive to take some points away from what has been a difficult weekend for the team. We were always aware that qualifying was going to be difficult but we were confident in our pace and ability to make our way forward during the race. Unfortunately, I was tapped twice during the race which really hindered my progress – without both those incidents I’m really confident that we could’ve been fighting in the top five today. There’s nothing more we could’ve done today as a team and I’m happy that I’ve secured points here in Santiago – as we know in Formula E scoring consistently is extremely important.”

Frijns added: “I think it’s fair to say that today has not gone our way and a huge part of that is down to the qualifying groups – with none of the drivers from the first two groups making it into Superpole. We started near the back of the grid but were confident that both Sam and myself could make our way forward – we’ve shown we’ve got the pace behind us and can make the moves when they count. However, being involved in an incident early in the race put a stop to that – as I had to return to the pits with a puncture – and from there it was just about gaining data out on track.”

The next race takes place in Mexico City in just under a month’s time. For more information on Envision Virgin Racing, including access to the team’s media site, visit www.envision-racing.com

RACE RESULTS
ABB FIA Formula E Championship, Round 3, Santiago E-Prix:
1. Maximilian Guenther, BMW i Andretti Motorsport, 40 laps (25pts)
2. Antonio Felix Da Costa, DS Techeetah, +2.067s (18pts)
3. Mitch Evans, Panasonic Jaguar Racing, +5.119s (15pts, +4pts, P)
4. Pascal Wehrlein, Mahindra Racing, +7.050s (12pts)
5. Nyck de Vries, Mercedes Benz EQ Formula E Team, +9.883s (10pts)
6. Stoffel Vandoorne, Mercedes Benz EQ Formula E Team, +11.237s (8pts)
7. Lucas Di Grassi, Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler Formula E Team, +14.437s (6pts)
8. James Calado, Panasonic Jaguar Racing, +18.255s (4pts)
9. Felipe Massa, Venturi Racing, +20.430s (2pts)
10. Sam Bird, Envision Virgin Racing, +21.780s (1pt, +1pt, FL)
15. Robin Frijns, Envision Virgin Racing, +1 lap (0pts)

DRIVERS’ STANDINGS (after Rd 3)
1. Stoffel Vandoorne, 38pts
2. Alexander Sims, 35pts
3. Sam Bird, 28pts
4. Maximilian Guenther, 25pts
5. Lucas Di Grassi, 24pts
13. Robin Frijns, 10pts

TEAMS’ STANDINGS (after Rd 3)
1. BMW i Andretti Motorsport, 60pts
2. Mercedes Benz EQ Formula E Team, 56pts
3. Envision Virgin Racing, 38pts
4. Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler Formula E Team, 32pts
5. Panasonic Jaguar Racing, 31pts

TRACK EVOLUTION PLAYS MAJOR ROLE IN QUALIFYING

Track evolution played a huge role in today’s Santiago E-Prix qualifying session, with no drivers from Group 1 or 2 making it through to the Superpole shootout.

Following a difficult final practice session for both Envision Virgin Racing drivers at the Parc O’Higgins circuit – in which neither were able to set flying 250kW laps – the pair took to the track for qualifying.

Up first was Sam Bird in Group 1 – a notoriously difficult qualifying group due to evolving track conditions. Hindered by minimal running earlier in the day, the Brit was able to complete a group qualifying lap with a final position of P4.

Up next was Dutchman Robin Frijns in Group 2, who was yet to complete a full power lap during either practice session. Struggling with traffic during his out lap, Frijns was pushing hard and spun at turn-1 on his qualifying lap – meaning that he ended his group in P10.

With two groups left to complete their qualifying laps, the Envision Virgin Racing pair were sitting ducks – as track conditions continued to improve – and were pushed further down the standings.

Bird ended the group stages in 16th and Frijns in 21st and are now looking ahead to the race, with both showing their overtaking prowess last time out here in the Chilean capital.

Next up is the race at 4pm local time (7pm UK time).

BIRD TOPS FIRST FREE PRACTICE SESSION

Envision Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird had a successful first practice session at the Formula E Santiago E-Prix as he topped the timings with a 1:04.914s. Meanwhile, team-mate and Dutchman, Robin Frijns ended the session in P20 (1:06.121s) having been held up by traffic on his flying 250kW lap.

Air and track temperatures continued to rise throughout the morning meaning the evolving 2.287km track – featuring a re-profiled layout for this year – saw lap times drop in the second session.

With seven minutes left on the clock, the session was red flagged – after a crash from NIO’s Ma Qinghua – and wasn’t restarted. That meant only three drivers completed a full power run in FP2 resulting in an unrepresentative standings, with both Envision Virgin Racing drivers placed near the bottom of the timing sheet having managed just 15 laps between them.

Next up is the all-important qualifying at 12pm local time (3pm UK time), with Bird heading out in Group 1 and Frijns just after in Group 2.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR AT THE SANTIAGO E-PRIX

After a winter hiatus, the all-electric Formula E series returns this weekend for round three and the Santiago E-Prix. The opening rounds in Diriyah saw a double header with our very own Sam Bird and Alexander Sims sharing the spoils. Sam’s team-mate Robin Frijns picked up valuable points too that weekend (as he has a habit of doing) meaning the duo lie third and ninth in the overall drivers’ standings. Of course, there’s a very long to go this season (indeed, still 360 points to play for!) so it’s way too early to be talking about standings. That said, before we delve into the five things you need to look out for in Santiago, let’s recap on what we learnt last time out.

For starters, it’s still too early to single out the front runners. Yes, the likes of Bird, Sims and Andre Lotterer all showed strong pace, but it was hard to really see who has a clear advantage and the best car package. It was especially tricky to see whether reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne will remain the one to watch, although his comeback drive in race two to secure eighth spot was noteworthy and one that went largely unnoticed by the TV cameras.

So, onto this Saturday (18 January) when the 24 Formula E drivers will descend on the Chilean capital for 45 minutes – plus one lap – of wheel-to-wheel action. Here’s what you need to watch out for…

THE MERCURY RISING
Santiago gets hot this time of year. Very hot. Last time out, the mercury pushed into the high 30s with track temperatures surpassing well passed that making hard work for both car and driver. On the drive side, fitness will play a key role as they battle high temps in two layers of fire proof clothing, whilst on the car side, the sun-soaked weather can affect the RESS temps, together with the battery temps (imagine what your iPhone does on a very hot day!).

THE RUBBER
Added to the heat is the actual track surface itself. We saw last year how the new tarmac laid down broke up easily creating low grip but there’s also sections of the circuit – sectors one and three to be precise – that use abrasive concrete blocks (like in Berlin) meaning it takes time to rubber in.

THE FANS
South American motorsport fans are some of the best in the world, showcasing their passion wherever they go. For those at the event, be sure to check out the E-Village as it’s one of the most vibrant and lively, or for those watching at home, keep an eye out for those packed grandstands…even in such high temperatures.

THE CIRCUIT
It might be quite a simple circuit but it’s a technical layout. For this year there’s been some modifications to aid overtaking throughout the 11-turn, 2.287km anti-clockwise track. The opening sequence of corners now starts with a near-90-degree left-hander, but perhaps the most notable change is to the long arching left hander that makes up the bottom section of the circuit where there is no longer a tight chicane for the drivers to navigate. Meanwhile, braking into Turn 9 is going to be interesting with a combined turning and braking with a blind apex making it very difficult to optimise. Then add to that the Attack Zone, which is located outside of T3, as last year, but further off-line leading to a potential two second loss.

BEING AVERAGE
Sorry, what? Ok, so this applies to all race weekends and not just Santiago, but it’s a pint we felt needed to be made. Formula E is not about scoring big, it’s about scoring consistently. By our calculations, a driver needs to average 13 points a race weekend to become champion. Keeping the scoreboard ticking over is by far more important that the odd good race result so that’s what will be playing on the minds of every team this weekend.

AND FINALLY…
Ok so we appreciate this is point number six but we had to mention it. Sam Bird likes this track! Last year he went from fourth to first to secure his only win of the 2018/2019 season and the newly turned 33-year-old will be hoping to repeat the feat in Santiago. Only time will tell.

The Santiago EPrix takes place this Saturday (18 January) from 4pm local time (7pm UK time). Live action can be found on the BBC Red Button as well as live on Eurosport.

WHY CHILE IS POWERING THE BATTERY REVOLUTION

There’s no doubt about it. Electric Vehicles are in high demand. According to the IEA Global Electric Vehicle Outlook, sales of new electric cars reached one million units in 2017, a 54% increase when compared to the previous year. These projections shoot further for 2030 with sales of EVs predicted to reach 228 million units by the end of the decade.

As a knock-on effect, the global electric vehicle battery manufacturing market was valued at about $26.96 billion in 2018 and is expected to grow to $55.4 billion at an annual growth rate of more than 19.5% through to 2022.
What could be better you may ask? Well, whilst this is exactly the news, we – and all those associated with Formula E – always dreamed of, things are not always as they seem…

Be it EVs, laptops or mobile phones, all these products require one key element; a battery. And not just any battery, a lithium-ion battery. Lithium forms a small but irreplaceable component of rechargeable batteries, meaning demand for this soft, silvery-white metal has soared in recent years, with global output rising three-fold since 2005 to 85,000 tonnes in 2018. Indeed, even the Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2019 rewarded the development of the lithium-ion battery.

And this is where Chile come in. Chile is the world’s second-largest producer of lithium after Australia, with an output of 16,000 tonnes last year, all from the Atacama Desert with just two companies mining it. Valued at $949m (£785m), this was a 38% rise on 2017 and growing steadily.

For those that don’t remember their chemistry lessons, Lithium is found in brine, or pools of salty water. To extract this, the miners pump this brine to the surface, and allow it to evaporate in the sun, leaving the lithium carbonate to be scooped up. This salt can then be turned into metallic lithium.

But this extraction process requires fresh water; a lot of water. It takes approximately 500,000 gallons of water to produce every tonne of lithium. That’s a huge amount in one of the driest places on the planet and putting huge strains on Chile’s natural resources and nearby communities.
So, what’s the outlook? Well, for one thing, it’s clear there needs to be a balance between the need to replace fossil fuels and the environmental impact of finding the raw materials to support a battery future.

But, as we move towards mass EV adoption, the demand for lithium batteries is only going to increase. The solution then is in the longer-term use of the batteries themselves, or to put it plainly, their efficiency and life-span. And that’s where Formula E comes back into the picture. Batteries that are more energy dense and longer lasting produce a longer carbon footprint once you factor in its full life cycle from raw materials to final end point.

Indeed, Envision AESC Group Ltd, founded in 2007 and headquartered in Japan, is doing exactly this. The leading intelligent lithium-ion battery company is working to introduce IoT-enabled storage devices to establish the data management covering battery‘s full life cycle. By means of comprehensive monitoring and analysis of battery status, Envision AESC can identify the status of battery life and simplify the process of selection and assessment of suitable batteries for repurposing. Besides, with the help of end-of -life data management, Envision AESC can reduce the costs of collecting, handling and disassembling the batteries that enter the recycling process, which prevents losses of valuable materials such as lithium.

In short, IoT-enabled batteries can help in cost savings and efficiency through accurate monitoring and forecasting of energy consumption, and the key element that will help transform the future of the market.

These breakthroughs – essentially getting more from the same resource – is what will tip the balance in favour of mass lithium-ion battery use on our modern world and, of course, will mean Chile remains the one powering the new battery revolution.

7,000 MILES FROM LONDON TO SANTIAGO FOSSIL-FUEL FREE

Many of us have causes we believe in. From time to time, some of us may even put ourselves through physical endeavours for them, be it a protest march or a gruelling marathon run. But what about cycling, paddling and sailing more than 7,000 miles from the UK to Chile just to raise awareness of climate change?

Well, that’s what one British man decided to do. Adventurer and filmmaker James Levelle took it upon himself to travel from London to Santiago completely fossil-fuel free, in order to attend the recent UN Climate Change conference (COP25). His goal? To help raise awareness about the global climate emergency and deliver the messages of young people who he met along the way.

So, towards the end of last summer, James, packed up his belongings, together with £50,000 of his life savings, and gave himself three months to journey all the way from the UK to Chile without emitting a single emission.

James’s goal along the way was to tell the stories of the next generation

Understandably, this was no ordinary climate quest but also something James is no stranger to having been making documentaries in some of the most extreme environments on Earth for a number of years. But his real passion for the environment began when making one of those films about illegal fishing in West Africa. He witnessed first-hand the terrible destruction being done to the marine life in the region and it’s this that made him realise that he had to do more.

“In knowing more about climate change, it has made me realise what I can do as an individual to make a positive impact,” recalls James. “Then one day my brain told me I needed to go on this massive adventure from the UK to Chile to get to the climate change conference – the COP 25 – fossil fuel free and make a climate documentary, but to do so by focusing exclusively on the next generation. The plan would be that I’d then deliver this film to the UN at the conference.”

James speaking at the climate conference in Chile

And so, the 38-year-old set off from Dorset in England and began his journey, moving through Europe by boat, electric train and bicycle until he boarded a sailing ship bound for South America.

But then disaster struck. Due to political unrest in Chile, organisers had decided to move the climate conference to Madrid, Spain.

“Finding out the news two weeks before I arrived in South America was tough, remembers James. “I mean my ship had literary already sailed! But I then had a big decision to make about whether I turn around or continue the journey I had started.”

James chose the latter and true to his word continued on his adventure. “The thing that inspired me the most is the young people I met along the way and that’s what made it so important to me to get to Santiago and deliver those climate change messages.”

James working as a filmmaker chasing hurricanes

Along the way, the 38-year-old adventurer documented the entire expedition, which included becoming the first person to drive an electric vehicle across Argentinean, all the way from Buenos Aires to Mendoza.

James is now back in the UK and already planning his next adventure, as well as working with the Envision Virgin Racing team as an ambassador for its Race Against Climate Change programme.

“We know when trying to tackle climate change that there are fantastic nature-based solutions out there, as well as fantastic technological solutions and we need to explore all of them. Through Envision Virgin Racing and their Race Against Climate Change, that opportunity to inform and inspire people – through the excitement of electric cars – is just a great thing to do.”

To watch an exclusive mini documentary on James’s amazing trip from London to Chile, click here. Meanwhile, further details on future collaborations between James and the team will be revealed soon. For more information on James visit https://raceforfuture.com/

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: SAM BIRD GOES RACING ON WATER!

There aren’t many birds that can swim but what about our very own Sam Bird?!

We all know he’s quick on dry land but is he fast on water? Can he even swim? Well, we decided to find out so enlisted the help of our friends at SailGP and sent him off to Marseilles to see if he could cut it…

Amazingly, sailing and racing actually share many similarities as Sam quickly found out with one of those being fitness when he went up against GB Team athlete and British Gold Medalist Matt Gotrel…standing at 6ft 4!

Of course, like motorsport, safety is taken very seriously, so before Sam was let loose he had to undergo some (fairly brutal) training including being thrown – and held – underwater.

After this, it was off to the high-seas to see how he’d fare as part of the crew on the Team GB boat.

See for yourself how he got on! #EyesStarboard

Our thanks goes to everyone at SailGP and Matt Gotrel for helping to organise this experience. To find out more about the SailGP series click here

And, if this has inspired you to want to do more to protect our amazing oceans then head over to our Race Against Climate Change section to learn more.

BREAKING: FIA RELEASE TENDER DETAILS OF NEW FORMULA E GEN3 CAR

Formula E’s governing body the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) have released details of its tender process for the new Gen3 car which aims to be faster, lighter, smaller and feature ultra-fast charging technology.

The 176-pages of documents details the specific battery, chassis and tyre requirements for the all-new Gen3 car which will compete from the 2022/2023 season onwards. The current Gen2 car – as used by Sam Bird and Robin Frijns for Envision Virgin Racing – will race for a total of four seasons, but with a ‘Gen2.5’ iteration introduced from 2020/2021 featuring a significant upgrade to the front and rear bodywork.

Some of the main Gen3 tender requirements centre around the maximum power requirements (although applicants have been requested to submit two scenarios), with cars set to be able to hit 350kW in qualifying mode and Attack Mode.

Weight is another area with the target car weight, including the driver, set to be 780kg, which would make Formula E’s third-generation car 120kg lighter than the present package. This includes reducing the weight of the battery from the current 385kg to 284kg.

There are also plans for a revolutionary 30-second fast-charging system which would see the return of in-race pit stops with the reasoning listed as: “to keep positioning the Formula E World Championship as the laboratory of cutting-edge technologies for electric cars”. Fast charging power will be capped at a 600kW maximum and will give an extra 4kWh of usable energy. Series promoter Formula E will be responsible for the new car charging system, including the energy supply, the distribution network and the charging equipment to be used.

Other key areas include maintaining cost controls with the cost-cap of a customer car (not including battery and manufacturer parts) set to be €340,000.

Companies wishing to bid for these supply deals have until 31 March 2020 to submit applications, with the FIA set to make the final selection on 19 June, and the first crash tests taking place in August 2021.

Manufacturer teams will receive their first test and development cars in January 2022 before their race cars arrive in August ahead of the season starting at the end of the same year.

What do you think? Let us know using via our social media channels!

SEASON GREETINGS FROM ENVISION VIRGIN RACING

It’s been a fantastic year for Sam Bird, Robin Frijns and everyone at Envision Virgin Racing so we wanted to wish all our fans a very Merry Christmas and to thank each of you for your continued support.

2019 saw the team secure an amazing four wins and we’re hoping 2020 will bring more of the same, as well as plenty of exciting wheel-to-wheel racing action.

We hope you enjoy the festive break and be sure to join us in the New Year when the season returns on January 18 in Santiago, Chile, for round three of the all-electric race series.

Until then, have a great holidays and we’ll leave you with a special message from Sam and Robin…

Merry Christmas!

WATCH: WHEN WE MET THE WORLD’S GREENEST FOOTBALL CLUB

Being one of the greenest Formula E teams (well, purple too!), we at Envision Virgin Racing are always keen to showcase the work of others in highlighting climate change.

Forest Green Rovers may not be as well known as the likes of Real Madrid or Manchester City, but when it comes to sustainability they are the world leaders…literally! That’s because they have been certified by the FIFA as ‘the greenest football team in the world’, as well as being the only vegan football club in existence . That’s a tremendous achievement for a League Two club!

Located in Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, the team – led by Chairman Dale Vince – have sustainability at the heart of everything they do – just like Envision Virgin Racing through their Race Against Climate Change initiative. And when they say everything, they mean EVERYTHING! From solar panels and electric vehicle charging points, to their vegan match day menu and even bamboo shin-pads. They’ve even been certified carbon neutral by the UN.

“We’ve brought sustainability into the world of football,” says Dale. “We capture the water from underneath the pitch and put it back on so we don’t waste water and don’t waste nutrients. We even make 20% of our electricity here on site from solar panels.”

It really is an impressive set up as our very own Sam Bird discovered when we sent him along to learn more about the club, as well as have a little kick-about! “Everyone at Envision Virgin Racing massively believes in sustainability and can appreciate what this club is trying to do,” says Sam. “So when I got told about this opportunity I jumped at the chance to get some training done, not only because I love my football but because of what the club represents.”

So be sure to watch how Sam got on and hopefully it will inspire you to think green whatever sport you enjoy.

Our sincere thanks to Forest Green Rovers for helping to make this happen. To find out more about them click here