Porsche was one of the first manufacturers to unveil its Formula E racing car for the coming season. With the 99X Electric Gen3, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team will enter the new era of the electric racing series in 2023.
The Gen3 race car completed its rollout in Franciacorta, Italy, where Porsche operates an Experience Centre. This is one of the first Gen3 race cars to be unveiled in its final design for the 2023 season.
Formula E had presented the Gen3 generation in April. As usual in the electric racing series, the chassis itself is the same for all teams, but the manufacturers develop their own electric drives – according to the rule specifications. The vehicle itself is more compact than the Gen2 race car. The cars have become lighter, the wheelbase shorter and the track narrower. This should make the races on the narrow city circuits even more challenging for overtaking manoeuvres.
In addition, the battery is smaller and lighter and yet more powerful. This also applies to the drive: in future, the peak power will be 350 kW in qualifying mode, while only 300 kW may be used in the race. Previously, 250 kW had been used in qualifying and 220 kW in the race. With the increased drive power, the top speed also increases: The Formula E racing cars of the third generation are up to 322 km/h fast, previously a maximum of 240 km/h was possible. The recuperation power has increased significantly more: thanks to a new front motor, this is now up to 600 kW. The 250 kW unit on the front axle is a standard component for all manufacturers and may only be used for recuperation. The electric drive on the rear axle is therefore solely responsible for propulsion.
The 99X Electric Gen3, which has been further developed at the Porsche Development Centre in Weissach, is therefore not only different from its predecessor in appearance. “Our development team in Weissach have invested a great deal of work, experience, heart and soul into this race car,” says Thomas Laudenbach, Head of Porsche Motorsport. “They can all be truly proud of the result. Like the all-new Formula E generation, the Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 represents a technological milestone in all-electric racing.”
The first race for the Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 – and of course all other Gen3 race cars – will be the Mexico City E-Prix on 14 January 2023. In addition to Pascal Wehrlein, who has already driven for Porsche in Formula E (and ensured the only Porsche victory to date in Mexico City in 2022), former Formula E champion Antonio Felix da Costa is new to the factory team. Another first: in January, four Porsche 99X Electric Gen3s will compete in the Mexican capital. With Avalanche Andretti, Porsche is also equipping a customer team for the first time, for which Wehrlein’s former teammate (and Porsche works driver) André Lotterer will compete – with Jake Dennis as his teammate.
Keyword: Porsche presents Formula E race car for 2023