Say hello to the next generation of single-seat
racer. It looks all sleek and futuristic, and calls for the next stage in the
evolution of electric propulsion. And it's currently under development by SRT.
Dubbed the SRT05e, it's being developed by Spark
Racing Technology – the same French outfit that produced the SRT01 which has
served until now as the backbone of the FIA Formula E Championship.
After opening the tender process last year, the FIA
awarded the contract once again for Spark to develop the next-generation
electric racer for the series, and this is the initial design it came up with.
The wheels are partially enclosed
in fenders, melding into an advanced aerodynamics package. Meanwhile the
cockpit is alternately rendered with a partial aero-screen like the one
proposed by Red Bull Racing for Formula One or with a completely enclosed
canopy like you'd see on a military-grade fighter jet.
The design brief under which SRT is working calls
for a car that will go twice the distance of the current model, which would
ostensibly obviate the need for mid-race car swaps. The heavier battery will
mean that SRT will need to trim weight elsewhere, while increasing aerodynamic
efficiency.
It clearly has a ways to go before it'll be ready
for deployment on the makeshift street circuits through which the series races
around the world. But from what we're seeing so far, it looks promising.
