Formula E season three private testing review, Part 2

Mahindra Racing

Car Mahindra M3 ELECTRO Driver Nick Heidfeld Days complete 15 

Can Formula E’s perennial midfielders make the extra step this season and become a true challenge to the established pacesetters?

Private testing has seen the Indian team put its new two-geared, transversely-mounted Magneti Marelli motor package through 2,400kms over its allotted 15 days.

“We are quite satisfied with the private testing but there is still plenty to do on the dyno before Donington,” Mahindra boss Dilbagh Gill told Motorsport.com.

“We always said that in the first two years we would get to know the championship. This year we have aspirations to move up, we are clear on this as an aim.”

In terms of continuity and stability within its Campos-run squad, Mahindra stands just as good a chance as Andretti in making the jump to the top table.

Nick Heidfeld, a huge asset and a sort of motorsport WD40 in terms of developing and fixing a racing car, stays. He is a major cog in the season three programme along with chief designer - ex-Red Bull and Caterham F1 staffer Lewis Butler - and software guru Angus Lyon.

In testing, the team has used GP3 racer Alex Palou, Tiago Monteiro and one other driver in addition to Heidfeld.

Motorsport.com understands that Palou and Monteiro will not be joining the team in a racing capacity in season three, but a teammate for Heidfeld will be announced ahead of the first Donington Park test on August 23. 

Tiago Monteiro, Mahindra Racing

Photo by: Neil Hudson

NextEV NIO

Car NextEV TCR Formula 002 Drivers Nelson Piquet Jr, Oliver Turvey Days complete 11

The newly-named NextEV NIO team is believed to be sticking with its twin-motor set-up for season three, and if that is accurate it should be applauded.

Why? Because innovation is at the heart of the all-electric championship, and the Chinese owned team is staying true to its identity as a daring visionary start-up.  Fair play to them.

The team's new system, dubbed the NextEV700R, is likely to be much modified and closer to the weight limit, which for season three is reduced to 880kg.

A significant weight-saving development plan has been underway for some time as relationships with both key technical suppliers Omni Gear and Rational Motion GmbH continue. The team has evolved as well, with former Team Aguri engineering chief Gerry Hughes forming a much consolidated squad of people.

Ben Hanley has been drafted in on occasion to assist with testing when Nelson Piquet Jr and Oliver Turvey were indisposed due to other commitments over the summer.

NEXTEV TCR Formula E Team 2017 livery

Photo by: NextEV

Renault e.dams

Car Renault Z.E. 16 Drivers Sebastien Buemi, Nicolas Prost Days complete Undisclosed

Last years championship-winning team has been characteristically cagey on its new Renault Z.E. 16, which was one of the first season three packages to test back in May.

Although it would not state how many private days it had done, Motorsport.com understands the full allocation of 15 was used.

It is true that Renault e.dams can only make a certain amount of progress in season three, as it strives to eke out more efficiency from its title-winning package. An evolution of its Renault Z.E. 15 set-up is likely to see further weight reduction.

An enhanced damping system via its close relationship with Sachs will also aim to find valuable tenths as it chases the last slivers of efficiency.

It is unclear as to what Renault e.dams has focused on with its key partners - gearbox specialist Sadev and the providers of the motors and inverters Zytek Automotive - as is their wont; publically the champions don’t discuss their partners.

With its mighty resources pushing even harder to promote its expanding electric car sales all over the world, the ‘Regie’ will be up for the fight to retain its titles against the ever-closing pack.

Sébastien Buemi, Renault e.Dams

Photo by: Michelin Sport

Techeetah

Car TBA Drivers Jean-Eric Vergne, Ma Qing Hua Days complete 0

Techeetah effectively took over Team Aguri’s slot on the season three grid, but ran out of time to complete any private testing at all and, as a result, will be on the back foot come Hong Kong in October.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that the Chinese-owned squad has a Renault powertrain to bolt on to the back of the former Team Aguri cars.

It is unknown quite why and how it took so long to get the China Media Capital deal through (it started in March) and some of the finer points are still being finalised, such as whether Nissan will appear on the car this season with a view to a more concentrated involvement from season four onward.

The Techeetah squad gave Motorsport.com outlines of its plans last month – and with Jean-Eric Vergne as lead driver it could be a serious dark horse contender, but probably only in the second half of the season.

Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Virgin Racing

Photo by: Spacesuit Media

Venturi Formula E

Car Venturi VM200-FE-02 Drivers Stephane Sarrazin, Maro Engel Days complete 15

Venturi has been working quietly away on their season three package, dubbed the VM200-FE-02.

It is likely to be a refined and very much slimmed down version of its season two package which was, depending on who you spoke to, either 20kgs or 24kgs over the 888kg minimum.

Stephane Sarrazin has conducted the majority of testing on the car which is expected, like many others, to have a two-gear, single motor configuration and re-designed suspension.

The squad has already confirmed that the Frenchman's teammate for season three will be Mercedes GT ace Maro Engel, who reckons his street racing pedigree makes him a good fit for the all-electric series. 

Mike Conway, Venturi

Photo by: FIA Formula E

Jaguar Racing

Car Jaguar I-Type 1 Drivers Adam Carroll Days complete 15

Jaguar will be under intense scrutiny as the manufacturer readies itself for a first foray into international motorsport since the debacle of its doomed F1 campaign from 2000-2004.

With a healthy budget, second-to-none engineering capabilities, and at least one top-class driver, Jaguar should be right at the front from the off, shouldn’t it?

Well, Formula E isn’t that simple, so getting consistently among Renault, ABT and DS will have to wait for season four. A solid position in the top half of the field in their first season will be the aim.

Jaguar in Formula E is a fantastic coup for the series and the Indian-owned company should be lauded for following their future electric engineering ambitions. With the likes of Craig Wilson (who started his career as Production Manager at Jaguar in 1988), Gary Ekerold, Okan Tur, John Russell and Tim Newton in the team, it will not want for a lack of engineering, sporting and operational skills.

Little in the way of news about its private testing has been available so far, apart from confirmation to Motorsport.com that all 15 days have been used and that the new front wing section and Michelin tyres has been tried.

Expect the man with most experience of the car so far - Adam Carroll - to be at Donington, as he continues to prepare for what could be a long overdue career break. Jaguar are expected to also have up to three other drivers in the cockpit at later this month before a final squad is announced.

Motorsport.com understands that Anthony Davidson, who has been in discussions with the team, is now less likely to take up a race seat.

Jaguar Formula E tests

Photo by: Jaguar Racing