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Breaking news

Spark to continue as Formula E car supplier

Spark Racing Technologies (SRT), which provides the current Formula E car, will continue to supply the championship from 2018 onwards.

The 11 Spark-Renault STR_01E cars

The 11 Spark-Renault STR_01E cars

FIA Formula E

Nelson Piquet Jr., NEXTEV TCR Formula E Team
Lucas di Grassi, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport
The 11 Spark-Renault STR_01E cars
The Spark-Renault STR_01E powerplant
Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra Racing
Maro Engel, Venturi
The Spark-Renault STR_01E powerplant
The Spark-Renault STR_01E powerplant

Motorsport.com understands that the Formula E teams were told at a Technical Working Group meeting on Wednesday at Donington Park that SRT would design and build the next generation of Formula E cars, which will debut in the 2018/19 season.

The official tender submitted is fully under the Spark name, but it is believed that Dallara is again set to have involvement in the design and manufacturing of the monocoque at least.

The new car will be the first to ensure a one team per driver supply, in keeping with the championship’s technical road map.

Speaking to Motorsport.com this week, Renault Technical Manager Vincent Gaillardot said the continuity of staying with Spark made sense.

“For sure it has been interesting to see different concepts from other businesses," said Gaillardot. "But I think Spark has delivered a good product and a good service to the teams so it would be a big risk to with someone else.

“We know the people and their capabilities at Spark, and with the really big question of the battery supply for season five I think everyone is agreed that we stay with what we know and trust with Spark."

Motorsport.com understands that the battery tender is still being looked over by a panel of experts at the behest of the FIA.

The decision was due to be made public at the end of June, but is being given extra time due to the importance for the long-term future of the championship.

The FIA and Formula E Holdings are keen to avoid the same issues which threatened the beginning of Formula E in 2013/14, when the initial supplier of the batteries was unable to provide products at the correct spec and in time.

Williams Advanced Engineering stepped in to the breach at a relatively late stage to ensure the championship could start in the autumn of 2014.

Nine applications are being considered, including ones from electrical giants Panasonic and Sony.

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