Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia
Breaking news

Panis wins Andros Trophy ice racing opener in new electric car

Touring car racer Aurelien Panis won the opening round of the Andros Trophy ice racing series at Val Thorens in the championship’s new top-category electric car.

Aurélien Panis celebrates his victory

Aurélien Panis celebrates his victory

Bruno Bade

With the new four-wheel drive, four-wheel steer, twin-motor electric cars being run together the conventional V6 internal combustion engine (ICE) machines in the series’ Elite Pro division this winter, it’s believed that Panis’ victory makes him the first driver to win a high-level, multi-vehicle racing event using an electric car competing directly against equivalent ICE machines. It follows on from Volkswagen winning this year's Pikes Peak hillclimb event with an electric prototype against ICE rivals.

Developed by Exagon Engineering, the 2MO series is planning to switch the top category to electric cars next winter.

Three electric cars started the opening round at Val Thorens, driven by Nicolas Prost, who gave the concept its debut as a test in January, former Formula 1 driver Franck Lagorce and Panis.

Driving the ‘Andros Sport 01’ labelled car, Lagorce set the fastest time from three-time Andros champion Jean-Baptiste Dubourg by 0.2s in qualifying on Friday evening, before Panis, racing a ‘Plastic'Up’ electric car run by the Sainteloc Racing squad, using an Audi A1 silhouette bodyshell, was quickest in Q1.

Aurélien Panis

Aurélien Panis

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Franck Lagorce

Franck Lagorce

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Nicolas Prost

Nicolas Prost

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Jean-Baptiste Dubourg

Jean-Baptiste Dubourg

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Olivier Panis

Olivier Panis

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Aurélien Panis

Aurélien Panis

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Podium: Olivier Pernaut, Aurélien Panis, Franck Lagorce

Podium: Olivier Pernaut, Aurélien Panis, Franck Lagorce

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Dorian Boccolacci

Dorian Boccolacci

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Participants at Val Thorens

Participants at Val Thorens

Photo by: Bruno Bade

Aurélien Panis and Olivier Panis

Aurélien Panis and Olivier Panis

Photo by: Bruno Bade

10

Lagorce was fastest in Q2 from former Monaco Grand Prix winner Olivier Panis, the veteran Frenchman driving an internal combustion powered Audi A1. His son Aurelien then set the best time in the Super Pole knockout that determines the grid position for the final, before leading the main event from pole to secure victory and take the points lead.

“I'm really happy, I didn’t expect to be achieve such a result,” said Panis Jnr. “We won the heats, the Super Pole and the final. Sainteloc Racing has done an amazing job and hope to continue this momentum.”

Driving an ICE Mazda 3, also for the Sainteloc squad, Olivier Pernaut was second in the season opener while Lagorce completed the podium.

The second day of the first weekend of the season at Val Thorens had to be cancelled due to a snow storm.

Be part of Motorsport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Motorsport Network announces joint-venture with SECA Shanghai
Next article Casio EDIFICE ECB800: Behind the design

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Motorsport prime

Discover premium content
Subscribe

Edition

Australia