India performs host to a top-tier motorsport collection after nearly a decade, as System E involves city within the type of the Hyderabad E-Prix on February 11.

Here is all the pieces you should know concerning the showpiece occasion:

Wait, what’s an E-prix?

The electrical equal of a System 1 race. That is er… simplifying issues. Basically that is the head of electrical motorsport, with Hyderabad now changing into the thirtieth location to host an E-Prix.

��️ February 11, 2023
�� System E is unleashed in India

���� 2023 @GreenkoIndia #HyderabadEPrix

– ABB FIA System E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) February 8, 2023

Did not we’ve a Grand Prix in India?

Sure, the ill-fated (and that is placing it mildly) Indian Grand Prix ran from 2011 to 2013 on the Buddh Worldwide Circuit in Delhi. We did get to see Sebastian Vettel do donuts although, en route profitable his fourth consecutive championship.

So how does it differ from System 1?

There are two principal variations.

One, it is within the title. The ‘E’ in System E stands for electrical – with everything of the racing automobile powered by a battery. System 1 did introduce a hybrid motor in 2014, and in makes an attempt to ‘greenify’, it is aiming for carbon impartial artificial fuels from 2026. However F1 nonetheless is essentially a non-electric sport.

With the world shifting in the direction of electrical automobiles, it explains the inflow of automobile producers which have joined System E, since any innovation within the sport is more likely to replicate of their on-road manufacturing as properly.

The opposite main distinction is System E has a typical spec for all its groups and drivers – the identical chassis and battery. Not one of the ‘It WaS tHe CaR’ memes of Lewis Hamilton’s dominance right here – each staff has the identical {hardware} to work with, with superiority coming within the type of a driver lineup, setup on the day and even… software program.

It leads to a racing collection that has wheel-to-wheel motion and a raceday that may be very unpredictable – each System E season since its inception has been selected the final race of the season. Season 8 had 9 totally different winners in 16 races, with eventual champion Stoffel Vandoorne solely profitable one race.

Does this imply we do not know who’ll win in Hyderabad?

It is nonetheless pretty early in Season 9, with solely three rounds accomplished. Pascal Wehrlein (TAG Heuer Porsche) and Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) have competed for the win in each race to this point, with the previous topping the standings after profitable each races of the double-header in Diriyah. NEOM McLaren and Jaguar TCS Racing have additionally began the season with loads of tempo, and may discover substantial leaps in efficiency because the season develops.

Okay… any Indians to cheer for?

Jehan Daruvala is within the paddock, however as a reserve driver for Mahindra Racing (along with his duties in System 2). The Indian staff does have a shot on the podium although, with Lucas di Grassi ending third within the opening race of this season – teammate Oliver Rowland has but to attain some extent although. There’s additionally the Jaguar TCS Racing staff owned by Tata, so even when there are not any Indians on the grid – there are groups to root for.

What is the Hyderabad observe like?

System E prides itself on operating throughout the centre of cities as a principally street-race setup, however that can also be a operate of its ‘shortcomings’. Battery tech within the earlier seasons could not final in a purpose-built circuit, with the awkward sight of drivers swapping automobiles mid-race (sure, actually). None of that with the collection’ Gen 3 automobiles although.

They will fly throughout the two.83km lengthy Hyderabad observe alongside the Hussain Sagar Lake and NTR Gardens, with 18 corners designed to benefit from System E’s enhanced regenerative braking.

Who’s able to go inexperienced in India!? ����

Your first have a look at the Hyderabad Avenue Circuit ��@GreenkoIndia #HyderabadEPrix pic.twitter.com/YrtOUPDfPw

– ABB FIA System E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) February 6, 2023

The automobiles look respectable, eh?

Appears to be like might be divisive, with System E’s present spec modeled after a fighter jet, however there is no denying the velocity. From the Gen 1 automobile launched in 2014 (200 kW of energy output, high velocity 225 kmph) to the Gen 3 automobile used this season (350 kW of energy output, high velocity 322 kmph), System E’s EVs have come a great distance.

However… the sound

Yeah, there is no getting away from it. System E declare that is intentional, however the silence of EVs merely means the roar of engines is changed by the high-pitched whine of electrical motors and tyres squealing. It takes a little bit of getting used to, however given the joy on observe it is an appropriate commerce off.

How’s the weekend laid out?

Versus System 1’s three-day weekends, System E’s pop-up nature (cannot have the town centres of Paris et al endure disrupted visitors for too lengthy or there will be a revolution) means they normally wrap issues up in a day or two. There’s Free Apply 1 on Saturday night (4:25 pm), after which a packed Sunday – FP2 at 8:05 am, adopted by Qualifying at 10:40 am (extra on that later), after which the race from 3pm onwards.

How does qualifying work? Is it a straight shootout?

Nope. System E has a historical past of gimmicks (severely, FanBoost?) however their qualifying format treads the high-quality line between gimmick and pure benefit. The grid is split into two teams based mostly on their rankings – odd and even numbered – and every group runs at full tilt for 10 minutes, making an attempt to set a quick lap time.

The highest 4 from every group then undergo into ‘duels’ – with the quickest from Group A, for instance, going through off in opposition to the fourth-fastest from Group B in a quarterfinal knockout (A1 vs B4 and so forth.) That is adopted by an eventual shootout between the winners of the semifinals who take the entrance row, with lap occasions deciding the losers of the quarterfinals from locations 5-8. If the polesitter comes from Group B, then the fifth-highest time in Group B is positioned ninth and his equal in Group A is positioned tenth … and so forth.

It is less complicated if you see it, promise.

���� @Pascal_Wehrlein’s Diriyah Double
⭐ @JakeDennis19’s overtaking masterclass
�� @Sebastien_Buemi’s record-equalling Pole
�� @JakeHughesRace maiden Pole

What was your Second of the Day on the #DiriyahEPrix? ��

– ABB FIA System E World Championship (@FIAFormulaE) February 1, 2023

The race is a straight shootout, certainly?

Er…

It’s. Largely. There are not any wrinkles of a pit-stop, however in a bid to make sure it isn’t a procession to the chequered flag, System E have the idea of ‘Assault Mode’ – the place the automobiles can use their full 350kW energy for a restricted time (they normally run at 300kW during the race). Nonetheless, to activate ‘Assault Mode’ drivers have to maneuver off the racing line in a delegated space on observe – which normally leads to the automobile following carefully behind overtaking them.

Other than that, it is a straight shootout – however drivers have to make sure their battery lasts the race distance. Mahindra Racing have famously misplaced out on wins as a result of their battery ran out in previous seasons – with their driver coasting to the road with no energy after the final nook solely to lose out on victory on the end line.

Let’s hope it would not come to that in Hyderabad.

The Hyderabad E-Prix (Qualifying and Race) might be live-streamed on Disney+ Hotstar and broadcast on the Star Sports activities Community, with Free Apply being livestreamed on the System E YouTube channel.