Formula E Testing Day 3 unfolded with standout performances from Kiro Race Co’s David Beckmann in the morning session and a Porsche one-two in the afternoon’s mock race. As the session concluded, Mahindra’s Nyck de Vries secured the fastest lap of the day. Here’s a detailed recap of the penultimate day’s highlights.
Formula E Testing Day 3: Morning Session: Beckmann Sets the Pace
David Beckmann dominated Thursday morning at the Jarama circuit, finishing on top with a 1:27.755 lap. Competing with Kiro Race Co only for pre-season, Beckmann and teammate Dan Ticktum have shown remarkable speed throughout all four test sessions. Beckmann narrowly bested reigning champion Pascal Wehrlein from TAG Heuer Porsche by just 0.008 seconds. Joining him in the top three was Antonio Felix da Costa, also from Porsche, setting a competitive tone.
Maximilian Guenther of DS PENSKE continued his strong pace, placing fourth, followed by Maserati MSG Racing’s Jake Hughes. Hughes, who led Wednesday’s morning session, demonstrated his consistent pace alongside Guenther. Meanwhile, Mitch Evans from Jaguar TCS Racing slotted into sixth. Jaguar and Nissan, penalized for budget cap breaches, began testing only yesterday, yet displayed respectable speeds. NEOM McLaren’s Taylor Barnard, Nissan’s Oliver Rowland, and DS PENSKE’s Jean-Eric Vergne completed the top ten.
Mock-Race and Attack Charge Trials: Porsche 1-2 finish
The afternoon session started with a 24-lap mock race to simulate race conditions, featuring the highly anticipated Attack Charge. The race faced a 10-minute delay when rookie Zane Maloney‘s Lola Yamaha ABT encountered an issue on the grid, forcing him to sit out the afternoon. Once underway, Porsche clinched a strong one-two, with Pascal Wehrlein and Antonio Felix da Costa finishing first and second. Nick Cassidy followed in third, underscoring Porsche’s potential for the upcoming season.
The Attack Charge – an innovative rapid charging feature – was tested during the race, delivering a 600 kW boost to the batteries over a 35-second pit stop. Out of those, 30 seconds are spent actively charging while the initial 5 seconds are for safety checks. The system worked without any issues during the mock-race, a promising sign as teams explore its strategic benefits.
The additional power from the Attack Charge can enhance race strategies but also risks battery overheating. Drivers need to carefully manage their pace post-charge to avoid draining the added energy too quickly. Cooling is crucial, with a specialized coolant circulating through the charger’s cells; however, without an external radiator, excess heat only dissipates once the charger is inactive.
Formula E Testing Day 3: Afternoon Wrap-Up: Mahindra Tops the Timesheets
Following the mock-race, testing resumed, with Nyck de Vries in his Mahindra clocking the fastest time of the afternoon session at 1:28.010.
A good day in the office for @nyckdevries 💪
The @MahindraRacing driver tops the final session for today!
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) November 7, 2024
Edoardo Mortara also impressed, completing a Mahindra one-two. Both drivers exhibited strong potential as they fine-tuned their setups for the upcoming season. Mitch Evans of Jaguar placed third, continuing his strong form since joining the test a day prior due to budget cap penalties.
Tomorrow is the last day of Formula E‘s pre-season testing. Session 6 will feature the first historical FIA category test session exclusively for women.
