[Jason]

BIMMERPOST NEWS

BMW Will Compete in Formula E Beginning Next Season

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July 11, 2017

Munich. BMW is bringing electromobility up to race speed: Initially revealed as a goal in 2016 as part of the realignment of the motorsport strategy within the BMW Group, BMW will join the FIA Formula E Championship as an official manufacturer in Season 5 (2018/19). The cars, equipped with a completely newly-developed BMW drivetrain, will be run by the Andretti Formula E team as BMW’s works entry in the series. Together, BMW and Andretti will compete in exciting races at the heart of some of the biggest cities around the world. The main driving force behind the new BMW i Motorsport is the development of innovative technology in the field of electromobility, in which the company has established a leading role over the past ten years. The consistent implementation of the new motor racing strategy also includes the expansion of classic activities at BMW M Motorsport.

The Formula E project is already providing valuable impetus in the development of BMW iNEXT and the next generation of advanced BMW i models with electric drive. The same engineers that are working on the future of electromobility for the streets also take on an environment that is fully focused on performance alongside their colleagues from BMW Motorsport – an environment, in which they face strong opposition. The experience gained is integrated directly in production development again, in the development of the next BMW i models.

For BMW, this makes Formula E the perfect development laboratory for production-related electric powertrain technology. “Through our involvement in Formula E, we are addressing the development towards sustainable and emission-free mobility in the automobile industry and are also making a contribution to the brand’s progression to BMW iNEXT,” said Klaus Fröhlich, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, Development. “This project is thoroughly driven by technology. We are using Formula E as a development laboratory, operating under the unique conditions that prevail in motor racing – with very unique demands and opportunities. The borders between production and motor racing development are more blurred at BMW i Motorsport than in any other project. The result is a technology transfer on a whole new level. We are certainly confident that the BMW Group will benefit greatly from the experience gained in the field of electrotechnology during this project.”

BMW Motorsport Director Jens Marquardt said: “Formula E has developed fantastically as a racing series and, as a new, technology-based project, is perfectly suited to the BMW Group and BMW Motorsport. Forging new paths and driving innovation – these are values shared by BMW and Formula E. Because it is very important for us to demonstrate our technological expertise, we have shown a firm commitment to this project through the registration of BMW AG as an official manufacturer and are facing up to the growing competition there. The changes we required for our involvement will come into effect in Season 5 – these include, for example, the omission of the car changeover. We are already seeing in our development work that colleagues from the production and motorsport departments are collaborating in a completely new way. The result is new paths, which we are forging together in the matter of electric drivetrains. In Formula E, we will demonstrate both our innovative expertise and our sporting spirit. The series represents a completely new challenge for us – a challenge we are happy to take on together with Andretti Formula E. Andretti is the ideal partner for this mission. The name needs no introduction in international motor racing. Our cooperation is already working very well, and we look forward to taking the next steps together.”

“Formula E and BMW i are simply very well suited to each other,” said Hildegard Wortmann, Senior Vice President Brand BMW. “It is a totally new kind of motorsport, which we will be taking racing to the fans – not the other way round. Formula E is already demonstrating how exciting, thrilling and fascinating electromobility can be. This sort of emotionalisation is only possible through sport. We have been involved in Formula E from the outset as ‘Official Vehicle Partner’, and have helped shape the series. We are now taking on a new aspect, in the form of actual racing. BMW i and Formula E – two pioneers of a new era.”

“We are excited to expand our partnership with BMW i and serve as BMW’s official Formula E works team beginning in Season 5,” said Michael Andretti, CEO of Andretti Autosport and its global family of race teams. “The ongoing collaboration between BMW and Andretti Formula E has provided a strong foundation for BMW’s entry as an official manufacturer. We look forward to running BMW’s first all-electric racing drivetrain and competing for the Formula E Championship. BMW is leading the automotive future with the BMW i line and their innovation in electric car technology. I couldn’t pick a more prestigious or historic manufacturer to work with in Formula E.”

[ORIGIN M.]

[Flying Ace]

as they should. BMW is making a huge push into the e-drive line of cars.

[aveillez]

Forget about this boring thing and focus in compete and win in LeMans, and WEC.

[cbertels]

I wonder if this will trickle down like touring car racing? An i8 car would be interesting. Anyone attend one of these? I bet it's a quiet race experience, comparatively speaking.

[c63er]

This is good news, while the sport hasn't totally grown on me yet, this is a good move for bmw to get more involved at the upper echelons of electric cars

[Mani59]

Would have preferred if they returned to F1 but at least it is a step in the somewhat right direction of Formula E.

BMW's return to Le Mans next year though should be good

[dancing__narwhal]

This is big news if it means BMW is committed to performance-oriented electric cars. Personally, I think the EV industry still lacks a proper motorsport-oriented manufacturer like BMW. Sure Teslas are fast, but they're not really designed for motorsport. Anyone who's driven a Model S on a track can tell you that. BMW getting serious about "E Motorsport" is a good omen that there may still be room for car enthusiasts in the electrified future.

[Chappers 71]

But Formula E is just so dull

[DRTMGRT]

Can't wait to see what comes of this new foray.

[Flying Ace]

Originally Posted by aveillez

Forget about this boring thing and focus in compete and win in LeMans, and WEC.

I'm wagering people who watch Formula E tends to buy BEV or PHEV cars...so maybe it's not a bad idea? Let's put it this way, in 5 years, BMW will likely sell more e-cars than motorcycles, sounds kind of silly sponsoring moto racing today, no? In 2015 alone, BMW sold 30,000 i-cars. The momentum is picking up big times, especially with Model 3 and the new all-electric 3er coming out. In 2016, BMW sold around 135,000 motorrad vehicles of all types.

Also in 10 years or so, the average BEV car will be cheaper than the ICE equivalent. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...s-accelerating

Formula E is spec racing too, so costs should be controlled and races should be more competitive. Disclaimer: I love IMSA and WEC, but it's not spec racing, and the BOP makes it almost controlled as to regard to who wins each race. Have you wondered why the M6 has won the last 2 races and they weren't even competitive in the first races of the season? Again, I love IMSA for what it is and their attempt in differentiating manufacturer's motors, chassis, tires, but at one point you got to handicap some cars to make the series competitive.

IMO, the most entertaining class in the last two years were the LMPC cars in Weathertech/Tudor series

[E9TOU]

I'm not dogging Formula E but I think it will be a loooong time (10+ years) before it starts to grab the attention of the motorsport enthusiasts. Right now, it's just an experiment battelground for these manufacturers and it's great to see that so many are starting to pay attention. I personally can't take the series seriously and the racing seems very "soul-less" to me because of it's lack of excitement and sound.

[JoeyBananaz18]

Kubica has been thinking more and more about getting back behind the wheel of an F1 car. Lets get the band back together again!

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by JoeyBananaz18

Kubica has been thinking more and more about getting back behind the wheel of an F1 car. Lets get the band back together again!

I like your way of thinking.

[Stu Pedasho]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

But Formula E is just so dull

It won't be dull any longer. The Factory will see to that.

[JJSchmooze]

Originally Posted by Raj59

Would have preferred if they returned to F1 but at least it is a step in the somewhat right direction of Formula E.

My thoughts exactly. While I want to completely hate the move, a part of me understands the logic behind it. Just a lover of the simpler things I suppose, and the days of pure petrol engines

[Chappers 71]

Originally Posted by Stu Pedasho

It won't be dull any longer. The Factory will see to that.

I'm fairly sure it will still be dull
The cars are to slow & the whine from the electric motor just grates.

[ad78]

This is like RC toys in big circuit. Swoooooossshhh!

[bmwmnation]

Now f1!!!

[Chihuahua]

Originally Posted by bmwmnation

Now f1!!!

Won't happen. BMW wants to be where road-car relevant technology is. F1 is about as far from road-car relevant as it gets. Besides, BMW was recently in F1 for nearly a decade, spent hundreds of millions of dollars, and have ZERO WCCs to show for it.

[DCG]

About time BMW, a great way to advertise future technologies, philosophies and promoting your hybrid and electric cars. A no-brainer. And on top of that the brand will gain better ways to approach the new emerging technology to make it more efficient and lighter weight.

[Stu Pedasho]

Originally Posted by Chappers 71

I'm fairly sure it will still be dull
The cars are to slow & the whine from the electric motor just grates.

I'm partially sure it will no longer be dull.