Andretti driver Felipe Drugovich believes slick tyres are the final missing element from Formula E’s otherwise spectacular Gen4 car.
The all-electric championship has generated significant interest since it first revealed its next-generation racer towards the end of last year. With a peak power output of 600kW (805bhp) and permanent all-wheel drive, the Gen4 model is expected to lap faster than current Formula 2 machinery and considerably closer to Formula 1 pace.
However, despite such a sweeping technical overhaul, Formula E will continue to use grooved tyres, as it has done since the inception of the championship in 2014.
Drugovich, who has experience in F1 testing and endurance racing with Cadillac’s LMDh programme, described the Gen4 car as a major step forward for Formula E, but believes slick tyres would further boost the series’ image.
“I think it’s something that Formula E really needed,” the Brazilian told Motorsport.com.
“Qualifying is going to really change a lot. The car is going to become a lot quicker. I think that just the spectacle of seeing those cars ripping around the circuit is going to be a lot nicer. So it’s something that Formula E needs.
“I think the one thing that it really needs at the moment is slick tyres. The fans, until the point that they don’t see a slick tyre on the car, they’re not going to take it as a proper formula car. Some of them [at least as], some people already do. So, I think once we have them, then it’s going to be complete.”
Asked if he could see Formula E switching to slicks in the future, he replied: “Yeah, hopefully that’s the plan. I think that’s going to be quite nice.”
Felipe Drugovich, Andretti Formula E
Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images
To reduce its environmental footprint, Formula E has traditionally used a single all-weather tyre capable of operating in both dry and wet conditions.
However, with the advent of the Gen4 era and the move to Bridgestone as the official tyre supplier, Formula E will also have two different compounds like most other championships – a primary high-performance tyre for dry conditions and a dedicated ‘monsoon’ tyre for extreme weather. But even the dry-weather tyre, however, will continue to feature grooves.
With Formula E already moving away from its one-tyre concept, Drugovich believes the series now has an opportunity to make the final step to slicks.
“I think that’s what everyone wants to be on,” said the former Aston Martin F1 reserve. “Obviously, there is all the green part of the championship that doesn’t want to bring a thousand tyres to the race weekend.
“But at the same time, next year, we’re already going to have two types of tyres. So, why not have the dry one as slick? So it’s quite cool. It is what it is.
“I think that the main step is already done. You know, the car is going to become a lot quicker. So that’s the big plus.
He added: “From what the simulations are saying, that Gen 4 is already a really quick car, and with slicks, it’s going to be quite impressive.”
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