A new single-seat electric junior series has been launched in an effort to build a ladder to the Formula E world championship.
Founded by former Mahindra team principal Dilbagh Gill, the new ACE Championship has already fielded a modified Gen2 Formula E car as it works to design a new car for 2024.
La Cursa understands that the car was tested in Barcelona at the end of January with former Mahindra driver Nick Heidfeld doing the evaluation runs.
This same car also did demo laps at the Hyderabad track on Saturday with Heidfeld back behind the wheel.
He will be a development driver and championship advisor who was introduced at the inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix today.
The founder of Formula E, Alejandro Agag, is part of the advisory board of the series.
Plans are believed to focus on the potential to use the Gen2 Formula E chassis to establish new car designs, although a deal to complete the conversion is yet to be finalised.
The ACE Championship will have two levels, an entry-level level called the Challenger Series and a top-level championship, with power outputs that differentiate them.
According to Gill, the senior championship will be “a feeding platform for drivers and engineering talent to move into other racing series”.
The series will be run in a regional format and on regional circuits across continents to provide “a showcase to areas where the fandom and industry around motorsport can develop in areas under-represented by existing championships”.
The same car will be used in both levels of racing, meaning teams can run four drivers in two championships with two vehicles.
Organizers stated that “there is already significant interest from a number of existing racing teams to join the series”.
The series also aims to be “a leader in talent development, providing an affordable entry into racing for young drivers and providing an unrivaled opportunity to grow and hone their skills”.
It also aims to create career opportunities through motorsport paddock roles “regardless of origin, location, gender or socio-economic status”.
“The ACE Championship is about innovation in motorsport and opportunity,” said Gill.
“We’re looking at the ACE Championship to give representation to interested drivers and engineers from around the world who haven’t had the chance to go out and give them a chance to step up.
“The foundation of the ACE Championship is to provide technology, opportunities and a platform to excel.
“This will be the first world championship where a single race car can compete in two different championships: each team can have two different drivers in the ACE Championship and ACE Challenger series, driving the same car, but with two different power levels. .
“We are providing a path for our drivers to the ACE Championship, at a low cost, but with high performance.”
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