After nearly two years of testing, the Pit Boost will make its debut during the double headers of Season 11 in Formula E.
After a long period of development and testing, lasting around two years, pit stops are finally making their return to Formula E with the introduction of the so-called Pit Boost. This system will debut at the Jeddah E-Prix, scheduled for February 14, and will be used exclusively in double-header events—namely in Monaco, Tokyo, Shanghai, Berlin, and London—to assess the impact of the system itself.
The Pit Boost is a mid-race feature that provides a 10% energy boost (3.85 kWh) to the cars through a 30-second rapid recharge using a 600 kW plug-in charger in the pit lane. Each driver will be required to make a pit stop within a predetermined lap window, which will be announced 21 days before the event.
Alberto Longo, co-founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E, stated: “After an extensive process of testing and simulations, we are pleased to introduce this groundbreaking technology to the world. It represents one of the most ambitious and impactful additions, not only for our series but for modern motorsport as a whole.” ”
“The Pit Boost will challenge teams and drivers to make crucial decisions under pressure. The possibility of spectacular overtakes, unexpected twists, and human ingenuity will heighten the excitement for our fans, showcasing Formula E’s and the FIA’s relentless commitment to innovation. As a series designed to promote technology transfer from track to road, this marks a significant shift for consumer electric vehicles and the future potential of EV performance.” concluded Longo.
Initially, the Pit Boost was scheduled for Season 8 in 2022, with the debut of the Gen 3 cars, but there were issues with reliability and safety. Now, this system was tested for the first time during the pre-season testing at the Jarama circuit in Madrid, as part of a real race simulation. The data from that simulation have been analyzed by the championship and the governing body.
Marek Nawarecki, Senior Director of Circuit Sports at the FIA, added: “After a comprehensive testing program, we are pleased to once again push the boundaries of electric mobility with the introduction of the Pit Boost.”
“Part of the FIA’s technical and sporting regulations, this pioneering new feature will add an additional strategic element to the sport and highlights the FIA’s commitment to developing increasingly advanced technologies from the track to the road, an approach perfectly exemplified by the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship,” concluded Nawarecki.
The Pit Boost will be an additional solution, not an alternative, to the Attack Mode. Therefore, in races where this system is available, teams will have two variables for their strategy, and the two activations will be completely independent of each other, unlike the previous regulations, where using the Attack Mode required having already completed the pit stop.
PHOTO: ABB FIA Formula E, Tag Heuer Porsche, Jaguar Racing.