Cupra test and development driver Jordi Gené has undertaken the first dynamic drive of the E-Racer all-electric competition touring car. Conducted at the Castellolí (Barcelona, Spain) circuit, the session saw Gené (who is working on the development of the car) push the vehicle to its limits ahead of the proposed launch of the electric touring car category, the eTCR, in 2020.
Following recent battery tests carried out at the Grobnik track in Croatia, these new dynamic tests were used to verify the maximum output of the engines, power management – particularly regarding temperature of the batteries and other elements – and its driveability through closely examined accelerator response, braking and energy recovery.
The goal of these sessions is to continue making adjustments to maximize the performance and reliability of every component. During the next round of testing in September, engineers and technicians will focus on reducing the lap times.
“With the Cupra e-Racer we want to prove that the future of competition [is] electric, and that an eTCR is just as competitive or even more so than petrol-powered race touring cars,” said Cupra racing director Jaime Puig.
“We trust that the results of the tests we are performing on the track will help encourage other brands and hope to see the eTCR category become a reality in 2020.”
Gené was responsible for putting the e-Racer through its paces, and in his opinion, it was “a string of pleasant surprises”.
“It delivers impressive acceleration, and the excellent distribution of its batteries gives it a low center of gravity with a much better than expected driving feel,” Gené continued.
“The only scope for improvement we see is with the braking, as it is obviously a heavier car and more difficult to stop with precision.”
