– New esports competition will see 24 rising stars compete in six events mentored by Formula E teams and drivers.
– Formula E will be translated into the virtual world as digital racers have to master energy management and Attack Mode for the first time.
– Minimum prize pool of €100,000 with winner receiving opportunity to drive a Formula E Gen2 car.
London, England (January 7, 2021) – Formula E today announced its new esports competition Formula E Accelerate, which builds on the success of last year’s ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge in support of UNICEF.
Over six events, 24 rising stars from the world of motorsport and esports will compete against one another in a simulated racing experience using rFactor2 software. Blending the real and virtual worlds, each competitor will score Formula E Accelerate points for a real-life Formula E team. The virtual racers will also receive expert tips, mentoring and other talent development opportunities from the team they are attached to.
Competitors will need to contend with new energy management and Attack Mode features during the online E-Prix. Prior to the competition, there will be online qualifying open to the public with the top-three quickest times on the Berlin Tempelhof E-Prix circuit* earning places on the Formula E Accelerate virtual grid.
Everyone who participates in all six races will receive a share of a minimum prize pool of €100,000 with the overall winner earning a test drive in a Formula E Gen2 car.
There will be two additional virtual races, each featuring 12 real-life Formula E drivers, one per racing team, during Round 4 and the Grand Final of Formula E Accelerate (schedule below*). Points from these races will be added to the overall team standings.
Formula E Accelerate schedule:
– Round 1: January 28
– Round 2: February 4
– Round 3: February 11
– Round 4: March 11
– Round 5: March 18
– Grand Final: March 25 (double points)
Each 25-minute Formula E Accelerate race will be broadcast in a 90-minute programme, featuring Formula E drivers, Team Principals and other special guests. All races will be live on Formula E social and streaming platforms.
Allianz will join the competition as a Premier Partner. ABB and DHL are also Official Partners of Formula E Accelerate.
Chief Strategy and Business Development Officer of Formula E
Hannah Brown
“Following the success of the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge in support of UNICEF, we have evolved our esports product for both gamers and fans. The added element of energy management and Attack Mode translates the real-life Formula E racing experience into the virtual world more accurately than ever before and tests the sim racers’ ability to master electric racing.”
ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge Driver Grid winner
Stoffel Vandoorne
“Formula E continues to create opportunities for fans and the next generation of racing drivers to get involved with the sport, and Formula E Accelerate will see a number of improvements that bring us closer to the real-life experience since our last event. Having won the ABB Formula E Race Home Challenge, I learnt how competitive and demanding it is to race at such a high standard on a regular basis. This time there will be an extra challenge, having to contend with the introduction of energy management and Attack Mode – something even I haven’t tried yet – so it will be interesting to see how drivers manage.”
Open qualifying for Formula E Accelerate is now open. To be in with a chance to secure a seat on the virtual grid, register your fastest lap time
here. Qualifying will close on January 13 at 23:59 (GMT).
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will make its Season Seven debut in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia with two night races, at 17:00 GMT (20:00 local time) on February 26 & 27.
Audiences can plug in and follow the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube. @FIAFormulaE #ABBFormulaE
About Formula E and the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship >>
Formula E exists to advance sustainable human progress through the power of electric racing. The only sport to be certified net zero carbon since inception, Formula E was founded to counteract climate change by accelerating the adoption of electric vehicles.
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship brings intense and unpredictable all-electric racing to the heart of iconic cities around the world. In its first six seasons Formula E crowned five different champions and celebrated 17 winners in 69 races. With more automotive manufacturers on the grid than any other motorsport, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is not only one of the most compelling racing series on the planet but also an unparalleled proving ground for race-to-road electric vehicle and sustainable mobility technologies.
Powered by purpose and united by a passion to deliver edge-of-seat racing, the positively charged Formula E community of teams, manufacturers, partners, broadcasters, host cities and fans work together to light up the world with the transformative power of electric racing.
www.FIAFormulaE.com
About ABB >>
ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a leading global technology company that energises the transformation of society and industry to achieve a more productive, sustainable future. By connecting software to its electrification, robotics, automation and motion portfolio, ABB pushes the boundaries of technology to drive performance to new levels. With a history of excellence stretching back more than 130 years, ABB’s success is driven by about 110,000 talented employees in over 100 countries.
www.abb.com