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Spark Racing Technologies
Spark Logo
Partner Information
Based Flag of France Burgundy, France
Founder Frédéric Vasseur
Announced 2013
Broke Unknown
Role Constructor
Official Website Spark Racing Technologies

Spark Racing Technologies, currently based in Burgundy, France, are an official partner of the FIA Formula E Championship, and the sole constructor (along with fellow partners Dallara and Renault) in the 2014/15 Championship.[1] Spark built the Spark-Renault SRT_01E, 42 of which were ordered by Formula E Holdings (parent company of the championship) for the inaugural Formula E season, with 40 split between ten teams, and the other two serving as test cars.[2]

Spark would also win the tender to build the second base Formula E car, christened the Spark Gen 2 on the 30 January 2018.[3] The Gen 2s would make their debut in the 2018/19 season, having been retrofitted with powertrains from one of nine manufacturers.[3]

Background

Spark Racing Technologies were founded in 2012 by Template:Frederic Vasseur, an engineer who sought to design and manufacture electric powertrains and systems.[1] Originally formed as an off-shoot of ART Grand Prix, Vasseur sought to use Spark as the basis for stepping into the road car market, as well as research and development.[4]

Formula E History

Vasseur had already submitted a proposal to the FIA before their 14th of October deadline in 2011 about becoming a supplier in their plan to create an all electric racing series, a year before the foundation of Spark.[5] Alejandro Agag approached Vasseur's new company later in 2012, inquiring whether he would be interested in building cars for the new Formula E Championship, which was soon adopted by the FIA.[1] Vassaur agreed, citing that the series would be a good platform to advertise both his company and electric vehicles on a global basis.[1]

Spark of Creation

The FIA appointed Spark as the sole supplier of cars for the 2014/15 Season on the 28th of June 2013, with Spark delivering the first of 42 Spark-Renault SRT_01Es in May 2014.[4][5] In partnership with Renault over fitting, Dallara for chassis work, McLaren Electronic Systems for the powertrain, Hewland for the gearbox, and Williams Advanced Engineering for the battery, Spark oversaw the project, producing and assembling 90% of the cars.[6][4]

Heidfeld Smash

Nick Heidfeld's crash proved the integral strength of the SRT_01E at the very first ePrix.

The rest of the cars were delivered to Donington Park before the 15th of July deadline, with extensive testing carried out at the British circuit over the next month.[4] 20 of Spark's 42 SRT_01Es lined up in Beijing for the 2014 Beijing ePrix, with 40 of the cars used in what became the first ever ePrix on the 13th of September 2014.[1] The car proved almost faultless throughout the season, only requiring a slight modification to the suspension after several failures at the 2015 Buenos Aires ePrix.[7]

Season II

Spark will continue to be a main partner in the 2015/16 Season, with the SRT_01E becoming the base car for the manufacturer teams.[8] Spark will also remain with partners Renault and Dallara as project managers, and may provide a further four cars depending on developments to the 2015/16 entry process, which started in February 2015.[8]

Formula E: The Next Generation

During the 2016/17 season the FIA and Formula E Holdings announced the release of a tender to construct Formula E's next base race car, set to debut in the 2018/19 season.[9] Spark would duly secure the tender in August 2016, before partnering with Dallara once again to develop the successor to the SRT_01E.[10] The new design would have to feature cockpit protection according to the FIA's new rules, with Spark ultimately opting to fit the FIA approved Halo device.[10]

The new car would also be fitted with a McLaren developed battery, capable of lasting for the entire race.[10] The final design would be revealed on the 30 January 2018, with the full public debut of the new Spark Gen 2 scheduled for the 6 March 2018 at the Geneva Motorshow.[3]

Products

Spark teamed up with Renault and Dallara to produce the Spark-Renault SRT_01E for the 2014/15 season, becoming the sole supplier for that season.[4] They will remain a major partner in the series into 2015/16 and 2016/17, with new manufacturers only allowed to develop the powertrains for season two.[8]

Spark-Renault SRT_01E

Main Article: Spark-Renault SRT_01E

Spark Renault SRT 01E

The Spark-Renault SRT-01E at the Geneva Motorshow in 2014.

Spark's first major contribution to the Formula E Championship was their creation of the Spark-Renault SRT_01E, the only homologated car for the FIA Formula E Championship, which was based on ART Grand Prix's Formulec EF01, designed by Vasseur in 2010.[5] Capable of producing 200kw (270bhp) and reaching 225kmh (140mph), the SRT-01E was the first FIA sanctioned all electric race car to be produced, with all 10 entrants in the 2014/15 Formula E Championship issued with four examples.[6] Modifications to the car are not allowed (apart from race setup work), although from 2015/16, manufacturers may develop their own powertrains for the car.[8]

Spark Gen 2

Main Article: Spark Gen 2

Spark II

The new Formula E "batmobile": The Spark Gen 2

The second Spark creation for FE would be the radically different Spark Gen 2, which featured prototype style bodywork rather than a traditional open-wheel design.[3] The new car, boasting a McLaren designed battery, will be the first car capable of completing a full E-Prix distance, with a potential maximum speed of 300km/h (186 mph).[11] Like its predecessor, the Gen 2 will be retrofitted with different powertrains when it is delivered to the ten Formula E entrants for the 2018/19 season.[12]

References

Videos and Images:

References:

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 'Foreward', sparkracingtechnology.com, (Spark, 2015), http://www.sparkracingtechnology.com/en/company/foreword, (Accessed 19/07/2015)
  2. 'Formula E orders 42 Cars from Spark Racing Technology', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 26/11/2012), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2012/november/formula-e-orders-42-cars-from-spark-racing-technology.aspx, (Accessed 19/07/2015)
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 'Introducing: the Gen2 Formula E car', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 30/01/2018), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2018/january/introducing-the-gen2-formula-e-car/, (Accessed 30/01/2018)
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 'Spark Racing Technologies', sparkracingtechnology.com, (Spark, 2015), http://www.sparkracingtechnology.com/en/company/spark-racing-technology, (Accessed 19/07/2015)
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 'INSIGHT: Frédéric Vasseur, Spark Racing Technology', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 08/05/2014), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2014/may/insight-fr%C3%A9d%C3%A9ric-vasseur-spark-racing-technology.aspx, (Accessed 19/07/2015)
  6. 6.0 6.1 'Car: Specification', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 2015), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/guide/car.aspx?page=1334, (Accessed 19/07/2015)
  7. 'Da Costa wins spectacular Buenos Aires ePrix', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 10/01/2015), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2015/january/antonio-felix-da-costa-wins-chaotic-buenos-aires-eprix.aspx, (Accessed 30/04/2015)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 'Eight manufacturers to enter Formula E next season', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 23/02/2015), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2015/february/eight-manufacturers-to-enter-fia-formula-e-from-second-season.aspx, (Accessed 19/07/2015)
  9. 'FIA puts Formula E battery and chassis supply out to tender', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 04/03/2016), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2016/march/fia-puts-formula-e-battery-and-chassis-supply-out-to-tender.aspx, (Accessed 31/01/2018)
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 'FIA puts Formula E battery and chassis supply out to tender', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 04/03/2016), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2016/march/fia-puts-formula-e-battery-and-chassis-supply-out-to-tender.aspx, (Accessed 31/01/2018)
  11. Scott Mitchell, 'New Formula E car capable of more than 300km/h - champion di Grassi', autosport.com, (Motorsport Network, 31/01/2018), https://www.autosport.com/fe/news/134156/new-fe-car-capable-of-more-than-300kmh, (Accessed 31/01/2018)
  12. 'Nissan joins growing list of automotive brands in Formula E', fiaformulae.com, (FIA Formula E, 25/10/2017), http://www.fiaformulae.com/en/news/2017/october/nissan-joins-growing-list-of-automotive-brands-in-formula-e/, (Accessed 25/10/2017)
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