Formula E preseason testing 2023: Five key takeaways from Valencia<p>Formula 1 may do its preseason tests right before the new schedule of races begins, but Formula E holds its trials months before the first E-Prix. The official action starts in Mexico City in January, but last week the all-electric series <a data-i13n="cpos:1;pos:1" href="
https://mediacentre.fiaformulae.com/release#c6b697_jaguar-reigns-in-spain-formula-e-pre-season-testing-report=true&season=season10&event=68">took to the turns of Valencia[/url] for its annual preseason test. 2024’s Season 10 will be the second for <a data-i13n="cpos:2;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/formula-e-gen3-car-is-living-up-to-its-potential-after-a-rocky-start-130007090.html?">the ultra-efficient Gen3 car[/url], following a debut that delivered lots of wheel-to-wheel racing and a hard-fought driver’s championship that was decided in the final two races. While there isn’t a new car this year, there’s still plenty to know before the lights go out in Mexico.</p>
<h2><strong>A battery fire cut testing short</strong></h2>
<p>Teams lost a considerable amount of track time after a battery fire following the Tuesday morning session. <a data-i13n="cpos:3;pos:1" href="
https://www.the-race.com/formula-e/fe-valencia-pit-fire-investigation-consequences/">
The Race reports[/url] that the incident occurred in a pit stall occupied by WAE, the all-electric series’ battery supplier. The fire reportedly started from a battery that had been removed from the DS Penske driven by rookie Robert Shwartzman for three separate stints. Shwartzman had to stop on track due to an issue and once the car was back in the pit lane, the battery was removed and taken to WAE for inspection. <a data-i13n="cpos:4;pos:1" href="
https://us.motorsport.com/formula-e/news/fia-reveals-further-details-on-formula-e-valencia-battery-fire/10538482/">
Motorsport.com reports[/url] that the automatic battery safety system was activated causing the driver to stop. According to
The Race, witnesses say there was a small audible explosion about 90 minutes after the car came to a halt on the circuit.</p>
<span id="end-legacy-contents"></span><p>Formula E canceled the Tuesday afternoon and both Wednesday sessions while it looked into the cause of the fire. One person was taken to the hospital as a precaution but was released without any treatment. The series’ governing body, the FIA, deemed conditions safe to resume testing on Thursday afternoon following “investigations and findings provided by the technical suppliers,” Formula E explained.</p>
<p>As
The Race notes, there has never been a traction battery fire at an E-Prix in nearly 10 years of events. There were incidents in 2015 and 2017, but those affected the smaller 12-volt battery. This was also unrelated to the new Attack Charge as Shwartzman had yet to demo that infrastructure. Formula E only had eight units for 11 teams and DS Penske didn’t have one at the time,
The Race reports.</p>
<h2><strong>The first female driver in a Gen3 car</strong></h2>
<figure><img src="
https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-10/96c26aa0-7829-11ee-bd6c-ff7b1caf0250" data-crop-orig-src="
https://s.yimg.com/os/creatr-uploaded-images/2023-10/96c26aa0-7829-11ee-bd6c-ff7b1caf0250" style="height:1365px;width:2048px;" alt="Gabriela Jilkova, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, Porsche 99X Electric Gen3 " data-uuid="70c11c03-9fe1-34c1-8dcc-a800e19216d5"><figcaption>Gabriela Jilkova drives the TAG Heuer Porsche</figcaption><div class="photo-credit">Simon Galloway</div></figure>
<p>During the preseason test in Valencia, teams were required to put rookie drivers in their cars for three of the 18 scheduled hours of running. The lineup included former F2 driver Robert Shwartzman (DS Penske) and current F2 drivers Victor Martins (Nissan) and Zane Maloney (Andretti), among others. The rookie test saw the first female driver in a Gen3 Formula E car as well. LMP3 and GT4 driver Gabriela Jilkova got behind the wheel of the Porsche team’s EVs, completing a 46-lap run. Formula E previously held rookie tests ahead of the Berlin E-Prix and during an extra practice session in Rome, both happening earlier this year.</p>
<h2><strong>The first test of Attack Charge</strong></h2>
<p>During a 10-hour session last Friday, Formula E held a simulated race, giving teams a 27-lap trial to test setups, run through safety car periods and demo the upcoming Attack Charge pit stops. The series <a data-i13n="cpos:5;pos:1" href="
https://www.engadget.com/formula-es-fast-charging-pit-stops-wont-arrive-until-next-year-185813092.html">had planned[/url] to introduce the stops last season, but supply-chain issues meant the technology would only be ready for the final few races. By then, Formula E felt it would be too late and decided to postpone the debut of Attack Charge to this season.</p>
<div id="6fd183cb27304bd3904cadc52b5c487f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">A first look at fast charging
