Following in the emission-free trail of single-seater Formula E and off-road Extreme E championships is SuperCharge, an all-new global motorsport series to be based on electric crossover road cars. With the aim of providing spectacular entertainment and ultimately promote electric cars, SuperCharge will start in 2022 with eight events around the world.
Designed to appeal to audiences of all ages, SuperCharge has been created, in consultation with some of the world’s leading car manufacturers, as a new racing concept to showcase next-generation electrically-powered road cars. These would be in the volume and growth part of the market – compact SUVs and crossovers – as well as leading-edge battery technologies.
New appeal in motorsport
Resetting the relevance, appeal and value of motorsport, the new racing series aims to be located in bustling urban environments based around an access all areas, fun, informative, festival-style atmosphere.
“Motorsport is at a crossroads,” said SuperCharge Managing Director and co-founder Rob Armstrong. “Alejandro Agag and Jean Todt have done a great job pioneering electric motorsport. With many countries and cities already announcing plans to ban internal combustion-engine cars in the coming years, the need for road car-based electric motorsport is becoming more and more compelling. We believe it is only a matter of time before there are more electric motorsport series. Given this rapidly increasing EV momentum, we believe the timing and appeal of SuperCharge is ideal and see a clear space for it as the road car-relevant motorsport series.”
“We have carefully conceived SuperCharge to take account into these societal changes and to consider the needs of car companies, fans, commercial parties and venues in order to make a truly sustainable and commercially viable new series. SuperCharge takes motorsport into a new and hugely relevant arena and we can’t wait to spark the series into life across the globe,” he said.
Informing, educating and promoting
The planning and development of SuperCharge over the past 18 months has been carefully undertaken to ensure it is fully relevant, cost-effective and incubates technological advancements. At the same time, the new series offers clear technical and commercial benefits for car manufacturers.
The concept will attract new audiences for electric vehicles as well as give manufacturers the scope to develop, test and hone electric car battery technology innovations (including smart energy management systems) and relevant software in real-world racing.
Manufacturer-focused
As a manufacturer-focused series, SuperCharge is based on cars recognisable on the outside as electric road cars which the public can, or will be able to, buy. Nevertheless, the SuperCharge race cars, codenamed SC01, will offer extreme performance with similar acceleration to a Formula 1 car. They will have electric drivetrains on the front and rear axles, generating peak power from the battery of up to 500 kW (equivalent to around 670 bhp) and rocket to 100 km/h from standstill in just 2.5 seconds.
Teams will be able to adapt the standard specification car in two ways. The first is the car’s bodywork, so the public have a clear visual link between the striking racing car on the track and the one they can enjoy on the road. The second is battery technology system development, that can in turn enhance the underlying battery performance of road-going EVs.
To reflect the full electric ecosystem on public roads, the SuperCharge race car will also be designed to use roadside fast charging systems and connectors. And to ensure racing is extremely competitive and entertaining, the technical regulations of the series mean the only ways of gaining improved on-track performance come from a combination of driver skill (driver aids including launch control, traction control, brake-by-wire are explicitly outlawed), mechanical set-up (including suspension and differential adjustment) and team development of battery technology systems.
The circuits
Each circuit will use an ‘amphitheatre’ concept which can be adapted to suit a variety of urban venue settings from parks, street circuits or existing racetracks. Extensive views of the fast-paced-action will be assured through various viewing platforms.
Every SuperCharge racetrack will feature unique characteristics. One will be a 2.5-metre ramp that could project the cars up to 10 metres on every lap. Able to accommodate two or more cars abreast, it will be an integral racing element and core circuit feature, enabling drivers to utilise different jump entry and exit tactics.
A second feature of the circuit will be low-friction zones that will allow the cars to slide, drift and touch, increasing the drama and proximity of the close-quarter racing. Every SuperTrack will also feature a water gantry, adding yet another dimension to the circuit to test driver skill by creating a dry/wet/dry surface transition.
Centre-stage in the SuperCharge paddock concept is a charging zone that adopts regular road car connectors and roadside fast charging to inform the public around the whole EV ownership experience.
Consistent with the ethos of the series, the footprint and costs of SuperCharge events have also been structured to be environmentally and financially sustainable. Among the measures being incorporated are the use of existing city racing infrastructure wherever possible, as well as sea and road freight.
SuperCharge is working closely with both the British Automobile Racing Club and Motorsport UK as it seeks to apply to become an FIA International Series. The 8 events for the inaugural series will be in cities from the Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, Middle East and the USA.
