Formula E driver Pascal Wehrlein cannot wait to race in Saudi Arabia for the Diriyah E-Prix double-headers with his sights set on triumphing again in this month’s races.
The TAG Heuer Porsche driver is preparing for Season 10’s opener in Mexico next weekend and while that is his focus for now, he spoke glowingly of the Diriyah E-Prix races – which will host Rounds Two and Three on 26th and 27th January.
Last year, he dominated both races, crossing the finish line twice and Wehrlein is looking forward to racing again in Diriyah.
He said: “We’re all looking forward to Mexico and as a team we’ve been quite competitive there. If we look at the Diriyah races, our expectations and hopes are to do the same as last year. For me, it’s a track that I love because I enjoy racing at night and is one of my highlights in the season and I have special memories there.”
The Diriyah victories saw the 29-year-old go top of the standings after finishing second in Mexico but could not continue his form throughout the season, adding only another podium finish in Jakarta when he triumphed in the first race. He admits he needs to remain consistent if he wants to be in the title race.
He said: “It’s important to have a strong start to the season and every race counts. We had a pretty good start last season and it sort of slipped through our hands towards the mid-end and end of the season. Everything that we have learned in the last couple of weeks and season is to improve and keep learning while taking more steps. That’ll be our plan going into the new season but also keep on improving throughout the season.”
Rounds 2 and 3 take place on a street circuit surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most picturesque locations on the 16-race calendar the only night races in the Formula E season.
Ahead of the races, which start at 8pm AST on both days, ticketholders can enjoy a full day of entertainment for the whole family in the Allianz Fan Village, with racing simulators in the gaming arena, plus live music performances, street food and much more.
Motor 283 is the biggest automotive website created by a team of automotive enthusiats and this author page is used to show the readers the press releases and news posted on Motor 283 website.
The National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) is the premier sanctioning body for drag racing, overseeing hundreds of events annually across the United States. With its high-speed excitement, precision-tuned machines, and dedicated drivers, NHRA drag racing has grown into a major motorsport, captivating fans of speed and power. The competition is divided into various categories, each with distinct rules, vehicle types, and levels of performance. These categories range from grassroots classes that allow amateur racers to compete, all the way up to the elite professional ranks. Here’s a closer look at the different categories of NHRA drag racing.
The Mercedes-AMG ONE (energy consumption combined weighted: 17.7 kWh/100 km plus 9.9 l/100 km | fuel consumption combined discharged battery: 14.6 l/100 km | CO₂ emissions combined weighted: 224 g/km | CO₂ class combined weighted: G | CO₂ class discharged battery: G) has been the fastest production car on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife since October 2022 and has been unrivalled ever since. The only rival is the ONE itself. Now Mercedes AMG brand ambassador and DTM driver Maro Engel has once again significantly improved the lap time he set. With an officially measured and notarised time of 6:29.090 minutes for the 20.832-kilometre track, the hypercar with Formula 1™ technology beat its own record for production vehicles by over five seconds. This makes the Mercedes AMG ONE the first road car to beat the magic mark of 6:30 minutes. It is also the only series hybrid hypercar to date to have taken on the world's most demanding racetrack and is the undisputed leader in the super-sports-car class.
“We’ve held the record for road vehicles for almost two years now. But at AMG, we always want to push the boundaries of what is possible to the maximum or even push them a little further. That’s why we have once again demonstrated what is possible with the unique AMG ONE. The entire team has been rewarded for its efforts and commitment. I’m proud of this determined team effort and of this fantastic record time. Once again, we’ve impressively demonstrated the spirit and expertise of AMG.”
Michael Schiebe, Chairman of the Board of Management of Mercedes AMG GmbH and
Head of the Mercedes Benz G Class & Mercedes Maybach divisions
“Two years ago, the conditions were not ideal, and some sections of the track were still a little damp. We knew we could do more, and we wanted to show that. Today we were able to demonstrate the maximum potential of the AMG ONE. Many thanks to the whole team from Affalterbach for the trust they’ve placed in me. It was a great pleasure and honour to be able to drive this record lap with such a unique car.”
Maro Engel, Mercedes AMG brand ambassador
In order to achieve the lofty goals they had set for themselves, meticulous preparation was necessary. In addition, the track conditions had to be ideal in order to beat the 6:30 minute target. On September 23, 2024, at 6:56 p.m., on his third timed lap, Maro Engel achieved the new record. With temperatures of 15 degrees Celsius (air) and 20 degrees Celsius (asphalt), the legendary Nordschleife was dry throughout and offered perfect grip.
Like Lewis Hamilton and George Russell on their Formula 1™ race weekends, Maro Engel also had to make the best possible use of the hybrid drive's electrical energy. This is particularly challenging, especially with a track length of more than 20 kilometres. Therefore, it is immensely important to use the right sections of the track to recuperate during braking phases and thus store energy in the batteries again.
To do this, Maro Engel utilised the AMG ONE's four-stage Energy Flow Control (EFC) system and in some cases deliberately took his foot off the accelerator a little earlier than he normally would. In technical jargon, this is known as “lift and coast”. Preliminary tests in the driving simulator in Affalterbach and on the Nordschleife itself provided the necessary insights, which the team and driver were able to optimally implement for the record lap. In accordance with the specifications of Nürburgring 1927 GmbH & Co KG, the vehicle was tested and documented by TÜV Rheinland to ensure that it was in standard condition. A notary confirmed that the record drive had been carried out correctly.
Amidst a competitive and enthusiastic atmosphere, the first round of the 2024 Saudi Toyota Karting Championship concluded at the Dirab Karting Circuit in Riyadh. The one-day event saw the participation of 8 drivers and was organized and overseen by the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation. It was sponsored by the official partner Jameel Motorsports and the strategic partner the Saudi Investment Bank, in collaboration with the Ministry of Sports.
SHARE.jpeg){kind=small}
