TELLY BABE NICKI IS PLUGGED IN TO ELECTRIC CAR RACI ‘I am because I’m ta
THRILLS Nicki gets behind wheel of a race car JIMMY McCLOSKEY RACY Nicki Shields loves being the face of futuristic motorsport series Formula E – and reckons it could overtake Formula One in popularity.
Nicki has been presenting coverage on ITV since the first event in Beijing, China, almost three years ago.
And she insists it is just as thrilling as its more established stablemate.
Nicki, 31, said: “The easiest way to describe Formula E is electric F1 – they are singleseater cars with open cockpits.
“We race on street circuits in city centres all around the world, just like the Monaco Grand Prix which is widely regarded as one of the most exciting races of the year.
“The whole city comes to a standstill, you build the racetrack on normal roads that people drive on every day, and you have cars racing around it at 150mph, which is pretty awesome.
“We go to some of the most amazing locations around the world, from Hong Kong to Miami to LA. We’re going to New York next week, we raced in London last year, and all around Europe.”
Because Formula E cars are electric, they are much quieter than the traditional petrol equivalent.
But Londoner Nicki thinks this lends the races a unique “futuristic” feel, as fans hear the high-pitched “whirring” of the electric motors driving the wheels.
She said many fans who previously loved Formula One have switched to the new sport, while it has also attracted a large following of young fans new to motorsport – as well as environmentalists who approve of its green credentials. Nicki thinks Formula One will always be popular, in the same way we still enjoy watching horse racing, but that Formula E could soon attract more cash from car companies.
She explained: “We are not going to be driving around in cars using internal combustion engines in the future, but that doesn’t mean we can’t watch racing and love it.
“I think there will always be a place for it, but there will be less money invested in it.
“For a company like Mercedes to invest so many millions in racing, only for us not to use any of that technology in cars, then it’s harder to spend that money.
“Whereas, the direction we are going in is electric, so manufacturers are investing more. I think it could be as big as Formula One. The cars are still in their infancy – they’re very early in their phase of development.
“In 10 to 20 years’ time, you’ll be seeing that electric is as fast, if not faster than pure petrol.”
Nicki, who has not had a speeding ticket since her university days, is electric-car obsessed. She drives a £35,000 BMW i30 and £105,000 BMW i8 in her spare time.
Since starting presenting she has received a few pervy online comments from “fans”.
But Nicki said: “I don’t even notice it. I just delete it and move on to the next thing. I don’t worry about it too much, and find it more funny sometimes.
“I am where I am because I know the drivers, the technology and exactly what I’m talking about.”