New series for electric tin-tops
Fans of forced induction look away now: first Porsche had the temerity to call its top-spec all-electric Taycan road car a ‘Turbo S’, and now a new batterypowered race series for 660bhp compact crossovers has been announced under the name ‘Supercharge’.
It’s the brainchild of ex-stewart and Jaguar Formula 1 team commercial director Rob Armstrong (latterly the global head of motorsport for World Rallycross promotor IMG) and Max Welti, formerly of the Sauber F1 and Group C programmes.
Supercharge is set to launch in 2022 and will feature eight teams of two cars, which will be powered by a 40kwh battery that can drive front and rear axles for a total output of 500kw. A 0-to-62mph sprint of 2.5 seconds is expected. Cars will run a standardised tubular-frame rolling chassis to contain costs, but teams can customise bodywork to resemble any associated manufacturers and develop the battery.
A proposed eight-round calendar – three events in Europe, three in the Asia-pacific region, one in the US and one in the Middle East – will visit custommade rallycross-style circuits in parks and industrial areas near to major cities. Each round will comprise 15 races on a mixedsurface 1km circuit, which will feature a 2.5-metre jump, a joker lap – dubbed a ‘Superloop’ – and a water gantry obstacle.
“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,” said Armstrong. “We believe it is only a matter of time before there are more electric motorsport series. Given this rapidly increasing EV momentum, the timing and appeal of Supercharge is ideal and we see a clear space for it.”
The series has been in the planning for 18 months, with car manufacturers involved in the consultation period throughout, and organisers are expecting decent OEM uptake. Supercharge will be organised in conjunction with national governing body Motorsport UK and the British Automobile Racing Club as it bids to gain FIA International Series status.