Preview: EVCUP To Unveil Electric Race Car

BethPH
By BethPH Last edited 151 months ago
Preview: EVCUP To Unveil Electric Race Car

The Westfield iRACER will make its debut appearance next month at the low-carbon EcoVelocity Motor Show which is being held, appropriately enough, at the Battersea Power Station.

Electric road cars aren’t exactly new to us, but electric race cars are a different breed altogether and this one’s pedigree is fairly impressive. The iRACER is the result of a collaboration between Westfield Sportscars, Niche Vehicle Network partners Potenza Technology, Delta Motorsport, RDM Automotive and Coventry University. The styling is the work of designer Elliott Hawkins from the Royal College of Arts.

Motorsport has often been the target of criticism from the environmental lobby, so Electric Vehicle Cup (EVCUP) came up with the world’s first circuit racing series based totally around zero-emission electric cars. EVCUP will hold two races this year in the US – the first at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca on 26 November and the second at Auto Club Speedway on the 17 December. The full season kicks off in 2012.

The iRACER will be in good company in the green supercar paddock too; the Tesla Roadster, Nemesis, Lightning GT and the Bluebird Electric will all be on show. For the motorsport geeks among us, the latter will soon be attempting to break the land speed record once held by father-and-son racing legends Sir Malcolm Campbell and Donald Campbell in its eponymous predecessor. Fittingly, the Bluebird will be driven on the EcoVelocity circuit by Sir Malcolm's grandson, Don Wales, who, in the family tradition is himself a land speed record holder.

EcoVelocity will run from 8-11 September at Battersea Power Station. Test drives are also available on the circuit so don’t forget your driving licence.

Photo from EVCUP gallery.

Last Updated 27 August 2011