Supercharge electric race series breaks cover

SuperCharge, an all new global motorsport series based on electric crossover road cars, broke cover on 21 October 2020 with plans to help shape the new future for motorsport. With a planned 2022 start, the inaugural series is targeting eight events taking place right across the globe, in cities from Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, Middle East and the U.S.A.

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 electric road cars in compact SUVs and crossovers, as well as leading-edge battery technologies.

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 aims to 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.

As a manufacturer-focused series, SuperCharge will be based on cars recognisable on the outside as electric road cars which will be publicly accessible. Nevertheless, the race cars, codenamed SC01, will offer awe-inspiring performance.

With similar acceleration to a Formula One car, they will adopt an electric motor drivetrain on the front axle and one on the rear axle, generating peak power from the battery of up to 670bhp and accelerating from zero to 100km/h in 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 race car on the track and the ones they see on the street.

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.

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 (electronic driver aids are banned), mechanical set-up and team development of battery technology systems - spanning power draw-down, battery geometry, cooling and battery management systems.

Set in relatively short 1km circuits, the high-quality, action-packed entertainment experience has been carefully crafted to captivate spectators - and viewers across the globe - for existing motorsport fans and newcomers to the sport.

Every SuperCharge race track will feature four unique characteristics. The first is the 2.5m ramp that could project the cars up to 10m on every lap. Able to accommodate two or more cars abreast, enabling drivers to utilise different jump entry and exit tactics.

The second feature of the circuit is the low friction zones that will allow the cars to slide, drift and touch. 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.

The final feature is the SuperLoop, a once-per-race lap extension that can be deployed tactically to gain an advantage over competing drivers, and which injects an extra dose of jeopardy into every race.

Each event is based on a knockout format which pits 16 cars and drivers drawn from eight teams against each other. Based on a series of 15 quick-fire races, with a maximum of six laps each depending on competition stage.

The rewards for both teams and drivers are decided by a points system. Every car competing over the course of the eight-race series will earn points towards the three separate titles: a teams' championship, one for manufacturers and another for competing drivers, with points rewarding progress through the knockout process.