Nissan just took their first win at the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge. In an age where many motorsport activities are being cancelled, postponed or even cut short, wins like this may be the best racing teams can look forward to in 2020.
The Nissan e.dams driver, Oliver Rowland scored Nissan’s first win in round 5 of the ABB Formula E Race on a virtual rendition of the Tempelhof track.
Here’s how ABB Formula E Race at Home is set up:
The ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge will take place every Saturday for nine consecutive weekends, starting with a non-point scoring pre-season test event on April 18.
The remaining eight events will follow the traditional Formula E scoring system with extra points for Julius Baer pole position and fastest lap. Double points will also be on offer at the final race.
Gamers will need to qualify ahead of each round and set a time using highly reputable rFactor 2 simulation software, which includes the latest generation Formula E car, up-to-date liveries of all the teams and iconic streets tracks such as Hong Kong and Monaco.
The eight quickest drivers from the open qualifiers, which runs from Monday to Thursday every week, will progress to the main event and be joined by a selection of influencers and familiar faces from the world of motorsport.
The ABB FIA Formula E Championship drivers will also race against one another remotely using the same software, in a simulator provided by Playseat®, wheels and pedals from Fanatec and the latest gaming PCs, monitors, headphones and other peripherals by Asus.
Each driver and gamer will be under extreme pressure to deliver when it counts with a one-lap qualifying system to determine the order of the grid. The online events will use a Race Royale format that is specific to gaming, where the last-placed driver at the end of each lap is eliminated.
The process of elimination will continue until only 10 drivers remain, leaving a single lap sprint to the finish line to decide the points-scoring positions.
Both drivers and gamers will carry over their points to the following weekend, with the top-three sim racers automatically qualifying for the next event.
PRESS RELEASE
Nissan e.dams driver Oliver Rowland took the team’s maiden victory today in round five of the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge in what has been described as the best race in the esports series so far.
Rowland showed strong pace from the outset, qualifying in P3 on the Berlin circuit, having had just one day’s practice along with the rest of the grid on the newly created virtual Tempelhof track.
Rowland got away cleanly at the start, key to sim racing success, and immediately settled into an exciting battle with the lead group of three drivers. On lap 7, from third position, Rowland made an inch-perfect move into a hairpin bend to overtake two cars at once and claim the lead. He maintained the lead to the finish, fending off constant pressure from behind.
The stylish overtake and team’s first virtual win pay tribute to “Go Nissan Day,” celebrated each year on May 23. In Japanese the date 5/23 is pronounced Go (5), Ni (2), San (3). Sebastien Buemi qualified in P11 and crossed the finish line in 12th position.
The new online racing series represents Formula E, the pinnacle of real-world zero emission racing, as the height of zero emission competition in the virtual world. This aligns with Nissan’s goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities, an important pillar of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the brand’s vision for changing how cars are driven, powered and connected into society.
The ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge raises funds for UNICEF’s global coronavirus appeal, helping keep children safe, healthy, and learning in the face of the pandemic.
