until Abu Dhabi Autonomous Racing League
The first two-seater Formula E car is being produced in a technical partnership between the Envision Virgin Racing team and UK-based sustainable tech company Johnson Matthey.
Two-seater versions of single-seater racing cars have appeared across multiple series since McLaren created the first Formula 1 example in the late 1990s.
They are used to give passenger rides so that fans, guests and sponsors can have an approximation of what the drivers experience.
The concept was revived in F1 in 2018 (pictured above), while IndyCar’s version (pictured below) appears before the start of most races with Mario Andretti often at the wheel.
But Formula E has not previously had a two-seater of its own.
In what’s described as a multi-year strategic partnership, Envision and its new partner will work together on the two-seater project which will use eLNO®, Johnson Matthey’s nickel-rich advanced cathode materials programme.
Johnson Matthey is a global FTSE 100 index company and is known for its expertise in creating sustainable applications through its advanced cathode material technology.
The Race understands that Delta Motorsports will be involved in the programme.
Delta has already produced a two-seater car when it transformed one of its Grand Prix Masters series machines which were used in 2005 and 2006.
Owned by former Reynard operations chief Simon Dowson, Delta also has recent experience in bespoke electric drivetrain design and battery systems projects.
It is expected that some aspects of Envision Virgin’s Gen1 development car will be used to create the new two-seater.
Johnson Matthey chief executive Robert MacLeod said he was “excited about creating the first electric race car using eLNO® technology – which is a major milestone in its commercialisation”.
