Formula E Operations has made the first step in trying to solve the issue of track signage banners being removed from walls after several drivers’ races were affected by the errant material last time out in Puebla.
Robin Frijns, Antonio Felix da Costa, Andre Lotterer and Rene Rast were all impeded by the banners at some stage of the Mexican E-Prix last month.
This gave rise to concerns that the material is becoming a safety hazard during races because it easily gets caught up in the suspension or bodywork of the expansive Gen2 Formula E cars.
The material used by Formula E is made of polypropylene, a material widely used across a number of industries due to its recyclable properties.
It was first introduced for the 2019 Rome E-Prix and is made in conjunction with Formula E by the French, Hexis company which has long been involved in motorsport and has run GT1 and GT3 sportscar teams in the past.
After the Puebla races, The Race can reveal that a test of smaller sections of signage was conducted after Puebla and the new advertising banners will be implemented at the New York City double-header this weekend (pictured above).
Talking about the incident which contributed to curtailing his second Puebla E-Prix last month, reigning champion Antonio Felix da Costa said that the large strips were dangerous.
After Andre Lotterer and Alexander Sims collided on the exit of the first turn and the Mahindra car was forced into the wall, it ripped approximately 12 metres of the trackside banner off and was collected by several cars, including the DS Techeetah.
“Unfortunately, on my car it just kind of wrapped around the front went all over my brakes, my front wing and everything so the balance was really bad,” da Costa told The Race.
“It cooked my brakes as well, so it was a bit dangerous even.
“I understand they have to be there but Lucas had a good idea where you can cut it every like 30 centimetres or something.
“So, if you do hit it, you just rip a small piece, not the whole thing.”
The Race understands that da Costa had actually had a brake sensor bracket damaged by the banner and was getting false readings on his brake temperature, but the obstacle still significantly contributed to his accident at turn seven that stopped his race.
Formula E’s sporting director, Frederic Espinos has told The Race that “we tested (a new procedure of application of the banners) between Puebla and here.”
“The idea is to have one advertising per block and no overlap between each panel. Then we are doing further research for mid-term to have something better.”
This was similar to the idea proposed by Lucas di Grassi immediately after the Puebla races saying that “they should apply the banner normally and then at the apexes you cut every 20cm. Simple.”
