The Formula E team has unveiled its e-tron FE05 car that it will use to defend its Formula E teams’ title when the new season kicks off in December.

 

For the fifth consecutive season, the team has retained its familiar driver pairing of and 2016/17 champion retained for a fifth consecutive season.

 

Audi Formula E Project Leader Tristan Summerscale said in a press release from the team, “We retained the basic concept with one gear and at the same time refined the details and manufactured all of the parts,” adding that “95% of the drivetrain parts are new” with a 10% overall reduction in weight.

 

 

The team suffered a string of technical issues in the opening four rounds of last season but recovered to set a Formula E record of eight consecutive podium finishes before pipping Techeetah to the teams’ title by just two points with a double podium at the season finale in New York.

 

After withdrawing from the WEC’s LMP1 category two years ago in order to focus fully on Formula E, Summerscale revealed in the press release that he and his team began developing the Audi e-tron FE05 “as early as mid-2017, even before the start of last season”.

 

Audi will also supply powertrains to a customer team for the first time this season, with Virgin Racing agreeing on a deal to use Audi power after its deal with DS came to an end.

 

 

Dutch racer Robin Frijns, who previously raced in Formula E with Andretti and now represents Audi in both the DTM and Blancpain series, is favourite to make a return to the championship with Audi customer Virgin Racing.

 

Image Credit: Audi Sport