Since BMW retired from Formula E this season, the competition’s Safety Car position was up for grabs. Traditionally, it was a BMW i8 that had the job for most of the time, with the MINI Electric taking over last season. Now, it’s time for a new approach, Porsche stepping in with its Taycan Turbo S.
The eighth season of Formula E begins next week, and things will be a little different. The all-electric Porsche Taycan Turbo S will be added to the lineup of the all-electric racing series but not as a competitor, of course.
The electric model be seen for the first time in action as a Safety car at Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, during the season’s first race. Porsche equipped the electric sedan with a roll cage, fire extinguisher, bucket racing seats, and six-point harnesses in order to make it race legal.
The car also has bumper-mounted flashing lights, wiring harnesses for the safety car illumination, and a Marelli Logger System. The row of switches on the middle console and the alluring red button on the steering wheel are two more notable interior improvements.
“With the Taycan Turbo S as the official safety car, we’re making an important contribution to track safety and also underlining the importance of Formula E for Porsche Motorsport,” said Thomas Laudenbach, vice president of Porsche Motorsport.
The new Taycan Turbo S safety car also has a distinctive livery that will definitely attract a lot of curious looks. The design includes all of the sponsors of the series and the logos of the FIA and Formula E. Spec-wise, the car will most likely remain stock. That means it will still have to rely on 750 HP and its 2.8-second dash to 62 mph. It may seem impressive at first but it fades in comparison to the Formula E cars.
