Formula E is the FIA’s race series involving open-cockpit, open-wheel racecars powered only by electric motors. The series’ inaugural season is now history, with Nelson Piquet, Jr. winning the first Formula E driver’s championship. The e-dams-Renault team came away with the team championship.
Piquet, Jr. is the son of Nelson Piquet, who in 1983, gave BMW its only Formula 1 world championship.
Formula E has another tie to BMW. Although the company does not field a racecar in the series, it does provide the safety car, which appropriately enough for a racing venue dedicated to environmentally friendly competition, is the BMW i8 plug-in hybrid sports car.
This first part of this video by the BMW Group focuses on Formula E, which is all well and good and interesting and stuff, but it’s the second part of the video we find more fun.
In this segment, hardcore Los Angeles muscle car and bike enthusiasts were given the opportunity to test drive a BMW i8. The reaction from some of these diehard horsepower fanatics is…illuminating—at least for them.
Enjoy the video. Yes, it’s pretty much a commercial and and don’t mind that the announcer slightly mispronounces Nick Heidfeld and Nelson Piquet, Jr’s last names. We know who he’s talking about.—Scott Blazey
[Photos and video courtesy of BMW Group.]
