Ahead of tomorrow much-anticipated Formula E race in Cape Town, we chat with Porsche Team driver Pascal Wehrlein about all things racing, his passion for the sport and the challenges of competing on a new circuit like the Mother City.
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What are the strengths of this Porsche 99X Electric Gen3?
It is a strong race car. The race pace is really good which enables us to move up many positions.
Your relationship with the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team?
Being in the team for the third year, I understand every system in the car and the tools I have, so we can grow together as a team and perform at a higher level. It has helped being involved in the development of the new car, with the team knowing exactly what I need.
You have had some race wins already this season – have you been surprised by the car?
Valencia testing at the end of last year was a bit of an eye opener in terms of performance. But as a team we drew the right conclusions and everyone worked really hard to put us in a good position for the first race. I am super happy. It has been an amazing start, but the season is long and we want more wins.
You have raced various formats – what are the main attractions of Formula E?
It is a very close competition, with all the drivers and teams on a high level. Having common spec parts for things like aerodynamics ensures one team doesn’t dominate and all the drivers have a chance to win and score good points. As a driver that is a good challenge because if you are successful you feel you have done something special. It is also great to race street circuits, and to show people the capabilities of electric mobility.
With set up – how much input do you provide?
Each driver has a specific style, so I will request a different feeling from other drivers in terms of balance, settings and so on. Of course the team has a lot of data but in the end the driver needs to extract the maximum out of the car, so the settings need to be adjusted to the driver’s individual needs.
What makes qualifying thrilling in Formula E?
Qyalifying is exciting, fair and a big challenge. Especially once you get through to the single lap 1-against-1 duels, which are cool. You have to avoid mistakes while extracting everything out of the car. It’s also great for the fans.
Racing a new circuit like Cape Town E-Prix must be challenging?
I am always excited to race new tracks – finding the rhythm and learning what the car needs to be fast. We can prepare in the simulator, which lets you test quite a lot and is very realistic. In general the sim gives us good info, but this needs to be confirmed on track during the first practice session. I also like going to new cities and venues in general and the Mother City is a very special track and a very special place for something like the Cape Town E-Prix.
Your thoughts on your PUMA racing gear?
I appreciate the tech and the high quality of our racing gear. The most important thing is that it keeps us safe at any time. But it also needs to be light, comfortable, and can breathe as you can imagine it can get very hot inside the car.
What sparked your desire to become a racing driver?
I have always been addicted to motorsports. The first track I visited was Hockenheim when I was 5 or 6. The speed, the sound. That was the day I told my parents I wanted to be a racing driver. It all started when they took me to a karting track when I was 8. So the passion and the hunger has been there since I was a young kid. I just love the speed, the competition, the wheel-to-wheel racing, the team work and extracting everything out of the car.
