CUPRA, otherwise known as SEAT Sport, has put a 500kW, all-electric e-Racer through its paces for the first time.
The e_Racer which made its debut at the Geneva Motor Show earlier in the year was tested at Croatia’s Zagreb race track.
All electrical, battery, cooling and propulsion systems have been tested individually before, but it’s the first time the elements have been brought together on the track.
High temperature conditions during the tests confirm that the CUPRA e-Racer is ready to tackle the challenges of competition.
Initial results have been very positive.
SEAT, a Spanish subsidiary of Volkswagen, sold cars 20 years ago in Australia between 1994 and 1999.
One of those cars happened to be the outrageous Cupra hot hatch that we tested at the time.
This CUPRA e-Racer is the first touring car that meets the requirements of the new Electric Touring Car Race series (E-TCR), the first ever electric, multi-brand touring car championship.
The battery pack comprises 6072 round cell batteries, or the equivalent of 9000 mobile phone batteries.
With these figures, CUPRA says the range of the e-Racer makes it perfect to compete in the new E-TCR.
It says the data compiled in these tests will be used to continue adjusting systems and focus on the vehicle’s performance.
SEAT Vice-president for Research and Development, Dr Matthias Rabe, said the e-Racer will bring racing to the next level.
“We believe we can help reinvent motorsport and achieve success. Motorsport is one of the pillars of CUPRA, and we are proud of the team that is making this electric touring racecar possible,” he said.
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