E1 Series took the RaceBird to the water for the first time, as part of the tests conducted on the 100% electric boat category vehicle. The Po River, near San Nazzaro in Northern Italy, was the location selected to put the marine racing vehicle to the test.
Former Powerboat World Champion, Luca Ferrari, was at the wheel conducting runs to collect data needed to further develop the boat. Evaluating the overall performance, reliability, and the various electrical components were part of the processes carried out in Italian territory.
The tests will continue to be carried out during the next few weeks, where straight-line races, qualifying simulations and races will be evaluated. Knowing the different competition situations the RaceBird will face will be an important aspect to be evaluated by the E1 Series team.
Also, aspects other than the vehicle itself, such as the buoys, racing lines, ways of cornering and the positioning of the cameras that will be used in the television broadcast, were tested.
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The electric racing boat was designed by Sophi Horne, which is powered by a 150 kW Kreisel battery, an engine courtesy of Mercury Racing. The hydrofoil technology makes the vehicle protrude a few inches out of the water avoiding friction and drag, favoring the chase between one and the other without being affected by the wake of the water.
“Putting the RaceBird in the water for the first time is a pivotal moment for the E1 Series World Championship. We are now one step closer to making electric racing on the water a reality. I remember very well the same scenarios we encountered during the early stages in both Formula E and Extreme E, and just like on those occasions, this is a major step forward in the category’s journey,” said Alejandro Agag, co-founder and president of E1 Series.
“I have been waiting for this moment for almost three years! To finally get to this point is a huge sigh of relief, but I am also very proud of what we have accomplished with the combined efforts of SeaBird and Victory Marine. Watching them lower the boat into the water and away… that will stay with me for a long time,” said Sophi Horne.
Written by | Ronald Ortega
