World track and field superstar Usain Bolt experienced an impressive new level of speed and acceleration behind the wheel of the world-record-breaking GENBETA Formula E race car in Mexico City.
Ahead of the first race of the season in the ABB FIA Formula E ABB World Championship, the multi-Olympic gold medalist drove the revolutionary GENBETA Formula E electric race car on a full lap of the track.
The fastest man in history over 100 and 200 meters couldn’t resist testing the sprinting capabilities of the Formula E GENBETA, which earlier this year broke the official world indoor land speed record by over 50 km/h (31 MPH), reaching 218.71 km/h. (135.9 MPH) inside ExCeL London.
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Impressive Numbers
Bolt accelerated from the starting line on the track at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, achieving 0 to 100 km/h in 2.89 seconds and covering the 100 meters in 4.36 seconds, 5.22 seconds faster than his 100 meter world record of 9.58 seconds.
With reigning Formula E World Champion Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E Team) and former F1 star and new Formula E TV presenter David Coulthard on hand to provide coaching advice, Bolt was able to experience the GENBETA’s 400 kW power to the fullest.
The GENBETA features a variety of modifications to effectively “unlock” the specifications of Formula E’s GEN3 race car.
Introduced last season, the GEN3 is the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built. With a top speed of more than 322 km/h (200 mph), the GEN3 is used by the 11 teams and 22 drivers in the ABB FIA Formula E FIA World Championship.
“The GENBETA race car is like a rocket on wheels. Having the opportunity to drive it was a mind-blowing experience. The power right from the start was a big surprise and the adrenaline you felt is on a different level, easily,” Bolt said.
“Driving the GENBETA is like nothing I’ve ever experienced before. They told me that as soon as you drive you don’t want to stop or get off and they were right. I would do it every day if I could. If I have more time, I’ll definitely go faster,” he explained.
