Pre-season testing round-up: Crashes, reliability issues and Gen 3 concerns

A typically action-packed Formula E weekend at the energy-bonkers Misano circuit in Italy is debated in this episode with special guest Maserati MSG’s Maximilian Guenther. Oliver Rowland and Pascal Wehrlein were the victors but the biggest story of the weekend was Antonio Felix da Costa’s bizarre and petty disqualification and the furious exchanges between Porsche and the FIA That is forensically analysed, as is the why Oliver Rowland ran out of energy while starting the last lap handing Wehrlein the win and the championship points lead. Gunther details his races which involved a strong run to third on Saturday, a dust up with Mitch Evans, getting airborne via kerbs and then seeing another points finish on Sunday being taken away for an incident with Jean-Eric Vergne. Hosts Andrew Van de Burgt and Sam Smith also take a wry-eye look at various other flashpoints, decipher the latest paddock news and indulge, for no particular reason at all, in reminiscing randomly about 1980s boxers and the long-forgotten Cagliari F3000 street race. Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up or join in Apple Podcast app Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Race Formula E podcast goes big in Japan as the inaugural Tokyo EPrix is reviewed by Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt. How did Maximilian Guenther spring a surprise for Maserati MSG? Why did Oliver Rowland relinquish the lead? What happened to Edoardo Mortara after his qualifying heroics and why did Norman Nato’s sixth place get reinstated? All this and much more is covered, including an interview with the new Lola-Yamaha programme manager Mark Preston, as he outlines Lola’s ambition for 2025 and beyond. There is also a major breaking news story covered in which sensationally one of the Tokyo EPrixs points finishers is revealed as testing for a rival team! Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special episode of The Race Formula E podcast Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt report from the Tokyo EPrix paddock with special guests Tommaso Volpe and Tadashi Nishikawa from the Nissan Formula team. An in-depth look in to Nissan’s electric programme is discussed, as is the recent announcement of the Japanese giant’s commitment to the Gen4 rules set which will ensure it remains racing in the world championship until 2030. Additionally, Volpe and Nishikawa, outline Nissan’s technical prowess and how it dovetails with its automotive messaging around all-electric engineering. Oliver Rowland also joins the conversation, looking ahead to the Tokyo EPrix and what excites him about the new circuit. Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A dramatic pot-boiling Sao Paulo EPrix is reviewed by Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt as they analyse the thrilling final lap win for Sam Bird, the first for the NEOM McLaren team. The duo are joined by Jaguar TCS Racing team principal James Barclay who talks over both Mitch Evans and Nick Cassidy’s contrasting races and how the team ae reflecting on its generally positive start to the 2024 season. Also dissected are Oliver Rowland’s outrageous 5th to 3rd last corner mugging of Jake Dennis and Pascal Wehrlein, Maximilian Guenther’s blast through from last to 9th despite grid and stop/go penalties and disastrous races for hometown heroes Lucas di Grassi and Sergio Sette Camara. There is also time for a look ahead to the forthcoming inaugural Tokyo ePrix, the latest news from the paddock and even the moment Smith almost inadvertently wiped out Bernie Ecclestone in the paddock! Click here to take our quick survey about your podcast habits and you could win £/$100 worth of Amazon vouchers Join The Race Members Club. Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After an enforced and agonising seven-week gap in the 2024 calendar Formula E is back this weekend with the second Sao Paulo EPrix. Andrew van de Burgt is on feisty form as he questions some of the ‘noise’ generated in the intervening period since the Diriyah races in January, while Sam Smith reports from a visit to NEOM McLaren where he chats to team principal Ian James. The recent episode of The Apprentice is mulled over by Van de Burgt who is unflinching in his assessment of what he believed was a major lost opportunity for Formula E. The pair also discuss if Sao Paulo will see the first true energy saving race of the season and how both Mitch Evans and Antonio Felix da Costa can properly kick-start their tough seasons so far. Join The Race Members Club and have a free month on us! Click here to sign up Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The two Diriyah EPrixs through up vastly different protagonists last week with only Nick Cassidy managing to achieve anything bordering on consistency. In this week’s Formula E podcast Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt are joined by Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns who put behind him a disappointing Friday race in Riyadh to lead but ultimately finish second to Cassidy in the second race. The trio discuss what made the event so difficult and what could be done in the future to make track conditions more conducive to racing. Topics such as Mitch Evans’ eventful Friday race, Pascal Wehrlein’s damage limitation exercises, surprises from Sergio Sette Camara and Jehan Daruvala, and the worrying form from Antonio Felix da Costa, are also covered off. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Click here to join The Race Members' Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The opening 2023 ABB FIA Formula E world championship race at the 2024 Mexico City EPrix was no classic but it still offered up some points of interest and one big controversial flashpoint. That was the investigation in to Porsche's starts, and while they were cleared of any wrongdoing, The Race’s Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt delve in to the backstory of the investigations. Wehrlein’s conclusive win is also contextualised, as is the fine performances of Sebastien Buemi, Nick Cassidy and Maximilian Guenther. The Antonio Felix da Costa and Nico Mueller incident is analysed, and the podcast is joined by Mahindra boss Frederic Bertrand who talks about his teams start to the season and the return to the championship of Nyck de Vries. The latest news is also discussed, including a major announcement that will hit the newsstands on Monday 22nd January! Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Click here to join The Race Members' Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the 10th season of Formula E approaches The Race previews what is being billed as the closest yet battle for the all-electric world title. Giving Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt a run for their money on the jibber-jabber in this episode is new lead Formula E commentator Tom Brooks. He gives his opinions and predictions on the season ahead including who might take the title, who will win EPrixs, who might struggle and how the hotly anticipated ‘attack charge’ boosting pit-stops might fair. 2021 champion Nyck de Vries’ return to Formula E is discussed after a bruising F1 experience, and the prospects for Nick Cassidy’s debut season with Jaguar is also analysed. As well as the look ahead to the season, all the latest news is covered including the late cancellation of the third event on the calendar in Hyderabad. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Click here to join The Race Members' Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The final episode of The Race Formula E podcast features an interview with new lead presenter for the all-electric World Championship Jermaine Jenas. The former Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United and England midfielder joins Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt to talk about his new challenger for 2024. The broadcasting of Formula E comes under scrutiny as Sam and Andrew answer readers’ questions, several of which ask about Formula E’s new deal with the TNT subscription broadcaster. There is a lighter hearted section as our hosts reminisce about other footballers that tuned their hands to motorsport with varying degrees of success. The year is rounded out with a special seasons greeting from occasional The Race contributor Alice Holloway who showcases her own take on a classic Christmas carol! Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Click here to join The Race Members' Club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maserati MSG co-owner Scott Swid joins Sam Smith and Andrew van de Burgt to discuss the teams turbulent 2023 and look ahead to the 2024 season. Swid also discusses the overall picture in Formula E with interesting insights and opinion in to how it can leverage its position further in the sporting world, including how TV and streaming could be exploited more. Formula E’s up and down relationship in the U.S is also mulled over as the American business leader lays out why racing stateside is so important for the all-electric world championship. Sam and Andrew look in to the latest news stories too, with emphasis given to Jaguar’s impressive new HQ, DS Penske’s recent recruitment drive and the winning tenders for the Gen4 era. Follow The Race on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook Check out our latest videos on YouTube Download our app on iOS or Android Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices