Formula E Electric Motor Racing Debuts With Spectacular Crash

The first-ever Formula E electric car race ended in Beijing Saturday with a thrilling crash as motorists dueled for a place in automotive history.

Germany’s Nick Heidfeld and France’s Nicolas Prost raced for the lead on the final lap of the race when a slight nudge between their cars sent Heidfeld skidding into a tire barrier, landing upside down. The crash allowed Audi Sport’s Lucas Di Grassi to emerge victorious.

“I would not have expected for him to have attempted a suicide move at the end of the race,” Prost said, according to the BBC. Heidfeld was uninjured.

Formula E races are one hour long, with vehicles reaching speeds of about 150 miles per hour — much slower than 220 mph achieved by Formula One racers. Music plays at the track and drivers have to change vehicles halfway through the race when their first battery runs out. The season is 10-races long and will finish this year in London’s Battersea Park next June.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Richard Branson each back Formula E teams.

The next Formula E race is in Malaysia on November 22.

See the full clip here.

[BBC]