2018 has been a stellar year for electric motorsport where the technology has consolidated its dominance over the pervasive internal combustion engine. Power density, power delivery and longevity are key performance measures that have all moved in the right direction this year.
The Volkswagen Motorsport I.D. R Pikes Peak electric race car
The most public demonstration of this progress has been the Volkswagen Motorsport I.D. R Pikes Peak car. With a double record at Pikes Peak and an outright win and electric record at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hill Climb Shoot Out, it has created a bow wave of awareness and moved both the worlds of motorsport and automotive to take a much closer look.
Extensive and fascinating content
As a key member of the team and official technology partner to Volkswagen Motorsport, Integral e-Drive has been at the centre of a whirlwind of publicity. This has been very exciting but also unprecedented for a company that usually works behind a shield of secrecy and non-disclosure. Still, stepping in and out of the limelight is likely to be the way for Integral e-Drive in the foreseeable future though the interest the publicity creates is vital to the promotion of its ‘Track to Road’ programme. This is where the technology and experience gained through many years of research & development, in the most demanding environments, is industrialised to support higher volume requirements. This programme will deliver the experience of zero emissions performance and excitement that the wider public are seeing more often and getting a taste for.
Since the car first rocketed to fame back in June, increasing numbers of the press have been researching and writing ever more in depth articles on the car, its rapid creation processes and its impressive technology. This has encouraged closer scrutiny by the profession and greater awareness and acceptance of electric vehicles amongst keen motorsport and automotive enthusiasts and the general populous alike.
5 Awards so far
This news piece comes at the end of a very impressive six months and is designed as a pointer to some of the information resources and accolades that have been awarded to the Integral e-Drive team and the Volkswagen Motorsport I.D. R race car.
- Dewar Trophy – Awarded to Integral Powertrain by the Royal Automobile Club – London
- Motorsport Race Technology of the Year – Awarded to Integral Powertrain at the Professional Motorsport World Expo – Cologne
- Race Powertrain of the Year – Awarded to Integral Powertrain at the World Motorsport Symposium – London [RaceTech Magazine Deep Dive into the Technology]
- Race Car of the Year – Awarded to Volkswagen Motorsport by the BBC TopGear Magazine [Check out the “blackout inducing I.D. R” video created by TopGear]
- Race Car of the Year – Awarded to Volkswagen Motorsport by Auto Bild Motorsport
We hope that you enjoy reading about the car, the technologies and the multitude of people that it takes to make it happen. Keep a close watch in 2019 as there is bound to be much more to come.
