Air Race E announces new electric race classes

Press release

Air Race E, the world's first all-electric aircraft race, has announced the introduction of two brand new race classes.

 

The Performance Class (a standard electric powertrain aircraft produced by a single manufacturer), and V Class, (V-TOL Vertical Take Off and Landing), categories will be raced separately to the existing Open Class as part of the Air Race E series set to stage its first international event in 2022.

 

Please find attached concept images to depict what each new class may look like, and a press release with more information.

 

 

Air Race E Expands with New Electric Race Classes   Following the success of its first race class, Air Race E, the electric air race, has announced it is launching two new distinct race classes: one an airplane and the other a VTOL (Vertical Take Off and Landing aircraft). The move to amplify its operations and create more races is the direct result of high levels of interest and demand from across the industry.   The new airplane formula will be named the Performance Class and will be based on a standard electric powertrain, which will focus on optimisation, efficiency and extracting the maximum potential out of a powertrain. Air Race E is developing this new race plane under its own roof with the help of leading manufacturers in the industry.   Some modifications and enhancements will be allowed in the Performance Class to continue Air Race E's mission of accelerating technological innovation and showcasing new technologies in the aerospace electrification industry.   Air Race E's existing race airplane formula will be re-named the Open Class referring to the fact that any and all manufacturers can produce their own unique powertrain configurations up to 150kW power. Both airplane classes will be raced according to the same rules but with differences governing the powertrains.   The new electric VTOL class will be named the V-Class. VTOLs – often called flying cars – are a different category of aircraft altogether and at the forefront of electric technology in aerospace.  Air Race E is positioning this class as "The World's First Vertical Motorsport." The race format and rules will be somewhat different than the other two race classes and will be revealed soon.   Jeff Zaltman, CEO of Air Race E, said: "The launch of the new Performance Class and V-Class will allow us to include more stakeholders in our project and greatly increase our ability to meet the needs of the industry while organising a thrilling motorsport.   "The Performance Class will provide deeper insights on power management and best practices and will steer more dedication to the sub-systems such as cooling, battery management systems, power electronics and aerodynamics.   "The V-Class demonstrates a major step-change in air racing. Air Race E will be working directly with the top pioneering organisations in the e-VTOL world to shape the event to be at the vanguard of both technology and entertainment in this next generation of motorsport."   Air Race E is partnering with industry leaders such as Airbus, which is the Official Founding Partner, and Ansys, which is the Official Simulation Software Partner, among other top industry pioneers, as it works to develop the innovative technologies needed to make these new race classes come to fruition.   <ends>   EDITOR'S NOTES   V-Class racer images are an artist's rendering of one concept e-VTOL that Air Race E is considering. The Performance Class image is an example of what the final aircraft may look like, but remains subject to change.   About Air Race E Air Race E is the world's first all-electric aircraft race and will launch as the world championship air race in its inaugural series of international races in 2022. Run by Air Race Events and led by world-leading air racing promoter Jeff Zaltman, the man behind the globally successful Air Race 1 World Cup championship series, the race is set to revolutionize air racing and pioneer innovations in electric aviation. Air Race E will see electric airplanes race directly against each other on a tight 5km circuit just 10m above the ground and at speeds faster than any land-based motorsport. The demand for speed, performance and power management under the rigors of a competitive race environment provide the perfect platform for the development and promotion of cleaner, faster and more technologically advanced electric engines. The events are sanctioned by the Formula Air Racing Association (FARA), the international governing body for formula air racing.