After Formula E, it is now the turn of the touring car championship to receive a “variant” for 100% electric cars. E TCR series is the first electric Tours championship and will carry out its promotional actions during 2018, before launching itself as a new category in 2019.
The CUPRA e-Racer, which we met at the last Geneva Motor Show, is the first Turismo able to meet the requirements for participation in the new E TCR. The engines are on the rear axle and deliver up to 500 kW (680 hp), ie 242 kW (330 hp) above the usual power in the CUPRA TCR in the gasoline version, in addition to including energy recovery capability. Compared to the thermal engine CUPRA TCR, the e-Racer weighs more than 400 kilos, but maintains excellent performance, with an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds and 8.2 seconds between 0 and 200 km/h.
Matthias Rabe, Vice President for Research and Development at SEATWe bet on the E TCR because we are convinced that the future of competition will depend on electric motors. In the same way that the SEAT Leon Cup Racer laid out the technical foundations of the TCR championship, we have once again blazed the trail for this new experience.
The Vice President for Research and Development at SEAT also invites "the other manufacturers to join us in this exciting adventure."
Throughout 2018, we will see the CUPRA e-Racer in some TCR events, which will allow us to assess the potential for direct comparison with TCR gasoline competition cars. The objective is to fine-tune the e-Racer as well as possible, in order to convert it into a very competitive car at the start of the E TCR championship, scheduled for 2019.
If confirmed, the CUPRA brand thus continues SEAT's legacy in motorsport, which has more than 40 years, thus demonstrating its vision for the future.