Napoleon Motorsports Will Be The First Team To Give Formula DRIFT A Spark

First ever 100% electric motor powered Pro1 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship Presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras competition car. Welcome to the Napoleon Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro EL-1 as depicted on the back of the Napoleon Motorsports Turnkey Industries transporter. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

Napoleon Motorsports Will Be The First Team To Give Formula DRIFT A Spark Si los deseos de Joe, Lynn y Justin Napoleon, con la ayuda en la fabricación de Robert Quezada de Houston, Texas, se hacen realidad, Napoleon Motorsports será el primer equipo en competir en los niveles más altos de la Fórmula DRIFT con la potencia eléctrica 100%, añadiendo así una chispa a un espectáculo visual y sonoro ya electrizante en los deportes de motor y la cultura del motor. Napoleon Motorsports cuenta con al menos tres generaciones familiares dedicadas a los deportes de motor y a la cultura del motor, construyendo coches y compitiendo en todas las formas de competición de vehículos motorizados, desde la pista de aceleración hasta los circuitos de tierra y, más recientemente, los circuitos de carretera/calle con la clase Trans Am Series Pirelli TA2 con el piloto Shane Lewis. El último esfuerzo, que surgió hace apenas seis meses, fue crear un coche que pudiera competir en la serie Formula DRIFT. Introduzca el Chevrolet Camaro EL-1 Fórmula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship Presentado por BlackVue Dash Cameras - Ronda 1: Streets Of Long Beach 5-6 de abril de 2019 conducido por el campeón de Fórmula DRIFT Pro2 de 2018, Travis Reeder. Esta es una respuesta seria a un desafío muy serio para el campeonato de Fórmula DRIFT.

Joe Napoleon, Team owner and director of Napoleon Motorsports, describes some of the fabricated features in the converted engine to battery compartment during the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach Media Day. The weight and displacement of the batteries are fabricated to emulate the center of gravity and weight of a V-8 engine. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

In what was to be their first official competition, however, the City Of Long Beach Fire Department in a joint recommendation made with the Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach Friday morning, before Formula DRIFT’s first event of the 2019 season, that the Napoleon Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro EL-1 could not compete due to a little known city ordinance, until Friday, that prohibits electric and gasoline-powered cars on a track at the same time. The City Of Long Beach Fire Department also came out to say that the fire safety crew will not have the adequate time to train in case there’s an emergency with the car. El aspecto más confuso de todo esto, está en el momento de última hora de esta recomendación ya que es ampliamente conocida la historia de la competición con propulsión eléctrica, la FIA Fórmula E corrió aquí con éxito durante dos años sin incidentes y que tanto el Departamento de Bomberos de la Ciudad de Long Beach como el entonces Toyota Grand Prix Of Long Beach se sintieron cómodos con su formación en ese momento para esos eventos. Uno podría pensar que la Fórmula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship Presentado por BlackVue Dash Cameras campo de los competidores puede haber tirado de un político rápido ya que la evidencia sugeriría, después de un vistazo a la página web de la Fórmula DRIFT, que todo el mundo sabía que el Napoleón Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro EL-1 Fórmula DRIFT coche iba a venir con dos artículos publicados - Napoleon Motorsports: Attacking 2019 PRO1 Formula Drift Series (December 18, 2018) & Napoleon Motorsports: New Champion Pilot for EL1 (12 de marzo de 2019). Nadie esperaba que la "chispa" Chevrolet Camaro EL-1 de Napoleon Motorsport - apodado "Libertad" - sería uno en forma de controversia política, o de proceso ... por decir lo menos. Bastante extraño. Official Response By Napoleon Motorsports via Facebook: En respuesta a una decisión tomada por la ciudad de Long Beach y Acura Long Beach Grand Prix que impide al EL1 competir; Travis reeder pilotará ahora su LS 240 para su debut en FD Pro1. COMENZAR "Hemos iniciado el plan B y seguiremos adelante sin falta. Agradezco todo el cariño y apoyo, respeto las decisiones tomadas. Esto es un indicio de la educación que queda por hacer... Tomaremos nuestras lecciones aprendidas, nos adelantaremos a la aprobación y esperamos alinear a "Freedom" [EL1] en Orlando." - Joe Napoleon, Director Principal, Napoleon Motorsports FINES Con el LS240 de gasolina del Plan B, Travis Reeder terminó P14 de un grupo de 32 pilotos - 33 Puntos - 70 Puntos por detrás del ganador de la Ronda 1, Aurimas "Odi" Bakchis.

Travis Reeder stands beside his Napoleon Motorsports No. 77 Chevrolet Camaro EL-1 electric-powered Formula DRIFT car on display in downtown Long Beach. Image Credit: Napoleon Motorsports via Facebook (2019)

Justin Napoleon escribió en su respuesta por correo electrónico: "Avanzando: como sabéis, teníamos el coche de Travis como coche de reserva. Hizo un trabajo excepcional en la competición. Llevaremos el coche de reserva con nosotros en caso de que el EL-1 no pueda correr por cualquier motivo. Nos pondremos en contacto con el personal adecuado en el próximo evento (Orlando) con antelación. En cuanto a Napoleon Motorsports, esto es sólo un pequeño contratiempo y vamos a seguir empujando hacia adelante y hacia arriba a medida que buscamos ser un líder innovador en EV Racing. Como hemos dicho antes, esto es sólo el principio para nosotros. Tenemos algunas ambiciones muy creativas más allá del drifting que se materializarán este año, cuando el EL-1 demuestre ser una fuerza a tener en cuenta. "

Joe Napoleon, Team owner and director of Napoleon Motorsports, demonstrate the custom fabrication rear quarter panels used on the Camaro EL-1 for give during competition. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

Napoleon Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro EL-1 “Freedom” Formula DRIFT Las primeras cuestiones a las que uno se enfrenta tienen que ver con la adopción de nuevas tecnologías no tradicionales, tal y como han venido haciendo los deportistas del motor desde que se inventaron las soluciones de movilidad. Poco después de la Segunda Guerra Mundial, la gente conectaba un soplador de un motor diésel a un motor de gasolina para ver qué mejoras suponía para la velocidad y el tiempo de carrera. Con los motores eléctricos, el primer elemento que uno entiende al instante es el par aplicado a las ruedas, siendo este par de alto nivel el mismo desde el principio hasta el final de la banda de potencia - esto no puede decirse de los motores de gasolina, donde se entrega una curva de par - baja al principio, construyendo un punto dulce a un RPM específico, y luego disipándose a medida que se aplican más RPM. En segundo lugar, en situaciones normales de movilidad, como una alternativa de transporte a los motores de gasolina, la energía eléctrica sólo dura un tiempo determinado y luego hay que invertir mucho más tiempo en recargar las baterías que en llenar un depósito de líquido, lo que se conoce como "ansiedad de autonomía", pero en el caso de la Fórmula DRIFT no es un problema debido a la corta duración de cada sesión de competición.

Round 1 of the 2019 Formula DRIFT Black Magic Pro Championship Presented by BlackVue Dash Cameras season was to be the grand debut for this evolution in power equipment available for drifting. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

This excerpted and edited from Drift Life – Electric Drifting – The Future? By: Jos Roder – March 22nd, 2019 With the all but confirmed introduction of an electric drift car into Formula Drift for the 2019 season, it opens the discussion around the future of drifting and the role electric vehicles may play in it. In December 2018, Formula Drift released a statement on behalf of Napoleon Motorsport about a sixth generation 2019 Chevrolet Camaro EL-1 the team was building that was described as “a revolutionary drift car” and “the first one of its kind in Formula Drift.” Fast forward to early 2019 and the rumours became stronger. On the February 27th Maximum Driftcast podcast, Formula Drift Technical Manager Kevin Wells spoke about regulations ahead of an electric car joining the series. The latest video from Napoleon Motorsport included flashes of electricity as part of the graphics so it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put everything together. So unless there is a CIA level deception that has led everyone down the garden path, we will see an electric drift car competing in Formula Drift in 2019 and that Drift Life readers, is a fascinating prospect. Why Electric? “It’s inevitable!” Electric cars didn’t fly down in the last shower and they aren’t going anywhere.  Tesla is now a household name, manufacturers are pouring millions into electric R&D, ‘ludicrous mode’ makes grown men giggle and Formula E (electric based open-wheel racing series) continues to build an audience and has growing support globally. But electric drift car’s have already been made! Yes, companies around the world have already been experimenting with electric drift cars, like EV West and their Tesla powered E36.

The cockpit of the next evolution in Formula DRIFT competition. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

To see an electric drift car in a top-level competition series however is a big step up. It was only a matter of time but the reality brings fundamental, technical and philosophical questions about the sport to the here and now. Some questions are being resolved through regulations but others can only be answered in competition and in the spectator stands. —- This brings us to what many see as in theory at least, a logical step into the world of electric motors. Electric Motor Benefits: Amazing torque characteristics No gears to change – should be quick off the line Handling characteristics  –  low battery and motor placement for 50-50 weight split and lower centre of gravity. Reliability – once early issues ironed out, in theory, there are fewer things that can go wrong with the drivetrain. Lowering overall vehicle weight Electric Drift Car Commercial Benefits Momentum is building and millions are being poured into R&D. Chevrolet recently displayed the eCOPO Concept Camaro, a car designed to run 9’s on the quarter through its two electric motors that produce a combined 800hp (and all the torques) and is no doubt a ploy designed to convince Chevrolet supporters that ‘electric’ can be cool. For Napoleon Motorsport, choosing a new Camaro as their electric vehicle choice given Chevrolet’s recent moves could be strategic or simply coincidental. Funding a race program is a huge investment so with projects like eCOPO underway, perhaps Napoleon Motorsport feels doors could open for manufacturer support. At a minimum, an electric drift car is unique, so a new range of sponsorship avenues for the team could no doubt be opened. Strategically, this aspect of the program could prove to be a smart move. Side note: electric cars are primarily about efficiency and environmental benefits….so the irony of introducing a smoke-inducing, tyre destroying electric drift car is not lost on us. Downsides/Challenges and Unanswered Questions From putting down its power too well off the line, lack of noise, through to handling advantages and reliability improvements, let’s rationally analyse some of the questions and thoughts that came up in our conversations on the matter. Q: Can a silent drift car excite anyone? For drift judges, a philosophical debate has to take place. The ‘sound’ of the car is not judged obviously, but it will be hard not to be fooled and remain impartial to what you are seeing compared another car that may have had an identical run, except with the screaming engine to compliment the run. For spectators, the equation is pretty simple. Can you get excited by a silent drift car that only oozes tyre squeal? That is a really hard sell. A huge component of drifting is enjoying high revving engines, turbo’s and V8s’s as they power through a course so an electric car will be eerily underwhelming. Q: How driveable are electric engine drift cars? According to the EV West team and JehuGarcia, the light switch on and off feeling, plus the ramp on and off characteristics of the engine was quite hard to control in current specification. Is Napoleon Motorsport there yet? We don’t know. Q: Will electric drift cars put down the power too well from the holeshot? A cars ability to accelerate is dependant on a variety of factors, but primarily comes down to how much grip a tyre can produce on a given surface. The crazy 0-100 (0-60) times we see by Tesla’s are with AWD systems. A RWD based system would be absolutely slower. Overall, I think this would be a negligible difference. Q: Will electric cars have a fundamental performance/handling advantage? Overall vehicle weight, the centre of gravity and weight distribution are all considerations. The overall weight of a vehicle governs the tyre size a car can run, so even if the car was substantially lighter than a standard Camaro (which it probably is), tyre size will be reduced to negate the advantage in this area. Centre of gravity however is certainly an area a competition drift car could have an advantage in. —- The flexibility of battery placement (should it be allowed in technical regulations) can also ensure a perfect 50:50 weight distribution should that be the balance they are looking for. Q: Will electric drift cars be perfectly reliable? I’d suggest not initially, but with fewer components in play, that should prove to be a slight advantage in this area over the medium-term. It is worth noting a number of Formula Drift Pro cars are very reliable and most have backup parts to keep them in the game even with failures. Q: Will electric drift cars create an arms race/fractures in the fabric of the sport? This question only brings up more questions. If electric vehicles drift amazingly, are ultra reliable and gain momentum, will other teams be forced to spend into oblivion to keep up? Will there become a huge divide and traditionalists that mean electric cars are outlawed or become a separate series? Having electric drift cars upsetting the competition apple cart in such a severe way is probably hyperbole, but major controversy in motorsport is hardly a new concept so who knows! 

The business end of the Napoleon Motorsports Chevrolet Camaro EL-1. Image Credit: Edmund Jenks (2019)

The Bottom Line – We Fear Change —- Electric cars are part of our collective future whether we like it or not, so we should at least give them a chance in the sport and investigate if it will be a fit for drifting in the future. So until the electric car competes a season, I’ll be watching on with an open mind and a tonne of popcorn. My bet is it will be an anti-climatic debut, but that is nearly to be expected of any new campaign in Formula Drift Pro category with a new build, let alone an electric variant, but I’m happy to be wrong! —- P.S Drift runs are so short, Range Anxiety shouldn’t be a thing!? Unless you have 5 re-runs in your Top 32 and you can’t swap out batteries? [Referencia] Tras investigar algunos artículos en los que se analizaba la situación que situaba a "Freedom" al margen de la competición, la respuesta inicial de Napoleon Motorsports fue que el coche se fabricó utilizando como plantilla todos los aspectos de seguridad de la Fórmula E de la FIA y se construyó conforme a la normativa de la FIA para coches de carreras EV. Nunca se les informó de esta ordenanza de la ciudad de Long Beach, y al parecer tampoco el productor del evento, Formula DRIFT ... ¿o debería ser al revés? Napoleon Motorsports sólo desea competir y traerá a cada lugar ambas plataformas de carreras - "Libertad" y LS240 - reconociendo que puede haber una curva de aprendizaje en todos y cada lugar del evento a lo largo de la temporada. Por lo tanto, todos estamos esperando la primera carrera real de "Freedom" en una competición de Fórmula DRIFT de la división Pro, llevar la chispa, y ver a dónde va esta aplicación de la tecnología - hasta ahora, el equipo o el equipo no ha permitido que el Camaro EL-1 compita ... en Long Beach, tal vez fue el miedo al cambio. ... notas de El EDJE TAGS: electric drift car, Formula DRIFT, Napoleon Motorsport, Camaro EL-1, Freedom, City Of Long Beach, Acura Grand Prix Of Long Beach, The EDJE