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Formula E cars to get mid-race power boost via Twitter

Social media activity will help teams to win races in the new Formula E series.

Formula E organisers have announced that certain teams will get an on-track power advantage during the race if they receive positive fan activity on social media services.

Drivers will get 'fanboost' push-to-pass help from Twitter activity
Drivers will get ‘fanboost’ push-to-pass help from Twitter activity

The driver who receives the most ‘@’ mentions on Twitter during the race will get an extra boost on the last lap. The power advantage will be race-specific, so there’s no counting the fan activity cumulatively over the season. You can vote here.

The move is possible as all Formula E will be restricted to 85 per cent power. Those who receive the additional 15 per cent power advantage should find overtaking easier, although given that all Formula E races will take place on tight street circuits, anyone attempting an overtake will need all the help they can get. 

The purists at the FIA were somewhat bamboozled by the initial suggestions but Formula E organisers have been resolute about the integration of such technology. There have also been suggestions of virtual races, where pre-registered fans will race live with the drivers in each city, but details have yet to be confirmed.

Last week, the Formula E teams had their first official shakedown at the Fomula-E Donington Park HQ. Ex-F1 drivers, such as Bruno Senna, Karun Chandhok and Nick Heidfeld, all drove, commenting positively on the performance of the SRT-01E race car

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