Eskootr

About 12 hours ago, Lucas di Grassi put out this tweet: 
 

This was retweeted by Alex Wurz, who added the following tweet of his own: 
 

He also added in his replies that this is a "project I have been working on with my friends for 2 years."
 
In the last hour or two, Lucas di Grassi put out a new tweet: 



So what is this all about then?

Alex has a circuit design company, I believe. He was very passionate about this when he was on Beyond the Grid. Speaking about affordability and accessibility. I wonder if this is related.

I'm sure by "relevant" they mean "electric".

Maybe it's a production based EV series of some sort?

I'm sure by "relevant" they mean "electric".

 

Maybe it's a production based EV series of some sort?

I've seen some speculation 'ESC' might be an acronym for 'Electric Stock Car'. 

If by stock car we mean a production car... it's certainly speculation that would fit the evidence. 

I've seen some speculation 'ESC' might be an acronym for 'Electric Stock Car'. 

 

If by stock car we mean a production car... it's certainly speculation that would fit the evidence. 

Or, it's stock car in the modern meaning, a tube framed old fashioned box, which is cheap, but with electric power.

E-Sports Cars? Escape from real life by going online?

E-Sports Cars? Escape from real life by going online?

They seem to be using the tagline 'Mobility+Sport' which doesn't sound an awful lot like it fits with a sim racing set up to me 

They seem to be using the tagline 'Mobility+Sport' which doesn't sound an awful lot like it fits with a sim racing set up to me 

That just brings to mind a racing series for these:

Which would be affordable in fairness.

That just brings to mind a racing series for these:

 

 

Which would be affordable in fairness.

Would be great if someone with photoshop skills could show us how that looks with a Halo?

They seem to be using the tagline 'Mobility+Sport' which doesn't sound an awful lot like it fits with a sim racing set up to me 

Well, I guess you're right then.

The word "mobility" as a tagline sounds really damn exciting. 

That just brings to mind a racing series for these:

 

Which would be affordable in fairness.

On a somewhat similar train of thought I was thinking of electric scooters which have become all the rage in city commuting for some reason. It's what I think of when people say eMobility anyway, though the term technically applies to any personal transport with an electric motor (I think). 

Most affordable? This has to be virtual sim racing then

Would be great if someone with photoshop skills could show us how that looks with a Halo?

And with Alonso

Could also allude to this:

(ESCooter)

Edited by pdac, 07 July 2020 - 12:13.

Random thought:

Racing in a Battle Royal like way? Elimination style? Thats quite relevant these days as every game seems to have such a mode. And it would explain the ESC definition.

If I were him, I would NOT mention the Roborace disaster.  Doesn't exactly instill confidence that this new venture is going places (either).

Could also elude to this:

 

 

(ESCooter)

Cooter?  Count me in! 

If I were him, I would NOT mention the Roborace disaster.  Doesn't exactly instill confidence that this new venture is going places (either).

I was just about to say that.

Not sure what it says about me but the "relevant" and "future of racing" bits already put me in a negative mood before we even know what it actually is. 

FWIW, the logo is plain awful.  EC/DC ... Maybe a sign of things to come?

Edited by maximilian, 07 July 2020 - 12:20.

I didn't know he developed FE from zero?

I didn't know he developed FE from zero?

As he likes to say, he was basically Formula E's third employee after Alejandro Agag and Alberto Longo (I think) so he was undeniably one of the first to believe in the idea at the point the the series was only powerpoint slides. He did a lot of the early promo/driving activities, helped bring Julius Bär to the table as a key investor, first to drive the Gen1 car prototype on a racing circuit... so yeah.

I.. I.. I... Ok, di Grassi.. we already understood.

I tend to believe he had no other options at the time, watching his resumé, it was quite bleak at the time.

Very interesting and all but I'm going to try not to guess too much as to what it could be as I'm far too likely to start imaginging what I want it to be and that will just set myself up for disapointment.

Hopefully they won't keep us hanging for too long and properly launch it.

Electronic saloon car racing?  Probably more relevant than sports prototypes &c.

Would be great if someone with photoshop skills could show us how that looks with a Halo?

I've seen some with a cabriolet like roof. 

Maximum speed I've seen with these are 10 km/h. 

Recently however I saw a self made electric 3 wheel chair (think classic wheel chair, front wheel removed and a single front wheel construction added to steer) that did 50 km/h. Looked cool and drives completely nuts. Anyone remotely having some racing blood would want to try it out. Have to take a pic next time I see that guy.

Edited by HP, 07 July 2020 - 13:22.

Jesus, scooters...

Who had electric scooters down as their bet? Anyone? Cool. Well done you've just won the prize of a free pass to be smug for a day!

https://twitter.com/...1916165122?s=20

......err, ok then!

That is not what I was expecting.

SON OF A.... !!!! 

Who had electric scooters down as their bet? Anyone? Cool. Well done you've just won the prize of a free pass to be smug for a day!

 

https://twitter.com/...1916165122?s=20

Could also allude to this:

 

(ESCooter)

Good one, pdac 

Edited by JRodrigues, 07 July 2020 - 13:27.

...what?

Could also allude to this:

 

(ESCooter)

Incidentally, why is she riding Sam Bird's e-Scooter?

Well I mean... Relevant? Yes. Sustainable? Yes. Affordable? Yes.

Safe? Viable? Successful? Popular?     ...Haven't a damn clue.

Bet it's still gonna be quicker than Formula E at baby-Monaco.

Sorry, the door was wide open for the cheap joke, I couldn't resist.

Does it even send the right message?  Sure kids, go ahead... race your eScooters down tight city streets at 100 km/h trying to out-do each other, what could possibly go wrong? 

I can see their logic in that eScooters are becoming something of a popular city commuter/tourist choice. 

But they've not exactly got a good reputation for that either. 

Racing them at 100km/h, presumably in cities if the video is anything to go by, sounds somewhat... like it would not help that reputation. 

But then I suppose you could say the same thing of car or cycling races. 

Eh, at first I though drone racing is a bad concept, but it actually works, so who nows... But at first it's a bit... interesting.

At this stage, I'm sort of seeing this in the same light as I do things like Red Bull's Crashed Ice or Soapbox events. Sort of a cool, trendy city event type deal.

_{Scrubbing the soapbox from that because it's not a proper sporting championship so to speak.}

Edited by Vielleicht, 07 July 2020 - 14:07.

At this stage, I'm sort of seeing this in the same light as I do things like Red Bull's Crushed Ice or Soapbox events. Sort of a cool, trendy city event type deal.

Except it's a "World Championship" as if meant to be taken seriously.

https://twitter.com/...492187994726401

Except it's a "World Championship" as if meant to be taken seriously.

Well so is Crashed Ice offically speaking.

Edited by Vielleicht, 07 July 2020 - 14:05.

https://the-race.com...rassi-and-wurz/
 
Some comments from Di Grassi and Wurz in this article.
 
I did not realise Wurz was a competitive BMX racer and champion in the 80s.
 
Also Khalil Beschir (of that famous A1GP Team Lebabon barrel roll at Paddock Hill Bend) is involved in this.

Edited by Vielleicht, 07 July 2020 - 14:23.