announced as Jarno Trulli’s team-mate in the new electric racing series, Formula E at the Global Launch event on 30th June 2014. The first race of the series was on 13th of September in Beijing.
How was your first FormulaE championship race? Was it as you expected?
For sure it was a difficult weekend for the entire Trulli FE Team. The team was the last one to begin with the project and we didn't have a lot of time to test before the start of the season, so we knew the first races would be especially hard. Bad luck made it worse definitely. But we are still positive for the rest of the season and we can be very happy that I finished the race with some energy left, not everyone did, and without the drive-through penalty, being in the Top 10 was not impossible.
What do you think TrulliGP has to improve in the next races?
We have to find the best compromise between saving energy and strong performance. That's the key to win these races, that's what we are focusing on during simulator sessions between the races.
How does it feel to drive an electric single-seater car and what are the differences between driving an EV and petrol-engined car?
Once you forget about the engine sound, it is like driving a race car. It (FormulaE car) is very heavy to be a single-seater car and not extremely powerful; all the weight is on the back because of the big battery, that's why sometimes the car can be unstable on the brakes, there's a lot of weight transfer.
Driving without a loud sound is something that you get used to - it's just more challenging because you have one sense less to understand the behaviour of the car on power or to choose the right gear for a corner.
It needs a special sensitivity.
Do you like the "sound” of the engine – or rather, lack of it? And can FormulaE could help spread EV message or help people in the awareness of climate change?
Listening to the engine sound from the outside is one thing, but I think that while you drive, while you race, while you fight, the sound is like a tool to understand how to drive better, not something that you enjoy in that moment. I also prefer to listen to loud cars when I go to watch a race, but if FormulaE is taking care about the environment, why shouldn't it fight against the acoustic pollution as well?
Of course, Formula E can help spread the “EV message”. The event was incredibly enjoyable, the race was a true race. There was a huge attention to that all over the world. Now also Motorsport can be "green". That means that everything and anyone can do something about that.
What can you and Jarno do to get an Italian FormulaE Gp?
It would be great to have an Italian E-prix. There was something going on before the season with Rome or Milan I heard. It is never easy to organize such a big event in the center of a city. I don't know if Jarno and me can do something, but for sure after following this first season, there will be the queue of cities asking for an e-prix, and I hope there will be an Italian one between them!
You also participate in BlancpainGT racing with ROAL motorsport with Eugenio Amos & Comandini - another all Italian team. How much can you transfer from GT driving to FormulaE? And do you meet the other drivers of ROAL like Alex Zanardi – who is such an inspiration!
Well, when you drive an endurance race, one of the first things to do to survive successfully is to save tyres and fuel, and there is something similar with the concept of saving energy in FormulaE.
I met Zanardi during the season sometimes. He is a great person and inspiration for all of us. I know what it physically means to drive the Z4 GT3, and I tell you, what he is doing is really incredible.
Follow Michela’s story on her website http://www.michelacerruti.com/and her Twitter feed @michelaCerruti and for more photos, visit her Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/MichelaCerruti