One advantage of suction wings is how efficient they are, requiring five times less energy per unit of downforce generated than a conventional rear wing (which produces drag and therefore requires energy to counter). The covered wheels should also help reduce spray during wet races.
The drag coefficient is about 0.48.
lola cars
The drag coefficient is about 0.48.
lola cars
The floor of the car extends quite far.
lola cars
The floor of the car extends quite far.
lola cars
Rear diffuser.
lola cars
Rear diffuser.
lola cars
The floor of the car extends quite far.
lola cars
Rear diffuser.
lola cars
“You get so much time in the low-speed corners that you’re able to make this amazing difference in performance,” he said. How much difference? Di Grassi and Lola reckon that will be around 4.3 seconds per lap in Monaco and with one-tenth the energy per lap of the current F1 car. Qualifying performance could be even higher, as the cars could run with the minimum battery pack for the occasion, allowing a dent in the curb weight of 1,100 kg.
Don’t expect to see a DRG-Lola race series just yet. For one thing, Formula E has exclusive rights to the FIA’s single-seat electric championship, and with a Gen4 car arriving in late 2026, that series won’t be looking for a new car for another few years. But the idea is to inspire race car designers and series organizers, di Grassi said. “This is no longer a technical challenge; we can do it,” he said.
He said, “This project should serve as an inspiration for future generations of electric racing cars. The question has been answered with data and simulations as to whether such cars can be faster than Formula 1. I plan to build this car in the next two years.”
For Lola, this project serves as a notice that the marque, once well-represented in the world of motorsports selling customer cars in several series, wants to recapture those days. “At Lola, we are always looking for new ways to drive innovation through motorsport, and supporting Lucas with this design using our in-house expertise and state-of-the-art R&D facilities was a perfect project for this. The result is a car that pushes the boundaries of what is possible in electric racing through maximizing the technical solutions already available,” said Peter McCool, Technical Director of Lola Cars.