smart e-cup Kicks Off at Vallelunga With 20-Car Field

Photo: LPD Italia

The second season of the smart EQ fortwo e-cup got underway at Vallelunga last weekend with a pair of races entered by a full grid of 20 electric smart superminis.

The first two races of the electric single-make touring car series were won by reigning champion Fulvio Ferri and Gianluca Carboni.

Team Mefina’s Ferri started Race 1 from pole and spent most of the race engaged in a battle with Carboni and Giuseppe de Pasquale who rounded out the podium.

Ferri crossed the line 0.255 seconds clear of Carboni after 12 laps of racing, while the top six finishers were separated by just eight seconds in total.

Carboni went one better in Sunday’s race, taking victory for Team Rossi on a wet track from seventh on the grid.

He moved from fifth to second in one maneuver around the outside of several of his rivals and eventually passed Riccardo Azzoli for the lead on the sixth lap.

Victor Ghirelli finished runner-up, 1.5 seconds behind the leader, while de Pasquale came home third for the second time.

Ferri and Carboni share the championship lead with 45 points as they head to Misano for the next round on May 18-19.

Successful Updates for Season Two

A number of updates for the seconds season of the smart EQ fortwo e-cup have been received positively, including a lighter car.

The new car is almost 100 kg lighter than its predecessor, owing to increased use of carbon fiber and a new setup developed by LPD Italia.

The championship, which is organized by LPD and Mercedes Italia, has also benefitted from increased involvement from Italian smart dealerships.

Enel X serves as the series’ energy partner, with teams using its innovative JuicePole for recharging, while Pirelli supplies tires.

The championship held a demo at last month’s Rome E-Prix, with a number of smarts taking to the streets of the Italian capital for the second consecutive year.

The planned rallycross version of the series has been postponed until more interest is found, a championship spokesperson confirmed to e-racing365.

RESULTS: Race 1
RESULTS: Race 2