AVX Partners with All-Electric Formula E Racing Team

Formula E is back this year for its seventh season, involving exclusively electric vehicles. Dragon / Penske Autosport, one of the championship’s three founding teams, has signed on several top companies in the power electronics space to sponsor its go in the  2020–2021 ABB FIA Formula-E World Championship.

 

The Dragon / Penske Autosport racing team will compete in the 2020–2021 season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Image courtesy of Business Wire.

 

South Carolina-based electronic components manufacturer AVX Corporation announced its role as a sponsor last week, alongside connective components supplier Molex, electronic components distributor TTI, Inc. and its subsidiary, Mouser Electronics.

AVX, which markets sensors, control, interconnect and antenna products, has supported Dragon / Penske Autosport for the past three seasons, since 2018–2019. Mouser Electronics and Molex sponsored the team over the past six consecutive seasons, starting in 2015–2016.

The first two rounds of season seven will take place on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27 in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. Subsequent races are scheduled in April, May and June in Italy, Spain, Monaco, Morocco and Chile, barring potential travel restrictions or other changes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

February’s two opening races, both held at night, will be lit with LEDs and powered by renewable energy sources, in line with Formula E’s role as the first sports series with a certified net-zero carbon footprint. Since its inception, the organization has pursued its net-zero goal by optimizing freight emissions, travels (by staff and spectators), operations, food and drinks, and car manufacturing.

At Formula E’s pre-season test races in November and December, Dragon / Penske Autosport earned second and third positions. Held in Valencia, Spain, the test events also served as the debut of the team’s rebranded name and matte white and chrome red color scheme. 

 

Dragon / Penske Autosport’s livery for season 7 of the Formula E World Championship. (Photo courtesy of Dragon / Penske Autosport) 

 

In announcing the partnership,  AVX Senior Vice President of Global Sales Alex Schenkel stated that the championship is a “thrilling way to promote global environmental sustainability and stewardship and to showcase the latest high-performance automotive EV technologies.”

In a separate announcement, Mouser Electronics Americas Vice President of Business Development Todd McAtee stated, “Formula E continues to raise the bar on electric motorsports sustainability and performance, and Mouser is excited to have supported the series from its inaugural season to this first season as a World Championship.”