Behind the scenes: How Cupra Kiro prepares for a Formula E race weekend

Formula E team Cupra Kiro gave selected journalists an insight into the preparation and realisation of a race weekend during a factory visit at the invitation of Cupra. "How does a Formula E team prepare ahead of each race throughout the season? An exclusive insight into our racing team programme - Based on three week gap" was the title of a presentation that was also made available to e-Formula.news. Here, the team showed what the preparation of an E-Prix during the 2024-25 season looked like.

A three-week gap between two E-Prix is quite common in Formula E, as was the case between the Miami and Monaco E-Prix and between Shanghai and Jakarta last season, for example. However, there are also cases where the gap is one week shorter - but unfortunately, significantly longer breaks also occur time and again in the Formula E racing calendar.

The initial preparations for an E-Prix usually begin earlier: the teams receive the track map from the FIA a full four weeks before a race, and the FIA then announces the race length and the permitted amount of energy 21 days before the event. This usually happens on a Friday, so that the engineers who are not at the race can already carry out the first simulations in the factory while the team and drivers are still on site and fighting for points.

Week 1

On the Monday after the E-Prix, the day of the return journey, the team begins to set up the data for the simulator, although changes to the track compared to the previous year can delay this process. They start by analysing the previous race weekend and hold two engineering meetings the following day: one on performance, where the performance, race and tyre engineers review topics that they feel need to be investigated, and a faults meeting.

On Wednesday, reports on energy management, systems, strategy, simulation and the drivers will be published for the debriefing of the E-Prix. There is also a debriefing with powertrain supplier Porsche, where joint planning for the coming week will be drawn up. On Thursday, there is a debriefing of the previous race, where the following questions are being addressed for each car: What happened? What we did well, what we didn't do well? Where are there areas for improvement, both for the season and for this specific track? After this meeting, there will be a complete switch to preparing for the upcoming race.

On Friday, further simulations will be carried out and reports prepared for the simulator runs scheduled for the coming week. The weekend is free, but individual unfinished tasks will be made up for here if required.

Week 2

The following Monday, the first test requests for the simulator drives are submitted to confirm the expected race format and the corresponding simulation models. In the area of energy management, energy targets and possible adjustments to the driving style are analysed and the first runs are defined in terms of strategy based on the race expectations. Chassis specific tests are defined in order to confirm the results of the simulation on the subject of the set-up. In addition, the thermal data from the simulation is checked if potential problems in the area of temperature have been identified.

One day later, the first reports for drivers and race engineers are available. Topics include setup and tyre performance, battery and front engine temperatures, strategy and energy management. There is also a meeting with Porsche's software department to review new updates in this area.

On Wednesday, Kiro driver David Beckmann takes his first seat in the simulator. Beckmann drives the entire day in the Porsche simulator in Germany and is being supervised by his race engineer and the performance engineer. The team supports their colleagues from the factory in England, as all data is shared with the engineers. There is also a weekly meeting with Porsche to discuss fixes for issues from the previous week.

On Thursday, the data from the simulator is being reviewed and new simulations are carried out based on the lessons learned from the simulator. This usually involves changes to the grip level, the expected race profiles (for example due to energy-saving races with slipstreaming) and comments from the driver regarding overtaking with 350 kW, which has an influence on the race strategy. On Friday, Dan Ticktum sits in the simulator, tests the adjustments made and focusses on test requests that have not yet been tested.

The following weekend is also free, but again with the proviso that any unfinished work will be made up for if necessary.

Week 3: Race Week

The preliminary meeting for the upcoming race weekend takes place on Monday. Each department presents its expectations and a plan for the weekend so that the team knows what it needs to focus on at the venue. Tuesday is the arrival day for the on-site crew, the engineers in the back office prepare for the race and carry out further analyses of the simulations and simulator sessions. On Wednesday, the on-site team sets up the garage and begins to prepare the cars for the weekend.

Thursday is an important preparation day, even if the cars do not yet take to the track: The mechanics assemble the cars and check that all the correct parts have been installed, while the system engineers check that both cars are correct from an electrical point of view. Several meetings are held for this purpose: The performance engineers draw up the plan for the weekend and inform the drivers about adjustments made after the simulator tests. Using a mathematical model, a race simulation is carried out in real time, in which strategic decisions and communication with the drivers are rehearsed. This ensures that the software and infrastructure at the track are ready. A meeting is also held with Porsche to align on race expectations.

On Friday, the first stop will be the track walk, and the two race cars will also be inspected by the FIA during scrutineering. Individual components of the car and the driver's equipment are randomly checked, and the cars are also weighed and measured. There is a briefing for the engineers, in which all changes to the plan will be discussed, including those made as a result of communication from the FIA, the suppliers and Porsche. Following the first free practice session, a meeting is held to analyse the session. A fault report will also be prepared.

Another engineers' briefing takes place on Saturday before the second free practice session, at which learnings from the first free practice session and changes before the second free practice session will be discussed. Following this and after qualifying, the respective sessions will also be analysed and fault report prepared. A strategy meeting takes place one hour before the cars line up on the grid. Here, the plan for the race is adjusted based on the starting position, and all discussions with Porsche are taken into account and integrated into the strategy. After the race, the sessoin is analysed again and an fault report is drawn up.

In the event of a double header, Saturday's procedure is repeated in full on Sunday. The cars are then prepared for loading and the garage is dismantled before the entire cycle starts again.