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A truly harrowing episode kicked off Formula E’s second Gen3 season. Our FE reporter Sam Smith on what is already known about the Valencia pit fire, and what’s still being investigated
The 2024 Formula E season started off on a disastrous note at Valencia this week with a pit fire, leading to the evacuation of the pit buildings and suspension of the race. The fire was triggered by one of the Gen3 traction batteries going up in smoke, causing major disruptions. Although the full extent of the incident is yet to be known, there have been some positive aspects, such as the effective containment of the fire and the absence of serious injuries among the working crew. However, concerns have been raised about the initial evacuation process and the lack of a fire alarm for at least the first five minutes. The cause of the fire is still unclear, but it is known that the battery involved had been removed from the #2 DS Penske car, which was being driven by Robert Shwartzman at the time. The fire occurred approximately 90 minutes after the car had stopped on the track. The investigation into the cause of the fire is expected to be challenging due to the damage inflicted on the battery.
Source: The Race
