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Formula E: 2018-2019 races to feature time limits, not lap limits

By Asher Fair

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 19: In this handout provided by FIA Formula E, Oliver Turvey (GBR), NIO Formula E Team, NextEV NIO Sport 003, and Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA), TECHEETAH, Renault Z.E. 17 leads Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL), Dragon Racing, Penske EV-2(Photo by Formula E via Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 19: In this handout provided by FIA Formula E, Oliver Turvey (GBR), NIO Formula E Team, NextEV NIO Sport 003, and Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA), TECHEETAH, Renault Z.E. 17 leads Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL), Dragon Racing, Penske EV-2(Photo by Formula E via Getty Images) /
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Starting in the 2018-2019 Formula E season, races will no longer feature lap limits. Instead, they are set to feature time limits.

In the 2018-2019 Formula E season, which is the fifth season of the sport’s existence and the first season during which new Spark Generation 2 car, which is also called the Gen 2, is set to be used, there will be a new way by which race distances are limited.

As opposed to limiting races to a certain lap number, which has been the case in each of the first four seasons of Formula E and is the case in other popular racing series such as Formula 1, NASCAR and IndyCar, the 2018-2019 Formula E season is set to feature a time limit for each race.

Beginning in the 2018-2019 season, the number of laps completed in each race will be the number of laps completed in a maximum time limit of 45 minutes plus one lap. In other words, once the 45 minute time limit is up, there will be one more lap remaining in the race.

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Only at this point will it be clear how many laps a given race will feature since there are no more predetermined lap amounts.

This change from lap limits to time limits is not the first major change that Formula E is set to endure from the 2017-2018 season to the 2018-2019 season.

It was also announced that the latter would feature Mario Kart-style racing as a result of the addition of what is currently referred to as the “Hyperboost”, although it will be called something difference once it is officially implemented in mid-December when the 2018-2019 season gets underway with the Ad Diriyah ePrix in Saudi Arabia. You can read more about the Hyperboost here.

Here is what Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag had to say about this change from lap limits to time limits among other changes, such as the introduction of Mario Kart-style racing, for the 2018-2019 Formula E season, according to Autosport.

"“The ABB FIA Formula E Championship has always produced highly-competitive and unpredictable racing. Formula E is synonymous with innovation and pioneering technology – that’s exactly what we’ll be seeing again next season with the step-up in performance and efficiency of the futuristic next generation car, as well as trialling unique and radical concepts to usher in a new era of Formula E.“The new format and split levels of power being introduced for season five will add an extra strategic element and continue to offer intense and exciting competition between some of the most talented drivers and biggest brands in motorsport. I’m looking forward to seeing the new cars and format in action against the backdrop of iconic city skylines – starting in Ad Diriyah in December.”"

Next: Top 10 most unbreakable records across Formula One, NASCAR and IndyCar

Do you believe that replacing lap limits with 45-minute time limits for Formula E races in the 2018-2019 season, and likely beyond that, is a good move, or do you believe that there should be a set number of laps that need to be run in each race?

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