Three days of testing at the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Spain came to an abrupt halt on Tuesday afternoon due to an unexpected incident. A battery explosion occurred in the garage of battery supplier WAE, formerly known as Williams Advanced Engineering (“WAE”). The resultant blaze caused a disruption not only for WAE but also impacted the neighboring Mahindra squad.
Swift Emergency Response Contains the Blaze
The emergency services responded promptly, working diligently to confine the majority of the fire within the WAE garage. Their swift actions prevented the situation from escalating further. Despite their efforts, the neighboring Mahindra team was not spared from the effects of the incident.
Compensation for Lost Track Time
Mahindra, who were also affected by the blaze, will be compensated for the lost track time during the testing period. The Formula E organizers and the relevant authorities are committed to ensuring that no team faces unfair disadvantages due to unforeseen circumstances beyond their control.
Resumption of Testing Anticipated
Following the incident, both WAE and Mahindra are expected to undertake necessary repairs and resume their participation in the Formula E testing. All parties involved are focused on minimizing the impact of this unexpected disruption and getting back on track as soon as possible.
Lessons Learned for Enhanced Safety Measures
An incident like this serves as a reminder of the need for stringent safety measures within motorsport and related industries. Authorities, teams, and suppliers will undoubtedly take this incident as an opportunity to enhance safety protocols and prevent similar occurrences in the future.