Usain Bolt drives a Formula E car at the Mexican ePrix

Multiple Olympic medalist Usain Bolt performed a demonstration ride on Friday at the Mexico City E-Prix under the control of a GenBeta Formula E race car, shortly before the start of the first practice.

Bolt arrived dressed in black and explored the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez circuit on various roads with the safety car before donning his gloves and helmet and getting into the GenBeta, the car that broke the world speed record on an indoor track by more than 50 kilometres. /hour when reaching a speed of 218.71 km/h at the ExCel Center in London.

He was accompanied by Jamaican Jake Dennis, the current champion of this category and a member of the Andretti team, as well as former driver David Coulthard.

“It's like a rocket on wheels,” Bolt said after achieving acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in just 2.89 seconds on the Mexican track.

“Having the opportunity to drive it was an amazing experience. The power from the start was a surprise, and the adrenaline you felt easily reached another level.

“Driving this car is like nothing I've ever experienced before. They told me that once you're driving, you don't want to stop or get off, and they were right. I would do it every day if I could. If I had more time, I would definitely go faster.” .

The GenBeta is based on the current Gen3 car, but has tweaks mainly to the battery power output, achieving 400 kilowatts, 50 more than the rival car that debuted last season, as well as a special tire compound and more precise aerodynamics. Pack for maximum potential.

“Usain broke the world record 15 years ago, and no one has come close to breaking it since. He came to our race today with the same determination and confidence to get out of his comfort zone, get into our amazing race car and see what he can do,” said Jeff Dodds, President Formula E executive after the show: “He also asked me if he could come back tomorrow and see if he could go faster.”

Photo by: FIA Formula E

Usain Bolt driving the GENBETA Formula E car