LOCTITE looks forward to another successful Formula E season

24th January 2024

LOCTITE

Paige West

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As the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship revs up for its 2024 season, the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team is set to hit the track with LOCTITE. This secret ingredient from Henkel Adhesive Technologies plays a crucial role in enhancing the team’s electric race cars.

The partnership between Henkel's LOCTITE brand and the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team traces back to 2021. It was then that Henkel Application Engineer Martin Christall began collaborating with the team, identifying key areas where LOCTITE could boost the car's performance and reliability.

One of the primary challenges in Formula E is the standardised nature of certain components like the chassis, battery, aerodynamics, and front suspension. These elements are uniform across all teams, leaving limited scope for individual team innovations, particularly in the engine, transmission, rear suspension, and control systems.

Martin Christall recalls a pivotal moment in the partnership: “But that day, we managed to win the team over with one of our first demonstrations. The design of the car’s front motor raised some assembly challenges for the team. Loctite 9466 adhesive worked amazingly on the first try. This created trust and was a good basis for our further collaboration project.”

The collaboration has continued to evolve, with both teams working closely to maximise the potential of future race cars. This partnership has contributed to the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team's performance, culminating in their best-ever finish of 4th in the 2023 season.

A key objective of this partnership is the continual development and testing of LOCTITE products to improve the cars' performance, speed, and sustainability. Various LOCTITE solutions are already being utilised for critical applications, including suspension bearings, gearbox housing parts, powertrain bolts, and steering wheel components.

The efficacy of LOCTITE adhesives becomes apparent considering the rigorous demands of Formula E racing. High-performance electric motors, producing 350kW of power, propel the 854-kilogram race cars from 0 to 100km/h in a mere 2.8 seconds, reaching top speeds of up to 320km/h. “This puts a huge strain on all the parts. On top of that, there are the high temperatures, continual shock, and vibration to deal with,” Christall explains.

Fans of Formula E can witness the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team showcase their enhanced performance throughout the 2024 season.