Racers quietly ecstatic over electric duel

Vanina Ickx (right) says being unable to hear Jenny Tinmouth's Agni Z2 bike while racing against her in the Citroen Survolt was a novel challenge. Photo / Supplied

Electric racecar faced electric superbike for the first time as Citroen's Survolt concept and an Agni Z2 went head-to-head at Britain's Thruxton race circuit.

Two professional female racers - Vanina Ickx and Jenny Tinmouth - battled it out in the all-electric shoot-out between four wheels and two.

Piloting Survolt was Vanina Ickx, Le Mans and Touring Car racing driver and daughter of former Formula One driver, Jacky Ickx.

Riding the Agni Z2 was Jenny Tinmouth, the fastest woman around the Isle of Man TT course and championship leader in the 2010 TTXGP.

Said Ickx; "This was a fantastic experience - the first electric duel of its type.

"The lack of engine noise made it a very interesting challenge. Normally you have an idea where your opponent is by their sound, but with electric vehicles it's so much quieter."

Survolt is based around a tubular chassis, flat underside with extractor and full carbon bodywork, resulting in a genuine emissions-free, electric racing car weighing in at 1150kg.

Propelled by two electric motors with a combined power of 224kW, Survolt has a top speed of 260km/h and a zero to 100km/h time of under five seconds.

The concept has a range of 200km. Its twin 140kg lithium-ion batteries each produce 31kW.

The Agni Z2 weighs 220kg and is powered by 80 battery packs. Its 50kW all-electric drivetrain delivers a zero to 100km/h time of around 3.5 seconds with a top speed of just over 210km/h.

A video of Survolt v the Agni Z2 is on YouTube.