Ahead of Saturday's Visa Paris ePrix, the FIA Formula E Championship has today revealed a stunning new film that will further enhance its reputation as the most innovative series in motorsport.
The gripping video shows world-renowned stuntman, free-runner and gymnast, Damien Walters, becoming the first person to ever carry out a blind car-dodge, as he stands with his back to an approaching Formula E car and then backflips over it at the very last second.
Walters, who has worked as a stunt double for the likes of Daniel Craig (Skyfall) and Michael Fassbender (Assassin's Creed), and experienced stunt driver Alistair Whitton (The Dark Knight, Dark Knight Rises, Skyfall, and Jason Bourne), carried out the stunt in Mexico City last month with a team of 60, including highly-trained stunt experts, safety professionals, and a crew of 30, who captured the film with three track camera teams, plus drone aerials, GoPros and a 360-camera onboard the Formula E car.
Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said: "Formula E is an innovative race series and we like to associate ourselves with other forward-thinking, ground-breaking activities, so we're very excited to have worked with Damien and the team to create this film.”
Damien Walters said: "I've done loads of dangerous stunts in my career, but I've got to admit that I've never been as nervous as I was for this one. I'm thrilled with how it worked out though, and it's a credit to Formula E that they gave us the opportunity to do something so dramatic!"
The team spent two days planning and rehearsing on the empty track, calculating exactly when Damien needed to jump, practising the stunt in an offset position, with the car driving past Damien rather than at him. With the Formula E car maintaining a constant speed of 97kph (60mph) throughout its journey, a laser timing unit was used to set off a clock on a digital display that Damien could see. The team identified 6.6 seconds as the crucial point at which Damien would need to jump. Jump too early and he would hit the back of the car with his head, jump too late and it would hit his legs.
Watch the video here