Bolt drives Formula E race car, Wehrlein makes pole to win in Mexico City

The world's fastest man Usain Bolt met his match when he took the record-breaking Genbeta electric car for a spin ahead of the first race of the Formula E season in Mexico City.

The eight-time Olympic champion drove the electric race car on a full lap at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on Friday.

"This is the only time I'll say something is faster than me," Bolt said.

"There was no space, it was just really, really tight and close. First time in my life that I've been claustrophobic but the moment I got going, I was just enjoying," the fastest man on Earth added.

"It's like a rocket on wheels," Bolt said in a statement. "Having the opportunity to drive it was a mind-blowing experience. The power right from the start was a real surprise and the adrenaline you feel is on another level, easily."

"Driving it is like nothing I have ever experienced before. I was told that once you drive it you don't want to stop or get off and they were right. I would do it every day if I could. If I get more time, I'll definitely go faster," he added.

The 36-year-old, who holds the 100 and 200 meters world records, tested the sprinting capabilities of the electric car that last year smashed the world indoor speed record reaching a top speed of 218.71km/h inside London's ExCeL Centre.

Jamaican Bolt drove the 100m sprint in 4.36 seconds in the car, 5.22 seconds faster than the world record of 9.58 seconds that he ran on the track during his stellar athletics career.

"I heard that some people label drivers as 'non-athletes' because they're driving a car, but today I saw what it takes to sit in a car like that," he told a news conference.

"You don't just drive and that's it, you have to be a total athlete to do something like that.

"After what I experienced today in Mexico, anything is possible. I would love to be part of Formula E to promote it, I really enjoyed it," he added.

Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E, said, "Usain Bolt is electric."

"Bolt broke the world record 15 years ago, and nobody has come close to beating it since.

"We thought what better than to take the record-breaking car and pair it with the fastest man on planet earth; it was quite a marriage what we saw today."

"What you know of him (Bolt) is that he's got cool and swagger, but behind that exterior lies the most competitive man you will ever meet. He personifies Formula E. He is about bettering, pushing yourself, reaching new heights, he is inclusive, and just a lovely fella... seeking to deliver ultimate levels of performance. That personifies what we’re all about," he added.

Bolt's electrified ride opened the 10th season of the Formula E World Championship, which was held on January 13.

Pascal Wehrlein of Team TAG Heuer Porsche secured his and Porsche's first Formula E victory after converting pole to win within a time of 50:15:506 in the opening round of Season 10 in Mexico City.

Sebastien Buemi of Team Envision Racing and Jaguar TCS Racing debutante Nick Cassidy finished second and third respectively.

(With input from Reuters)