Formula E origins and future

Given the labour of love that is associated with motorsport in general it

seems apt that the origins of Formula E are romantic in nature.

The premise of the sport originates from a meeting between FIA president

Jean Todt and Spanish businessman Alejandro Agag in a Paris restaurant in

March 2011. Both were passionate about motorsport but conscious of

their responsibility in achieving a greener and ultimately better world.

Following Formula E’s 2014 racing debut in Beijing, the sport has

developed into a global brand to rival that of its petrol and diesel engined

counterparts. Perhaps the greatest draw to crowds is the fast-paced street

racing, which introduces electric road vehicles as an exciting alternative

vehicle for consumers. Manufacturers have recognised this potential also,

with nine of the world’s biggest manufacturers between eleven teams –

Jaguar, Nissan, BMW and Audi to name but a few.

The championship itself has attracted high profile sponsorship, with

robotics giant ABB added as tournament partner in 2018. Clearly interest

has been piqued in the premise, with the championship now taking place

over fourteen rounds in some of the world’s biggest cities. The 2019/20

season saw Seoul and Jakarta added with the championship concluding in

London for the grand finale. New teams joined also – Mercedes-Benz EQ

and TAG Heuer Porsche. The competitiveness of the grid can only further

display how important Formula E is becoming in the world of motor racing.

Despite its youth as a competition, Formula E has shown strides in other

directions also. The first season saw a Formula E school series for student

teams. Roborace is an intended project to develop and race driverless

cars. This utilisation of young talent and brand-new technology shows a

developing brand and a fantastic platform for sponsors and developers to

showcase their abilities.

With comprehensive media coverage across the globe, it would appear

the future is bright for Formula E.

#formulae #blogpost

Written by Julian Power