Formula E coming to London

Rodrigo Abd/AP

The world's newest (and greenest) motorsport, Formula E, is set to come to London this summer, with two races planned to be held in Battersea Park.
The new open-wheel racing series, which started last year in Beijing, sees 10 teams compete in single-seat racing cars, similar in design to F1 machines, though with the turbocharged petrol engines replaced with powerful electric motors.

Although they are near silent – especially compared to conventional single seaters – Formula E cars are capable of sprinting from 0-62mph in just 2.9 seconds and can reach top speeds of 140mph.

The 'London ePrix', as it is being dubbed, will take place on a 1.8-mile course on the banks of the Thames and will host the final two races of the FIA Formula Championship. The 15-turn circuit has been designed by Formula E's London event team, and will sit in the shadow of the nearby Battersea power station.


FIA Formula E/Handout Photo Wire/PA WIRE


Hailing the announcement as "a superb addition to London's sporting calendar", London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "The atmosphere will quite literally be electric and Battersea, which is already booming with the buzz of regeneration, will be alive with the excitement that this new, world-class event will no doubt spark."

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, told the London Evening Standard: "Having two races in London – the final two of the season – was an option we discussed at length with Wandsworth Council and means that London could well be where the inaugural champion is crowned, making it a fantastic spectacle for the city and a great platform to showcase sustainable mobility and clean energy."

Would you go and watch Formula E racing in the capital? Let us know in the comments section below.