The Federation Internationale de l’ Automobile (FIA) announced on Monday the start of an electric car racing championship competition, similar to the Formula 1 series, which will start in 2014.
According to the press release, the deal will allow a consortium of investors known as Formula E Holdings to spearhead the venture. The new racing competition is expected to have ten teams with twenty drivers, the statement said. Demonstrations of Formula E races will commence in 2013, with the full-fledged championship in 2014.
Among those a part of the consortium are: Entrepreneur Enrique Banuelos, Lord Drayson of Drayson Racing Technologies, Alejandro Agag, a former European Member of Parliament (MEP) and now Chief Executive Officer of Formula E Holdings, and Eric Barbaroux of Electric Formula in France.
“I would like to thank all the parties involved. This new competition at the heart of major cities is certain to attract a new audience, “said Jean Todt, FIA President in the statement about the new venture.
“We are pleased with this agreement with Formula E Holdings as they bring a very strong experience in motor sport. This spectacular series will offer both entertainment and a new opportunity to share the FIA values and objectives of clean energy, mobility and sustainability with a wider and younger audience as well.”
Alejandro Agag is very optimistic as well, as indicated below:
“We are very pleased with the agreement reached with FIA. We see this as a great opportunity to create a new and exciting spectacle mixing racing, clean energy and sustainability, looking to the future. We expect this Championship to become the framework for research and development around the electric car, a key element for the future of our cities.”
Agag also mentioned in a question and answer brief the three goals to come out of the new Formula E series, which include 1) strong racing fun for fans, 2) a backbone for research and development in electric vehicles (EV’s), and 3) helping the public to see that EV’s can work!
Already, Formula E is not sitting back. The consortium already has its first host city in 2014. Rio De Janeiro, will be a host to one of the races.
Hopefully, this announcement will be remembered as a game changer in making motor sports more environmentally sustainable.
Sources: FIA, Formula E Holdings
Image Source: Marussia F1 Team Image courtesy of Shutterstock
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