Officials confirmed on Thursday that the final round of the inaugural FIA Formula E season in London "will be a double header," with races set to be held June 27-28, according to Luke Smith of NBC SPORTS. The move had been "rumored for some time," but has been ratified after the local council agreed to grant "planning permission for a temporary circuit around London's Battersea Park." The 2.92km circuit will comprise of 15 turns and ebb around the park that borders the River Thames in the heart of London. By making the London round a double header, "the season now expands to 11 rounds following the addition of the Moscow ePrix." London Mayor Boris Johnson "was delighted to confirm that the double header would go ahead at Battersea Park." Johnson: "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" (NBC SPORTS, 2/19). In London, Robin De Peyer reported London's races "will mark the end of an 11-race season," taking in competitions in Argentina, China, Monaco and the U.S. But London is the "only city to host two races" during the course of the calendar. Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said, "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" (EVENING STANDARD, 2/19). AUTOSPORT's Gary Watkins reported permission has been granted to "turn the riverside park's perimeter
roads into a Formula E race circuit." The
approval covers works to widen sections of the road and to "resurface a
car park and the boules court, which will be the sites of two of the
chicanes on the 15-turn track." Preparation works will begin in the park next month (AUTOSPORT, 2/19).
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| Source: AUTOSPORT |
