Formula E is planning to move the Berlin ePrix from the Tempelhof Airport to the streets of the German capital. The decommissioned airport, which hosted the inaugural event last May, will not be available this year after Germany’s government decided to use the facility’s hangars as temporary housing for refugees. Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag told SBD Global that the series is now focusing on hosting the eighth round of the ’15-16 season on the streets of Berlin. “We still haven’t got everything finalized but it’s looking positive,” he said. “I hope that in the next two to three weeks we can have news on where exactly we are going to race, but we are focusing on racing in the streets of Berlin.” Agag’s comment follows Friday’s announcement by Germany’s Norisring racetrack that it will not stage the event. The historic Nuremberg-based racetrack, which hosts an annual DTM race, was under consideration by Formula E organizers as a potential replacement venue. In a statement, agency IK Media said that after weeks of negotiations the series was unable to confirm the Norisring as a host venue. IK Media Managing Dir Oliver Schielein said, “Due to the strict schedule that is required for such a big project a definitive decision from Formula E had to come today.” Formula E has to move quickly considering the German race is scheduled for May 21. Staging a race in the streets of Berlin would be a huge logistical undertaking for the series. Unlike the Norisring, Germany’s capital has no racing infrastructure in place suitable for hosting a Formula E event. The potential appeal of racing around the Brandenburg Gate, however, could be worth taking on the challenge. Munich, which Agag mentioned as another potential venue in a previous interview, appears to be a long shot though he has not yet ruled it out. The next Formula E race will take place in the streets of Buenos Aires on Feb. 6.
