Friday 12th July 2013

Berlin confirmed as final Formula E track

German capital is the tenth venue for the EV championship, beginning in 2014

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Berlin has joined London and Rome as another European host city for the inaugural Formula E championship. Ten events are now confirmed for the EV series, with 20 cars competing at each race.

The announcement was made at the Bandenburg Gate and hosted by Germany's Senator for Economics, Technology & Research Cornelia Yzer. It was confirmed that the Formula E track will be built on the 'Apron' section of the former Tempelhof airport, which should make for an interesting and unique racing spectacle.

Our middle-lane law hasn't made it to Germany

Naturally, the event was also a great opportunity for the city of Berlin to advertise its green credentials. It's reputedly a 'metropolis of electric mobility' with more than 1,200 EVs and 220 public charging points. The announcement was also attended by Alejandro Agog of Formula E Holdings, who was keen to stress that Berlin was indeed perfect for a Formula E as it 'is leading the way in Europe for innovation and sustainable mobility'. So well done Berlin, better late than never.

For the full nitty-gritty on Formula E, take a look at our bluffer's guide. It has also been confirmed the series will run to a winter calendar, with events from September 2014 until June 2015. As well as Berlin, Formula E races will be taking place in London, Rome, Los Angeles, Miami, Beijing, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Putrajaya and Bangkok. Will you be watching?

[pSynrg]

ZZZzzz... .. . . . .

[0a]

The only relevance to most readers here is that there will be pointless road closures to watch out for.

[mattshiz]

Im looking forward to this, if the street circuits are of a good layout it should be a good watch. Watching it on TV there will be a commentator shouting (or talking) over their quiet sounds anyway.

[Harrytsg]

[TheEnd]

Couldn't they just do them at an indoor karting track?

[JimPetrol]

I love Berlin - and would have been very tempted to go over to watch this.

But it's going to be a mickey mouse layout - when they had the opportunity to take the cars into the city past some iconic buildings.

[TheHeretic]

mattshiz said:

Im looking forward to this, if the street circuits are of a good layout it should be a good watch. Watching it on TV there will be a commentator shouting (or talking) over their quiet sounds anyway.

Agree. Interested to see how it turns out.

[TransverseTight]

If they stick it on during Sunday afternoon it cant be any worse than F1. I normally watch the first 10 laps then doze off, only to wake about 2 laps from the end as the comentators ratchet up the excitement levels. Somehow i managed to stay awake during the british gp as there was enough interesting things going on. lol

[radical78]

what are the people who winge about noisy race cars going to do now

[Scuffers]

radical78 said:

what are the people who winge about noisy race cars going to do now

moan about the noisy gensets?

[dingocooke]

If its anything like TT Zero, it will be as dull as phuck. TTZero was also given maximum media profile by the Isle of Man Gov; more lamentable green nonsense really; and just how much does it cost in carbon to ship these things all over the world!!

Personally, I think the Red Bull Soap box has a lot more going for it..

[PowerfullyBuilt]

What are the chances this would have gotten approval if they had been petrol-powered cars?

[Benbay001]

Is this so that deaf people have equal rights?

[TheHeretic]

PowerfullyBuilt said:

What are the chances this would have gotten approval if they had been petrol-powered cars?

What does that have to do with it? Plenty of races on street circuits using petrol cars.

[JimPetrol]

It's not a street circuit anyway, it seems they're doing a bit of a 'Dallas GP in the 80s' and building a circuit an an expanse of concrete at the old airport.