Formula E Racing Comes to Vancouver
FORMULA E SANTIAGO
Since the departure of Champ Car, an international racing series, in 2004, Vancouver’s motorsports community has remained relatively quiet.
That was true until July 8, 2021, when the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the largest global auto racing governing body, announced that racing would be returning to the city with the arrival of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
Formula E is an all-electric global street racing series, featuring single-seater open-wheel race cars. Beginning in 2014, the sport’s primary focus has been sustainability through promoting the adoption of electric vehicles, testing and innovating new electronic and clean energy technologies, combating air pollution and climate change. In September 2020, Formula E became approved by the FIA as net-zero carbon footprint, the first of any global sport.
With every Formula E event comes the ceremonial Allianz E-Village, a fan festival that allows attendees to experience new road and race technologies, meet the drivers, and test their abilities in racing simulators.
The “Vancouver E-Prix” as it has been named, will be held on July 2, 2022, and will be part of a larger 3-day event, spanning from June 30 to July 2, called the “Canadian E-Fest.”
The Canadian E-Fest will feature concerts from Canadian artists, an Esports tournament, and an “E-Volve” electric technologies conference, with the Formula E race being the highlight.
The race track will be along False Creek, with a similar track layout to the Molson Indy, used by Champ Car until 2004. The circuit will span from BC Place to slightly past Science World, with the Allianz E-Village directly beside at Creekside Park. Road closures are expected to last 48 hours, with the track occupying 56 per cent less streets than the Molson Indy. There will reportedly be space for up to 56,000 spectators.
Unique to the Vancouver E-Prix is the fact that the city of Vancouver will not be paying for the event. Instead, the financial burden will be placed on the organizer of the event, the New Zealand based I.T. consultancy “OSS Group’’. The group estimates the event will produce “$80 million in economic value”, as well as “create approximately 3,000 jobs.’’
Along with the race, the City of Vancouver has committed to “a legacy of $50,000 in electric charging infrastructure” and “attracting sustainable events,’’ according to Vancouver City Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung. The race has also been supported by Formula E title partner and automation company ABB: “The hosting of ABB Formula E in Vancouver, Canada’s greenest city, is a testament to the advancements being made to enable a healthier and more prosperous world for future generations.”