Home » Sports » Motor Racing
Formula E points to the future
Print Edition
FORMULA E’s chief played down comparisons with F1 and said the all-electric racing series had pointed the way to the future of motoring as it gears up for its third season.
An influx of major manufacturers and a schedule that includes Hong Kong, Paris and New York underline the momentum of the electric car trend, Chief Executive Alejandro Agag said.
He said starting the 10-month, 12-race season in chronically polluted Hong Kong highlighted the benefits of electric motoring — cleaner engines and better air.
“I think the objective of Formula E is to change the perception of electric cars and encourage people to buy electric cars,” the Spaniard said, ahead of tomorrow’s season-opening race in Hong Kong.
F1 has proved a potent tool in promoting Hong Kong’s Asian rival Singapore, but Agag said it was unfair to compare Formula E with its much larger precursor.
While high-octane F1 has built up its following over decades, Formula E, the first electric racing series, only started in 2014 and has different objectives, he said.
“We try never to compare Formula One and Formula E, we’re totally different concepts,” he said. “But racing electric cars promotes a different technology. And I think the association with Hong Kong, the values of sustainability and a clean city, go together well with Formula E.
“So if you want to promote those values it’s going to have a major impact.”
Manufacturers Renault, Jaguar, Audi and BMW are already involved in Formula E, while Mercedes has taken an option to enter a team from 2018.
Agag said he was also in talks this week with Brazilian driver Felipe Massa about joining a Formula E team when he retires from Formula One this season.
“The momentum is fantastic, not only for Formula E but for the electric car concept in general,” Agag said.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
