Category: Motor Sports

by Abhishek Shukla

FORMULA E MOVES GLOBAL LOGISTICS AND DEVELOPMENT HUB TO VALENCIA’S CIRCUIT RICARDO TORMO

LONDON, United Kingdom & VALENCIA, Spain.  Mon. 12 Feb. 2024 – Formula E has today announced the relocation of its global logistics headquarters to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo, Valencia, marking a significant operational shift. This strategic relocation is coupled with an ambitious expansion of the Circuit, transforming it into a cutting-edge development hub for the all-electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Previously located at the British Donington Park circuit, the new global hub in Valencia presents a strategic advancement in logistics efficiency and sustainability for Formula E. Its proximity to a major port optimizes freight routes across Europe and beyond, significantly enhancing Formula E’s ability to leverage sustainable sea freight options. This includes the prioritization of ships powered by sustainable biofuel, in collaboration with the championship’s Official Founding and Logistics Partner, DHL. The move underscores Formula E’s unwavering commitment to innovation and environmental stewardship.

The new location will also become the series’ permanent test track and development centre, with dedicated test sessions and offices. The Circuit will host track days, featuring developmental, current, and previous generation cars, providing a unique opportunity for individuals to gain in-depth knowledge about the championship, explore EV technology, and experience driving the cars firsthand.

In the initial relocation phase, the logistics base will move to a temporary structure adjacent to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo’s public entrance, complemented by office space. This arrangement will remain in place until a move into permanent office and warehouse space, giving Formula E a dedicated facility that will centralise and streamline its freight and technology development.

The relationship between the Valencian track and the electric ABB FIA Formula E World Championship dates back to 2018, starting with pre-season testing and later hosting a double-header of races amid the pandemic.

This event marked the first time Formula E not only competed in Spain but also ran on a conventional, permanent racetrack.

 Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer, Formula E, said:

“This move to the Ricardo Tormo Circuit is an important step for the championship in maintaining the most sustainable freight routes possible while using it as a base for developing future generations of our race cars. Having a permanent centre at the circuit in Valencia will feel to me – and many at Formula E – like home, while keeping us at the cutting edge of EV technology as well as showcasing our unique sport to guests and future partners of the championship.”

Vicente Barrera, Vice President, Generalitat Valenciana said:

“The Valencian Government is very happy to welcome the operational headquarters of Formula E to the Valencian Community. Formula E is a brand that is linked to values ​​that we share of sustainability and technological advancement to reach a better future. We are looking forward to working together.”

by Abhishek Shukla

FORMULA E ANNOUNCES NXT GEN CUP AS SUPPORT SERIES FOR NEXT GENERATION OF DRIVERS

LONDON, United Kingdom. Fri. 9 Feb. 2024 – Formula E has today announced the NXT Gen Cup, the world’s first 100% electric junior touring car series with both male and female drivers, as a support series to help develop the next generation of young talent in key motorsport markets.

The NXT Gen Cup will feature at all four European race events of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s Season 10 including Misano, Monaco, Berlin and its season finale in London.

It is planning for its strongest calendar to date with six European races in total, with the start of its driver line-up, many of whom are aged under 17 years old, to be announced from next week.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship introduces the NXT Gen Cup as a dedicated support series giving young male and female talent the opportunity to compete on the same circuits as Formula E’s 22 world-class drivers. It also benefits Formula E’s mission of showcasing new formats of sustainable electric racing in iconic locations around the world while giving fans additional on-track action as part of the race-day spectacle. 

Subject to final FIA approval, the NXT Gen Cup’s inaugural appearance in the Formula E paddock will kick off in Misano, Italy, on the 13th and 14th April marking the start of the World Championship’s European tour and the first time it has raced at the World Circuit.

Alberto Longo, Co-Founder and Chief Championship Officer of Formula E, said:

“We are delighted to welcome the NXT Gen Cup after their hugely successful debut last year. The addition of an all-electric junior category to the European part of our calendar will further contribute to the essential nurturing of young talent, a key part to our sport and give them the opportunity to race on the same stage as our world-class drivers and teams.”

Fredrik Lestrup, series founder of NXT Gen Cup, said:

“For NXT Gen Cup to go from an idea on paper less than two years ago to racing together with the ABB FIA Formula E and DTM this year is mind-boggling and an inspiring proof on the hard work by everyone involved.

“We have together with Formula E and DTM created a spectacular calendar which will provide our junior drivers with a robust foundation to start their racing careers and show their talents to some of the best teams and partners in the world. I want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who has made this possible and we are thoroughly motivated to start our most exciting season so far!”

The Swedish-born series will feature two 20-minute practice sessions (except Monaco with just FP1), a 20-minute qualifying session and a 20-minute race, also bolstering Formula E’s commitment to growing sustainable motorsport and EV technology.

The NXT Gen Cup is a fully electric racing series for 20 young drivers aged 15-25 taking their first steps into racing, with the aim to educate them and develop their talents in order to build a successful racing career.

The single-make series runs an all-electric car developed and built by Lestrup Racing Team, the LRT NXT1 – a 1150kg machine based on an electric MINI Cooper SE road car. The front-wheel drive, 180bhp race car boasts an extra 60bhp when push-to-pass features are active, with a 30kWh battery and 800 V system. Features also include regen when braking, adjustable Ӧhlins shock absorbers and Hankook Semi-slick all-weather tyres. 20 race cars have been built for the series, giving all drivers equal equipment. All charging operations are handled together with NXT Gen Cup’s Official charging partners ABB E-Mobility.

2024 NXT Gen Cup Calendar*

  1. 13-14 April – Misano – Italy – ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  2. 27 April – Monaco – ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  3. 11-12 May – Berlin – Germany – ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  4. 05–07 July – Norisring – Germany – DTM
  5. 20-21 July – London – Great Britain – ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
  6. 18-20 October – Hockenheim – Germany – DTM

* = Subject to FIA approval

by Abhishek Shukla

FORMULA E STILL SETTING THE PACE IN GLOBAL SUSTAINABILITY RANKINGS

LONDON, UK. Thurs. 18 Jan. 2024 – Formula E has maintained its position as global leader for sustainability in sport, topping the Global Sustainability Benchmark in Sport (GSBS) report, the Sustainable Championships Index (SChI™), and the Sustainable Motorsport Index (SMI) once again.

GSBS, the independent sustainability rating organisation, named Formula E top in four of the five award categories for sustainable performance from amongst the world’s leading elite sporting organisations, published in its annual report this week.

The report included a comprehensive analysis of 55 of the most influential organisations in the sports industry, including: FC Barcelona, Manchester City FC, Real Madrid, the Premier League, Formula 1, NFL, WWE, Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, NY Yankees, Los Angeles Lakers, and UFC.

The GSBS assessment drew from nearly 500 organisations worldwide invited to participate in the initial assessment – including motorsport, football, tennis, American football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey, handball, and contact sports – representing the highest levels of Corporate, Environmental, Social and Governance (CESG) activity across professional sports. For the full report, visit GSBS Report.

Formula E was awarded Best Total Performance 2023 (jointly with Borussia Dortmund) for the second year running and was ranked highest in Best Corporate Performance, Best Social Performance, and Best Governance Performance.

Formula E also built on further success in the third edition of the SChI™, being crowned the most sustainable global motorsport for the third consecutive year.

The SChI™, an initiative run by Enovation Consulting, supported by University College London, assesses the sustainable performance of 106 motorsport championships. Assessments are carried out against six key markers of sustainability: Certifications, accreditations and awards, environmental criteria, social criteria, engagement and partnerships, and approaches to sustainability.

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship significantly outperformed its competitors, securing four prestigious cups and clinching the leading position in the Index, surpassing the FIA Formula One World Championship.

The SMI is presently the only global performance system that measures publicly disclosed sustainability practices against the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and the ESG framework in motorsports.

Julia Pallé, Vice President, Sustainability, Formula E said:

“We are proud to keep raising the bar in the global standard for sustainability in sport. Sustainability has been at the core of our championship since its inception, and we are determined to build on our commitment and capabilities year after year.

“Topping the charts once again reinforces that entertainment and sustainability can coexist without compromise. We urge the sports industry to continue working towards the highest level of sustainable operations and to use their influence to engage fans on the collective mission to combat climate change and social progress in line with the UN Sport 4 Climate action framework.”

by Abhishek Shukla

Pascal Wehrlein and Porsche Top the Podium – Round 1 – 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix

MEXICO CITY, Mexico. Sat. 13 Jan. 2024 – Pascal Wehrlein of TAG Heuer Porsche displayed masterful driving to clinch the first win of the season in an electrifying start to Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship in Mexico City today.

Wehrlein further solidified his renowned prowess at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez by leading from the start and converting his now-fourth Julius Baer Pole Position in Mexico to a second race win in the country. Although briefly ceding the lead during an ATTACK MODE charge under Full Course Yellow conditions, the German-Mauritian driver showcased his skill and resilience before a well-timed overtake to take back his lead and cross the finish line first. Wehrlein’s win also solidifies the success of the Porsche powertrain as the third Porsche-powered winner in each of the last three Mexico City E-Prix events. Joining Wehrlein on the podium were Sébastien Buemi for Envision Racing in second and Nick Cassidy, Jaguar TCS Racing’s new signing, in third.

The race also saw strong performances from Maximilian Guenther (Maserati MSG Racing) and Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing), with the latter engaging in a fierce, defensive battle with Jean-Éric Vergne (DS PENSKE), who made an impressive climb from 10th to sixth. Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team), Stoffel Vandoorne (DS PENSKE), championship-defender Jake Dennis and Norman Nato (both Andretti Formula E) also put in notable performances, navigating through the pack to round out the top ten and secure points.

A relatively clean race was only interrupted on lap 9, after Robin Frijns found the wall on the exit of the Foro Sol. A Full Course Yellow would be required for the car’s removal, forcing Wehrlein to delay his attack on the then-leader Buemi.

Pascal Wehrlein, No. 94, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, said:

“It was a tough race because we were leading most of the race and that’s not so efficient for energy – but every lap was like a qualifying lap, trying to maximise speed. I saw a small mistake behind me which created a small gap, and from then I think it was pretty controlled. Thanks a lot to my team and thanks to all the fans here, it’s always a great to be here in Mexico; it’s a great atmosphere. I’m already looking forward to coming back next year.”

Sébastien Buemi, No. 16, Envision Racing Formula E Team, said:

“I’ve had four podiums here now. They’re now calling me the veteran. It was a smooth race. Qualifying was the key point really. I know it’s quite difficult to pass here, but we’ve had a clean race. Pascal was fast, but I heard he was under investigation, so I decided to stick to P2, and if it becomes something more, then I’ll be happy with that.”

Nick Cassidy, No. 37, Jaguar TCS Racing, said:

“It’s the start of a really nice new chapter. I had high expectations with FP1 and FP2, it’s not been an easy weekend, but the team have been really awesome with me throughout. Hopefully this is the start of something cool and that’s just getting started; it was a great race. I think the grid can definitely challenge Pascal moving forward.”

Special Ticket Announcement

In a new move for Formula E, fans now have the chance to secure their spot for the 2025 Mexico City E-Prix from the very start of the season. Following another sold-out event in front of more than 40,000 spectators, a limited quantity of grandstand tickets are available for this weekend at a discounted price of only $180 MXN. This unprecedented early sale offers fans an exciting opportunity to plan ahead for Formula E’s next thrilling visit to Mexico City next year.

The 2024 Mexico City E-Prix results bring Wehrlein to the top of the Drivers’ table and TAG Heuer Porsche as leaders of the Teams’ standings. The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship returns in less than two weeks, with the first double-header of the season: The much-anticipated night race in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, on 27 & 28 January.

by Abhishek Shukla

Lightning Bolt Electrifies in World Record-breaking Formula E Race Car

MEXICO CITY, Mexico. Sat. 13 Jan. 2024 – The world’s fastest man, Usain Bolt, experienced a breath-taking new level of speed and acceleration behind the wheel of Formula E’s world record-breaking GENBETA race car in Mexico City on Friday.

Ahead of the first race of the season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the multi-Olympic gold medallist drove the revolutionary Formula E GENBETA electric race car on a full lap of the track where the 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix will be held later today (Saturday, 13 January).

The fastest man ever over 100m and 200m could not resist trying out the sprint capabilities of the Formula E GENBETA, which earlier last year smashed the official indoor land speed world record by more than 50 km/h reaching 218.71km/h inside the ExCeL London.

Bolt accelerated from the start line on the track at the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit, achieving 0-60mph in 2.89 seconds and powering through 100m in 4.36 seconds – 5.22 seconds faster than his world record 100m time of 9.58 seconds.

With current Formula E World Champion driver, Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E Team) and former F1 star and new Formula E TV presenter, David Coulthard, on hand to provide coaching advice, Bolt was able to experience the 400kW power of the GENBETA at full effect from the start line and along the straight.

The GENBETA features a range of modifications to effectively ‘unlock’ the specifications of Formula E’s GEN3 race car.

Introduced last season, the GEN3 is the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built. With a top speed of more than 322 km/h (200 mph), the GEN3 is used by the 11 teams and 22 drivers in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Usain Bolt, 100m, 200m and 4x100m world record holder, said:

“The GENBETA race car is like a rocket ship on wheels. Getting the chance to drive it was a mind-blowing experience. The power from the start was such a surprise and the adrenaline you got is on a different level, easily. Driving the GENBETA was like nothing I’ve experienced before. I was told that as soon as you drive, you don’t want to stop or get out and they were right. I would do it every day if I could. If I get more time, I will definitely go faster.”

Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said:

“Usain Bolt is electric. What could be more Formula E than bringing together two world record holders – Usain Bolt and our GENBETA race car – just to see what happens? Usain broke the world record 15 years ago, and nobody has come close to beating it since. He came to our race event today with that same determination and confidence to step out of his comfort zone, get in our incredible race car, and see what he could do. He’s also asking me if he can come back tomorrow and see if he can go even quicker.”

David Coulthard, former F1 driver and Formula E TV presenter, said:

“I was very impressed with Usain’s focus and desire to put in a strong performance. Put the world’s fastest man in this incredible race car and he was always going to push it to the limit. Once a champion, always a champion.”

ABOUT THE WORLD-RECORD BREAKING FORMULA E GENBETA RACE CAR:

On 25 July 2023, days before the final race weekend in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, the revolutionary Formula E electric race car, the GENBETA, smashed the indoor land speed world record by more than 50 km/h reaching a top speed of 218.71 km/h (135.9 mph) inside a building in London.

  • The official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title was achieved by driver Jake Hughes of NEOM McLaren Formula E Team who competed with Mahindra Racing team driver, Lucas di Grassi, to set the world record for the fastest speed achieved by a vehicle indoors.
  • The pair went head-to-head in the ‘Duels’ format used in qualifying for Formula E races to see who could set the fastest speed indoors on just 346 metres of straight racetrack, using the same GENBETA car.
  • Neither driver had ever been behind the wheel of the GENBETA before, but both beat the previous world record of 165.2km/h (102.65 mph) set in February 2021 on all three of their practice and their official world record attempts.
  • The GENBETA car driven by both drivers to set the new world record featured a range of modifications to effectively ‘unlock’ the specifications of the GEN3 race car.
  • Introduced last season in Formula E, the GEN3 is the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built, with a top speed of more than 322 km/h (200 mph) and used by the 11 teams and 22 drivers in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

The modifications to the GEN3 as part of the GENBETA project include:

  • Enhanced battery power output of 400kW, up from 350kW in the GEN3, through the activation of the front powertrain kit in traction, delivering all-wheel drive for the first time in a Formula E car. The battery was charged by ABB, the title partner and official charging partner of the Championship.
  • New, softer iON Race tyre compound allowing faster warm-up and better peak grip, developed by Hankook Tire, official tyre supplier of Formula E.
  • 3D printed front wing endplates, wheel fins and a wind deflector to optimise aerodynamics for enhanced straight line speed of the GENBETA.
  • In addition to technology innovations on the GENBETA car, Google Cloud provided generative artificial intelligence (AI) for analysis of the drivers’ runs. Using their leading platform, Vertex AI, Hughes and Di Grassi were able to interpret real-time telemetry data to generate speed, power and grip recommendations. This gave them the ability to interact and converse with an interface to help fine tune their approach across their three attempts.
  • Experts from McKinsey & Company, led by its AI arm, QuantumBlack, built data and analytics components to create the driver interface that analysed and queried data in real time through generative AI for the record attempt.
  • An adjudicator from Guinness World Records monitored the attempts to ensure the drivers met strict criteria. To set the official indoor landspeed record, the GENBETA car had to set off from a static start and come to a complete halt inside one continuous building structure.
  • The drivers started from a standstill inside the ExCeL London events arena and navigated a 130-degree turn at around 40 km/h before quickly accelerating along the 346m straight of the racetrack.
  • The indoor straight is part of the 2.09km track which is unique in world motorsport for extending inside and outside the 100,000 sq/m ExCeL London events arena in the Docklands area of east London which hosted the final two races in Season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
  • Their speed was measured by a sophisticated speed trap system at a fixed point just five metres before the drivers entered the braking zone – the length of track needed to come to a complete stop and remain inside the building.
by Abhishek Shukla

Formula E is Back for Season 10 – It’s on! Find Out How to Watch, Where and When

MEXICO CITY. Weds. 10 Jan. 2024 – Formula E returns this weekend with the first race of Season 10 in Mexico City, reigniting the rivalries and intense racing action that made last season the most competitive ever in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship as the title race was decided on the final weekend.

Ultimately it was Britain’s Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E) who triumphed in London in July to win his first world title. But changes in the off-season mean his two closest rivals of the last campaign – Nick Cassidy and Mitch Evans – are now a formidable Jaguar TCS Racing team partnership following Cassidy’s move from Envision Racing.

With former Formula E world champion Nyck de Vries returning to the series from Formula 1 with Mahindra Racing, and eight of 11 teams making driver changes, this Saturday’s 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix promises another impossible-to-predict and fiercely competitive race.

Some 40,000 spectators will pack the grandstands at the famed Foro Sol in what is Formula E’s eighth visit to the historic Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez, with the circuit a favourite of fans and drivers alike and one of the highlights of the season.

The updated Season 10 calendar of 16 races in 10 iconic world cities features a debut race on the streets of Tokyo and a long-awaited return to China with a first race in Shanghai plus a new Italian venue in Misano. The season concludes once again in London on the weekend of Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July.

SEASON 10 STORYLINES: the GEN3

Last year saw the introduction of the GEN3 – the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built – which broke record after record during its inaugural season.

Across the 11-team, 22-car grid in Season 9 there were seven different winners and 11 drivers on the podium across 16 rounds, while 19 different drivers led a race for at least one lap.

Team engineers have spent the off-season working to extract vital tenths of-a-second from their GEN3 race cars and are sure to use the experience of last year to enhance performance. The result is more than half the drivers on the grid go into the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix confident they have a shot at the world title. Watch out Jake Dennis.

JAGUAR VS PORSCHE, ENVISION VS ANDRETTI: RIGHT TO THE WIRE

In both the Teams’ and Drivers’ World Championships, the title fight went to the finale in Season 9, with eventual wins for Jake Dennis (Andretti) and Envision Racing coming in London. What makes their wins unique is that both titles were won not only by different powertrains but by customer outfits of Porsche and Jaguar, respectively.

Andretti were, and still are, powered by Porsche for GEN3. Their 99X Electric led Dennis to two wins and a string of 11 podiums in Season 9, which was enough to see him crowned champion in front of his home support as he became the first Brit to win the title.

The factory TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team finished fourth in both the Drivers’ and Teams’ standings after a strong start from Pascal Wehrlein. The German giants have title-winning machinery and will be laser-focussed on securing the top prize for themselves this season.

Similarly, Envision are customers of Jaguar. Although both Jaguar-powered teams achieved four wins apiece in Season 9, it was Envision that came out on top. Nick Cassidy ran it close in the Drivers’ race and key in the team’s title win, having raced in every season of the series.

Cassidy has made the jump to the factory Jaguar TCS Racing team for Season 10, racing alongside Mitch Evans – a friend, long-time competitor, and Kiwi compatriot. It is rightly one of the most hyped driver line-ups ever seen in Formula E, and the British team will be desperate to end the year on top. Evans and Cassidy wound up first and second quickest in Valencia, too.

SEASON 10 DRIVER LINE-UPS

It’s all-change ahead of the first race in Mexico City. Only three of 11 teams keep the same pairings from Season 9: TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team with Pascal Wehrlein and Season 6 champion António Félix da Costa; DS PENSKE with Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Éric Vergne (three Formula E titles between them); and ERT Formula E Team, formally NIO 333 Racing, with Dan Ticktum and Sergio Setté Câmara returning.

Nick Cassidy looks to have settled in well at Jaguar TCS Racing, setting the second-quickest time at the Valencia test behind new teammate Mitch Evans.

Robin Frijns, Cassidy’s replacement at Envision Racing, and a double race-winner in Formula E, wound up seventh and will line up alongside Sébastien Buemi.

One of the biggest talking points heading into Mexico City is the return of Nyck de Vries. The Season 8 champ departed the all-electric championship for a spell in Formula 1 but is now making a return to the series he called home for so long.

Since his time in Formula E, a lot has changed, including a whole new generation of car. He will have it all to do alongside Edoardo Mortara, who moves from Maserati MSG Racing to the Anglo-Indian team which struggled to adapt to GEN3 in Season 9. Mortara did steer to a promising sixth in testing, though.

Maserati will once again field Maximilian Günther with optimism abound after the team turned their form around in the second half of Season 9 at the hands of Günther who won in Jakarta and took to the podium in Rome. Indian rookie Jehan Daruvala steps into the fold as Günther’s teammate.

Norman Nato managed to set a quicker time than Season 9 champion Jake Dennis at the Valencia test in his first outing with Andretti Formula E, with Oliver Rowland also looking rapid for his return to Nissan Formula E Team, alongside Sacha Fenestraz.

Sam Bird’s time at NEOM McLaren Formula E Team is another story which will be followed closely, with the Brit ending pre-season testing 14th. He joins fellow Brit Jake Hughes, who impressed with two poles in his debut campaign.

Lucas di Grassi made an emotional return to the team with which he won the Season 3 title; the Brazilian joining up with Nico Müller at ABT CUPRA Formula E Team. Di Grassi is Formula E’s most successful driver on Mexican soil.

CHAMP JAKE DENNIS EXPECTS ‘TOUGHEST CHALLENGE YET’

Andretti’s Jake Dennis heads to Round 1 of a new campaign as the reigning champ for the first time in his Formula E career. After an incredible season of consistency, achieving 11 podiums across the 16 rounds of the calendar to set a new record, he’s now keen to get racing again after the summer break comes to a close.

Jake Dennis, Andretti Formula E, said:

“We’ve still got an incredibly strong powertrain. I don’t think there’s too much development that can happen coming into this season. There’s always tweaks here and there, but it’s more probably fine tuning.

“I would expect the likes of DS will definitely close the gap to us. It’s also still going to be difficult to beat Jaguar TCS Racing and the other Porsche team. Just trying to do what we did last year is going to be extremely difficult with that many podiums and wins. It’s never easy when the competition closes up.”

RETURN TO MEXICO CITY AND THE AUTÓDROMO HERMANOS RODRÍGUEZ

This weekend Formula E makes its eighth visit to a circuit that’s been on the calendar since Season 2, save for a trip to Puebla in Season 7. The 19-turn, 2.630km circuit is a perfect mix of long, fast straights and a technical infield section that passes right through the legendary Foro Sol stadium, housing tens of thousands of fans.

There’s a new chicane this year on the back straight, while the ATTACK MODE activation zone is now on the outside of Turn 15 at the exit of the stadium section – more of a challenge this time around.

Off the track, there is world-class entertainment with a live music from Latin superstar Sofia Reyes who headlines the Podium Stage, and is joined by Kurt, Salero Balas, and Sully, for performances in the Allianz Fan Village.

SUSTAINABILITY MATTERS

In line with Formula E’s commitment to sustainability, the 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix event will be powered entirely by sustainably sourced HVO fuel as a net zero carbon event, with Formula E rigorously measuring, reducing, and offsetting all unavoidable emissions by investing in renewable energy production. Use of HVO produces a 90% carbon emission reduction compared to ordinary diesel.

NEW TELEVISION PRESENTERS LINE-UP

This season, Formula E TV coverage will be presented by a dynamic team including new lead presenter Jermaine Jenas, alongside pundits James Rossiter, David Coulthard, and Karun Chandhok. Nicki Shields returns as an on-the-ground reporter, with Tom Brooks and Ryan Myrehn providing their trademark engaging commentary.

In the USA, a Roku exclusive show, The Recharge, hosted by Georgia Henneberry, will offer fans a chance to revisit race highlights and driver strategy.

SCHEDULE: WHERE, WHEN AND HOW TO WATCH OR STREAM THE 2024 HANKOOK MEXICO CITY E-PRIX

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship Season 10 gets underway on Friday 12 January with Free Practice 1 at 16:25 CST local time (22:25 GMT).
The momentum continues into race day on Saturday 13 January as Free Practice 2 kicks off at 07:25 CST (13:25 GMT). Qualifying follows at 09:40 CST (15:40 GMT). The race starts at 14:00 CST (20:00 GMT).

Additionally, live race coverage, along with in-depth trackside insights, is available through the Formula E app and Race Centre, featuring live timing, interactive track maps, session highlights, exclusive interviews, and detailed reports.

WHERE TO WATCH

MEXICO: Fans in Mexico can watch their home race on Fox Sports 3, Claro Sports and A+ and Azteca Deportes. Fox Sports Mexico, Claro Sports and TV Azteca will be at the track to bring viewers all of the latest stories from the paddock.

Claro Sports will be providing dedicated coverage of the whole race weekend across Latin America with support from DirecTV in select markets.

ASIA

AUSTRALIA: Stan Sports will present live coverage of all sessions on the Stan Sports platform. 9GO will wrap up the weekend with highlights for fans in Australia.

CHINA: Formula E’s digital partnerships continue with HUYA, BiliBili, Weibo, Kuaishou and Douyin covering all sessions live, whilst GuangDong Sports will be showing delayed coverage. Free-to-air linear race coverage will be found on CCTV5+, whilst also being simulcast on their digital platform Yangshipin.

INDONESIA: Fans can catch the race live on iNews, with dedicated coverage of the weekend across MNC platforms including SPORTSTARS and MNC Vision +

JAPAN: Viewers will be able to catch all the action from qualifying and race sessions on J-Sports 3, with BS Fuji providing dedicated highlights coverage.

NEW ZEALAND: Viewers in New Zealand will be able to catch all of the action, live on Sky Sports 5.

SE ASIA: SpoTV will be providing live coverage of all race sessions on SpoTV 2, whilst also simulcasting across their digital platform SpoTV NOW

EUROPE

FRANCE: Viewers in France will be able to catch Saturday’s race action on L’Equipe.fr and Eurosport 1 whilst Eurosport Player will be showing all sessions live. La Chaine L’Equipe will be running delayed linear coverage on Sunday.

GERMANY: A new partnership in Germany will see live coverage of Quali and Race on DF1, with both sessions also available on ServusOn.

AUSTRIA: Fans will be able to tune into race action and quali on ServusTV, a new partnership that’ll have enhance coverage and analysis – race and quali simulcast on ServusOn.

ITALY: Mediaset’s Channel 20 will air the Mexico City race live, with all sessions available live on SportMediaset.it with highlights covered on their flagship Italia Uno channel. Eurosport 2 will also cover race and highlights from the season opener.

NETHERLANDS: Netherlands will be able to see all sessions, live on Ziggo Sport Motorsport and ZiggoGO. Eurosport will also be providing live coverage across the weekend on linear and digital channels.

UK: TNT will start the season as the home of Formula E in the UK with extensive coverage across their channels. Race and quali will be shown on TNT Sports 4, with TNT Sports 1 simulcasting race action. All sessions will be available on digital via discovery+

REST OF EUROPE: Across the remainder of Europe (excl. Italy), all sessions will be live across Eurosport’s linear and digital platforms. Eurosport will provide bespoke, live coverage of the opening race on Eurosport 2, whilst all sessions will be live on Eurosport Player. ES Player will also provide a one-stop destination for all Formula E catch-up.

NORTH AMERICA

CANADA: In Canada TVA Sports and TSN 2 will show all of the race action from Mexico in French and English respectively.

USA: All live race sessions will be made available with our new partner Roku, with delayed CBS Network coverage on Sunday.

SOUTH AFRICA

Fans will be able to catch all of the live action from qualifying and the race live on SuperSport Motorsport.

Full details with further updates on where to watch, including information for all territories worldwide, can be found at: fiaformulae.com/watch

by Abhishek Shukla

Formula E’s unplugged series is back for the most dramatic season ever

LONDON, UK. Thurs 21 Dec. 2023 – Formula E’s Unplugged series is back – officially bigger and better than ever – taking fans behind the scenes of the most competitive and dramatic season to date in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.

Series Three of Unplugged goes live from Tuesday, 2 January, giving viewers an authentic and unfiltered account of Season 9. The latest series will feature the incredible title chase that was only decided on the final weekend, with driver rivalries that boiled over on and off the track, taking place against the backdrop of the fastest racing – and most devastating crash – in Formula E history.

Unplugged promises to serve up never-seen-before content of the record-breaking season, with more action and insider interviews that will entertain fans and give Formula E rookies an introduction to the personalities and storylines powering the growing popularity of the world’s most competitive motorsport.

Britain’s Jake Dennis (Andretti Formula E Team) won the Drivers’ world championship title in London on the final weekend of the season, which was the epic climax of a season-long tussle with rivals Pascal Wehrlein, (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team), Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing) and Nick Cassidy, who would end up finishing second but not before powering his former team, Envision Racing, to the Teams’ World Championship title in the final race.

Seven different drivers from six different teams won races during the 16-race season which featured races in the centre of iconic world cities including Mexico City, Diriyah, Hyderabad, Cape Town, São Paulo, Berlin, Monaco, Jakarta, Portland, Rome and London.

Many of the biggest names in world motorsport appeared on the Formula E grid in Season 9, including Maserati, who returned to single-seater world championship motorsport for the first time in more than 60 years, together with McLaren, Porsche, Jaguar, Nissan and Mahindra.

While the story of Jake Dennis’s dramatic first world championship is a key storyline, fans will also see the incredible technological developments that are a hallmark of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. From the debut of the GEN3 race car – the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built – to NEOM McLaren driver, Jake Hughes, breaking the official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™, setting a new top speed achieved by a vehicle indoors – Unplugged has it all.

Tim Glass, Broadcast and Programming Director, Formula E, said:

“The Unplugged cameras captured every angle of what is officially our biggest and most dramatic season ever. There are clashes and crashes, high-speed action and intense rivalries, all playing out in iconic locations across the world from Cape Town to Hyderabad, São Paulo to London. Unplugged is the perfect way for new fans to catch-up on Formula E just as our new season begins, and for dedicated fans to get a whole new perspective on the entertainment from last season.”

Jake Dennis, driver for Andretti Formula E Team said:

“It took a momentous effort from the entire team last year to achieve what we did. So much happens behind the scenes that fans don’t usually get to see, and so to be able give fans an insight into all of the untold stories through Unplugged is fantastic. It’s also so much easier to connect with a sport when you feel like you know the people involved in it. Unplugged truly offers viewers a unique look at what it takes to compete in one of the world’s most competitive sports.”

The third season of Formula E: Unplugged will also be available in select territories via Formula E’s media partners across 8 episodes, while on YouTube the series will be available in 10 episodes optimised for the platform, featuring a mix of fifteen-minute and eight-minute episodes, allowing fans to immerse themselves in the drama and innovation that defines this pioneering sport.

Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship begins on Saturday, 13 January 2024 with the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix.

by Abhishek Shukla

FORMULA E DECLARES ‘IT’S ON’ IN SEASON 10

LONDON, UK. Mon. 18 Dec. 2023 – Formula E today unveiled its Season 10 campaign, boldly declaring ‘It’s On’, as the most competitive world championship in motorsport returns for its biggest-ever season starting in Mexico City in January.

The global campaign kicks off with a film set in a Tokyo antique store, owned by a die-hard Formula E fan. The setting captures Formula E’s historic achievement of becoming the first FIA World Championship to race on the streets of Tokyo, with Round 6 taking place there next year on Saturday, 30 March.

Formula E has partnered with Uncommon Creative Studio for this fourth joint creative endeavour. The short film starts a campaign roll-out that will see activations designed for fans and newcomers alike across iconic city centres around the world and celebrate the tenth anniversary of the championship which opens with the 2024 Hankook Mexico City E-Prix on Saturday, 13 January.

The narrative of the film blends humour and drama, interspersed with spectacular highlights from Season 9, plus Easter eggs for eagle-eyed viewers nodding to Formula E’s drivers, racing teams, manufacturers, and commercial partners.

Jeff Dodds, Chief Executive Officer, Formula E said:

“The ‘It’s On’ campaign captures what makes Formula E so special. It’s more than a line, it’s a bold promise of another season of high drama and high excitement motorsport. Season 10 is another step towards defining the future of motorsport as we set new standards of innovation, whilst showcasing our commitment to sustainable, high-performance racing. As the only sport certified net zero carbon since inception, we uniquely show the world that high performance motorsport and sustainability can powerfully co-exist.”

The new campaign builds on the momentum of last season, which was the most competitive yet in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Both the Drivers’ and Teams’ world championship titles remained in the balance until the very end of the season, with four drivers in with a chance of winning until the final weekend.

Henry Chilcott, Chief Marketing Officer, Formula E, said:

“With eight different champions in nine seasons and a world championship title race that has gone down to the last race weekend for the last three seasons, Formula E delivers the world’s most competitive motorsport. In our tenth anniversary year, this campaign celebrates our championships’ fiercely competitive DNA and invites motorsport fans all over the world to experience Formula E and see what true competition looks like. Season 10. It’s on.”

More viewers than ever before watched Formula E races live last season which featured the debut of the championship’s third-generation car, the GEN3, which is the fastest, lightest, most powerful and efficient electric race car ever built.

Formula E drivers pushed the GEN3 to the limit, smashing every track record including the fastest top speed in a race, and fastest average lap speed, with more race leaders than ever before, and triple-digit overtakes in most races including a high of 403 passes in the US race in Portland, Oregon.

by Abhishek Shukla

CMG to air all Formula E races live In China for The first time

BEIJING, China & LONDON, UK. Fri. 15 Dec. 2023 – Formula E today announced the biggest multi-year media partnership in championship history with Chinese national broadcaster, CMG, airing every race of the season live for the first time.

The blockbuster new deal means all 17 races in Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, starting with the Hankook Mexico City E-Prix on Saturday, 13 January 2024, will be available live on CMG’s CCTV platforms.

Premier sports channels CCTV5 and CCTV5+ will air Formula E races, including the inaugural Shanghai race doubleheader in May. Digital platform Yangshipin will also carry races plus all practice and qualifying sessions.

Jeff Dodds, CEO, Formula E, said:

“This is huge for Formula E as we get ready to race in our biggest season yet. For the first time, every Formula E race will be available live in China on CCTV, the nation’s largest sports platform. We are excited to work with CMG as a major new media partner for Formula E and focus on supercharging our audience growth in China through the coming seasons.”

Formula E will race for the first time at the Shanghai International Circuit with a double-header of races on Saturday, 25 May and Sunday, 26 May 2024. The first-ever Formula E race was held in Beijing on Saturday, 13 September 2014, with Sanya and Hong Kong also hosting a total of seven races in China to date, the most recent in March 2019.

Two Chinese-owned teams compete in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship: Envision Racing and ERT Formula E Team.

Envision Racing won the ABB FIA Formula E Teams’ World Championship last season, and have also appeared in the series since the first event in Beijing where they originally competed as Virgin Racing Formula E Team.

ERT Formula E Team has also competed in the championship since the very first race in Beijing, originally under the name China Racing Formula E Team.

Formula E races on CCTV platforms in Season 10:

After the season-opener in Mexico City on Saturday, 13 January 2024 comes the first doubleheader of Season 10 and the only night races under lights – innovative, sustainable LED lighting – from the street circuit surrounding the UNESCO World Heritage site in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia.

Next stop is the intensely challenging street track in Hyderabad, India, before a return to the carnival atmosphere of São Paulo, Brazil.

Formula E will make history with Round 6 on Saturday, 30 March when it becomes the first motorsport world championship to race on the streets of Tokyo.

After that is another visually exotic new venue for TV viewers with a doubleheader race weekend on the track in Misano, Italy, on the northern Adriatic coast.

The spiritual home of motorsport, Monaco, is the next stop before the season builds to a climax with four consecutive doubleheader race weekends where the world title storyline is sure to twist and turn with every race.

Berlin is first up, with a brand-new track layout and maintaining its record as the only city to host Formula E racing in all ten seasons.

The showpiece Shanghai event follows, with a doubleheader of races marking Formula E’s first visit to the city.

Portland, Oregon, is the next stop with the 22 drivers getting two races to try to beat the record of 403 race overtakes from last season’s Portland event.

Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship concludes in London on the weekend of Saturday, 20 July and Sunday, 21 July – perfectly situated for sports fans on the weekend between the UEFA EURO 2024 final and the opening of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Friday, 26 July.

Last season, both the Drivers’ and Teams’ world championship titles were decided on the final weekend of the season, with four drivers in with a chance of winning the coveted crown. Britain’s Jake Dennis was the ultimate warrior, claiming his first world championship, racing for the Andretti Formula E team.

by Abhishek Shukla

Maini Hopes to Carry Momentum in Holland

17 September 2021: Mercedes-AMG DTM star Arjun Maini is set to take part in the sixth round of the DTM championship at the Assen race track in Holland. 

The Omega Seiki and J.K.Tyre backed driver has had a renaissance of sorts with the Indian turning a torrid run of luck into consistent points finishes over the course of the past two rounds. Coming off his best ever weekend in Germany’s premier racing series, with a sixth and seventh-place finish in Austria marking his best-ever return in the DTM Championship, Maini is filled with confidence as he looks to climb up the championship ladder. 

The Assen race circuit will represent a unique challenge to the Indian as he has never raced competitively on the track. 

“While I haven’t raced competitively at the Assen race circuit, I do have testing experience at the track,” Maini stated. 

“The last two weekends have been positive in terms of overall results and I’m confident about my chances heading into the weekend. It’s important to note that this is GetSpeed’s first year racing in DTM too, which means we don’t have too much data to draw from heading into the weekend. 

“That being said, we have worked tirelessly to address our lack of experience at certain race circuits and I think we have made good progress through the season especially after hitting our nadir at Zolder.”

Having secured consecutive points finishes for the first time, Maini’s next objective will be a podium finish. While the competitive nature of the DTM championship makes this a lofty goal, the Indian’s consistent improvement and raw pace over the course of the season provides cause for hope, especially if his race strategy is executed to perfection. 

by Abhishek Shukla

Kush Maini claimed his second win of the year in the British F3 Championship in race three at Donington Park

Hitech GP’s championship leader Kush Maini claimed his second win of the year in the British F3 Championship in race three at Donington Park, after coming out on top of a lap one battle with championship rival Kaylen Frederick. 

At the start, Frederick who was on pole had a good launch to lead the pack down to Redgate, holding off Maini who then got a good run on Frederick down the Craner Curves and dived up the inside of his championship rival at the Old Hairpin. Frederick refused to budge, so the pair went wheel to wheel through Starkey’s Bridge and Schwantz with Maini on the outside, before making the move stick on the inside of McLeans.  

That set the tone for much of the rest of the race, with Maini able to pull out a steady gap while De Pauw fended off Frederick.  

With all that drama going on, Maini had extended his lead to over two seconds, and he was able to pull out further over the following laps, with the margin reaching 3.2 seconds at the end of the eighth lap. 

The result meant that Maini claimed his 9th podium in 14 races including the 3rd place on Saturday in round 13. This increases Maini’s championship points to 296 with a lead of 54 points with 10 races still to go. 

Winner – Kush Maini, Hitech GP: 

“I knew I had to get him [Kaylen Frederick] on the first lap because it’s too hard to follow around here. I got a good start thankfully and put him under pressure into turn one, which messed up his run down to the Old Hairpin. I got a run on him, lunged him into the Old Hairpin, he kept around the outside and then wheel to wheel to McLeans. I braked really late and he had nowhere to go, so I got the move done and I’m really happy. 

“When you have fresh air it’s a lot easier to drive and I just put my head down and enjoyed the drive. I did not really push to pull away, I literally just wanted to enjoy the drive and it was really nice.  

“There’s still way too many races left [to think about the championship] so we’re just going to keep up this form.” 

BRDC British F3 is back in action in two weeks’ time at Snetterton in Norfolk, with four races on 3-4 October. 

by Abhishek Shukla

X1 Racing League | Mumbai Falcons soar high with a double

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZv9Bk5bQt4

Chennai, December 8: Mumbai Falcons, represented by Kush Maini and Mikkel Jensen (Denmark), won two of the three races while Bangalore Racing Stars tandem of Arjun Maini and Oliver Webb (England) took the honours in the other outing as the curtains came down on the inaugural franchise-based XI Racing League at the MMRT, here today.

The first race of the day, won by Bangalore, took a heavy toll with six cars packing up due to mechanical reasons. It left a six-car grid for the second and third races, but that did not take anything away from Mumbai’s double.

The Race-1 was interrupted by a Safety Car period after one of the cars blew the engine. Bangalore started fourth on the grid behind Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Hyderabad, but with some smart tactics managed to pull ahead. The teams were required to make a mandatory driver change between ninth and 14th minutes window and Bangalore, powered by Arjun Maini and England’s Oliver Webb got it spot on and then held off a late charging Mumbai (Kush Maini and Mikkel Jensen) to win the race. Hyderabad (Vitantonio Liuzzi-Gosia Rdest) completed the podium.

The second race began on reverse grid of the previous race standings. As such, Delhi’s Gaurav Gill, the three times Asia Pacific Rally champion, started from pole and led until he pitted for Raghul Rangasamy to take over. Rangasamy maintained the track position to finish second behind Mumbai Falcons (Kush Maini and Jensen). Bangalore Racing Stars who had started fifth, came in third.

Mumbai Falcons went on to complete a double later in the evening, finishing on top in Race-3 ahead of Bangalore Racing Stars and Blackbirds Hyderabad.

The results (Provisional):

Race-1: 1. Bengaluru Racing Stars (Arjun Maini / Oliver Webb) (27mins, 23.458secs); 2. Mumbai Falcons (Kush Maini / Michel Jensen) (27:24.018); 3. Blackbirds Hyderabad (Vitantonio Liuzzi / Gosia Rdest) (27:28.969).

Race-2: 1. Mumbai Falcons (28:02.222); 2. AD Racing Delhi (Gaurav Gill / Raghul Rangasamy) (28:21.637); 3. Bangalore Racing Stars (28:25.847).

Race-3: 1. Mumbai Falcons (27:59.175); 2. Bangalore Racing Stars (28:03.838); 3. Blackbirds Hyderabad (Luizzi / Akhil Rabindra) (28:28.382).

by Abhishek Shukla

Bangalore Racing Stars and Mumbai Falcons impress in the inaugural leg of X1 Racing League held in Greater Noida

Buddh International Circuit (Greater Noida), 03 December 2019: The inaugural leg of the X1 Racing League, Powered by JK Tyre; a concept started by Indian racers Armaan Ebrahim and Aditya Patel, hit the Buddh International Circuit over the weekend, which saw team Bangalore Racing Stars, comprising of Arjun Maini, Oliver James Webb, Michelle Gatting, Nayan Chatterjee and Vishnu Prasad, win two out of the four races. The Mumbai Falcons won the other two races at the inaugural leg after brilliant performances by their team comprising of Kush Maini, Mikkel Jensen, Pippa Mann, Sohil Shah and Karthik Tharani.

The pulsating inaugural leg was summed up by Bangalore Racing Stars’ Arjun Maini, who helped his team impress during the first leg of the X1 Racing League. He said, “The X1 Racing League experience over the weekend was amazing for our team. It was the first time this unique format was put to the test, and we had to get used to this innovative style of racing which needs a very calculated approach. It gets over very quickly from a driver’s point of view, because you are not on the track for a long amount of time individually, so it is all about team strategy. There was a lot to learn from this opening weekend, and things are already looking bright for our team. I am looking forward to get back on track with the upcoming Chennai leg and maintain our lead.”

On the other hand Arjun’s brother, Kush Maini, who represented the Mumbai Falcons, did the lap record and contributed to his team bagging the fastest lap in 3 out of the 4 races. The 19-year-old said, “It was a good Day 2 for our team as things fell into place for us after a slightly disappointing Day 1. I think we deserved more wins during this opening leg of the X1 Racing League. However, we learned a lot about ourselves and adjusted our strategy accordingly over the four races, and now we are really looking forward to racing in Chennai next weekend.”

India’s first-ever Formula One driver Narain Karthikeyan, who owns the NK Racing Chennai, said. “The X1 Racing League is a great concept and makes it one of the most unique racing competition in the world with the franchise-based format. I am really excited with how the first leg panned out here in New Delhi, even though our team could only produce one podium finish. However, going back to Chennai is always great and I’m really looking forward to the next leg of this great innovation in  motor-sport,” said the 42-year-old veteran.

With close to 35,000 spectators present at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida to witness the X1 Racing League on Sunday, it turned out to be a memorable opening act for co-founder Armaan Ebrahim, who expressed his delight. “All of us at the X1 Racing League are overwhelmed by the response we have received over the weekend. With extremely passionate teams and racers, we started the league with a long-term vision to develop and build motorsports in India, and I am really pleased to see how the audience has responded. We had some very close encounters during the four races, and I would like to thank and congratulate all the teams for making it an action-packed weekend,” said Armaan.

The franchise-based X1 Racing League has a total of six teams comprising of four drivers and two cars in each team. Of the four drivers in each team, there is one international male, one international female, one India international and a domestic racer involved. Each race lasts for 30 minutes and has three unique team-based race formats per day. The X1 Racing League will now continue into its second leg which will be held at the Madras Motor Race Track in Chennai.

by Abhishek Shukla

X1Racing League: Indian motorsports to witness history this weekend

New Delhi, 27 November 2019: Indian motorsports will witness history when the world’s first-ever motorsports league commences at the Buddh International Circuit in Delhi NCR on Saturday, 30 November 2019. The X1Racing League, a franchise-based motorsports competition founded by racers Armaan Ebrahim and Aditya Patel, will see six teams fighting it out for the title. A total of 30 international and domestic racers have been drafted in six teams for the first edition of the competition.
The X1Racing League is set to be hosted between November 30-December 1 at the Buddh International Circuit in Delhi NCR and, on 7 December and 8 December at the Madras Motor Race Track in Chennai. 

“X1Racing will provide a great platform for Indians to experience motorsports. We want young Indian drivers to have access to motorsports through the X1Racing League. The main reason behind organising the X1Racing League is to inspire young Indians to take up motorsports as a career,” said Armaan Ebrahim.
Mathias Lauda, who will be racing for the AD Racing Delhi Team, explained the kind of impact the X1Racing League will have on India.
“I think the franchise-based format is a great format for motorsports. It works for all the other big sports like football and so on. Hopefully, the X1Racing League will grow over the years. A new format where international and domestic drivers race together will make the competition very interesting,” said Lauda.

Gaurav Gill, who will also be racing for the Delhi Team, said that this League is unique because the racers in the competition come from different racing backgrounds.

“This X1Racing League will be unique because all the drivers in the competition will come from different disciplines of the sport such as Formula Racing ground, GT background or sports car racing. It will be interesting to see how all of us compete against each other,” said Gill.
DG Races’ Alex Yoong is excited to compete in a team-based motorsports tournament.
“In motorsports, we hardly get to compete as a team, so I am looking forward to it. I think the X1Racing League is a great idea. We have seen the franchise-based tournament has worked for cricket. We’ll have to see how it works for motorsports in India,” said Yoong.
The X1Racing League will have six teams comprising of five drivers and two cars in each team. Of the five drivers in each team, there will be one international male, one international female, one India international and two domestic racers. One of the domestic racers will represent the team in the race.

Each round will take place over two days, with each day starting off with a practice session, followed by qualifying and three back-to-back races. Every round will have six different races and each race will last for 30 minutes and will have three unique team-based race formats per day.

Red Bull Athlete CS Santosh
by Abhishek Shukla

BANGALORE TO WITNESS THE FIRST EDITION OF RED BULL ACE OF DIRT

November 13th, India: Red Bull Ace of Dirt, a first of its kind race comes to India where different off-road disciplines come together to compete in an elimination format to be the last man standing. The city of Bengaluru will witness a never-seen-before bike race on November 14th at the Big Rock Dirtpark, a one of its kind, self-designed track by Red Bull Athlete CS Santosh. The winner of Red Bull Ace of Dirt will get a once in a lifetime opportunity to train with ace motorcyclist and Red Bull athlete, CS Santosh

32 selected riders will battle each other on a specially laid course which consists of Motocross, Dirt track and Enduro sections all put together to offer a unique challenge to make it to the final top 4 to compete for the win! But they must make it through the semi-finals round that will offer a unique challenge where all will compete on identical Hero Xpulse bikes which will eliminate any advantage or disadvantage their own machines would have had!

Commenting on the event, Red Bull athlete CS Santosh said, “I am excited to have this opportunity with energy drink giant Red Bull to dream up this event with this unique concept here in India on a new format of racing that we have not previously had. We are also delighted to have Hero MotoSports join hands for this event as part of their vision to promote Motor Sports and Off-Road biking culture in India. All these major partners coming together to offer a complete ecosystem for the event, is a great support to the event and motor sports in the country. Ultimately, this format will allow all different types of riders to compete together and develop good overall skills that will one day be a platform to transition into cross country rally racing and on day to the Dakar!

by Abhishek Shukla

Kush Maini wins rookie category at Circuit de Spa-Francorchamps

Kush Maini backed by JK Racing and driving for M2 Competition won the Rookie Category on the last Lap of an exciting Race in Belgium in Race 1 of the Formula Renault Eurocup Series . Having Started 11th on the Grid he had to avoid going into the back of Leonard Lorandi’s car which was very slow of the start. Moving up Positions as the race progressed, Kush made his way upto 6thPlace  when the Safety Car was called out. This helped Bunch up all the Drivers for the last few laps of the Race.

Kush Maini wrested the  Trophy from the hands of Patrik Pasma in the last corner. Rookies Petr Ptáček and Caio Collet (R-ace GP), finished seventh and eighth, while Alexander Smolyar (R-ace GP) and Xavier Lloveras claimed the final points on offer. Kush who finally finished in 5th position overall was extremely happy with the result.

“I started eleventh, so I knew that I would have to fight to move up the order. I was pretty confident, because I simply didn’t carry over my pace from practice to qualifying. I was able to preserve my tyres in the race while also passing my rivals. This allowed me to be extremely fast on the last lap and I pressured Patrik Pasma into a mistake when he missed his final braking point and I was able to win the rookie category. It is a reinforcing result, because it justifies our potential.”

The Series will break for Summer and will return with the Race in Nurburgring at the end of August .