Luca's racing blab #1 - Formula E

Image courtesy of www.theverge.com

Hello you, my name is Luca but you can call me Luca. So I posted on my Instagram talking about the racing at the weekend, talking about the Chinese Grand Prix and Daniel Ricciardo's amazing overtaking skills which were never in question, Superbike Sunday as is known on Eurosport with the double billing of World Superbikes and British Superbikes, and the Long Beach IndyCar race in which Alexander Rossi dominated.

As you will all know, I love racing so I thought every so often I'd come here to talk about something that has me wanting to talk. In today's instalment of Luca's racing blab, I am going to talk about the Formula E championship as last weekend was the Rome ePrix. This electric racing series has been going from strength to strength and approaching its fifth year of competition, there is some big changes coming in the form of a new car and big overhaul in regulations.

Since the inception of the series, drivers would have to come into the pits and jump out of one car into another since their batteries have ran out of charge after about half way through the race. With the introduction of the new car (as you can see in the picture above), these will be a thing of the past but this of course means the old more traditional looking Formula E chassis will be retired. I have an idea that I'd like to see be used, but I'll get to that later.

Formula E's schedule is very much untraditional, it begins in the latter half of one year and the beginning half of the next, season one was 2014-15, season two was 2015-16 you get the idea. However for this season, it began in December 2017 and then the rest of the events were in 2018, and this for me is something that doesn't sit well. For the most part, all the Formula E seasons had more rounds in the following year than the proceeding but it surely needs more than just the one.

I don't want to say this was my idea because it wasn't, a Twitter user by the name of @alexstanger1993 had been working tirelessly to create an ideal Formula E calendar and has done a perfect job. So here's what Alex came up with if Formula E adopted this schedule for season five, I have put a slight spin on it but I'll get to that.

Round One - Singapore ePrix, Singapore - 29/09/2018
All the seasons of Formula E so far have started either in mainland China or a Chinese territory, Hong Kong is a Chinese territory, right? Is Singapore? Well if Hong Kong and Singapore are then this will continue that trend, with it being a week after the F1 Grand Prix as well.

I'd love to see it be a night race, as FE have never had a night race before. Singapore is one of my favourite street circuits, and I do hope that it's a mainstay on the motorsport calendar as it is one incredible event.

Round Two - Adelaide ePrix, Australia - 03/11/2018
This one is a stroke of genius actually, allow me to explain. I believe Alex wasn't picky about location whether it was Adelaide or Albert Park, but I'm picking Adelaide because not only do I think it's a better choice for Formula E, I have another event in mind for Adelaide. A lot of Formula E drivers also race in the World Endurance Championship and by 2019, the WEC will be utilising a schedule similar to that of Formula E.

I have been trying to get a hold of anybody at the WEC to put forward a suggestion for when they do have their schedule nailed down, to have a 10 hour race in Adelaide taking place on New Year's Eve, starting at 8pm and ending at 6am on New Year's Day. The Formula E going there would be a great build up event for the locals, and also for the drivers who will be heading back there for the 10 hour race as well. This obviously would apply for 2019 so providing Formula E is successful in Adelaide going into season six, then all of what I said would apply if WEC head to Adelaide.

Round Three - Macau ePrix, Macau - 01/12/2018
I absolutely love the Macau circuit which hosts the only event where both cars and bikes race, with the F3, Road Racing Motorbikes, GT and Touring Cars heading there near the end of November. This race would follow two weeks after, and I think with the new cars no longer needing as much regeneration, it would be the perfect time to add Macau.

I have nothing more to add here, I think this is a great venue that Formula E should have an event at. I do think maybe swap around Adelaide and Macau perhaps, I'm not too sure but maybe have the ePrix two weeks before the Macau Grand Prix and put the Adelaide event in December to lead up to the 10 hour event I've been thinking of, maybe two weeks before Christmas? What do you lot think would be better?

Round Four - Marrakech ePrix, Morocco - 12/01/2019
Now we jump continents to the sole African event, and I've been happy to see the inclusion of Morocco since they made modifications to the Touring Car circuit to make it a technical and interesting circuit. Formula E having been to Morocco in the last two seasons and having put on a show for the fans who attend from all around the continent.

Again, I have nothing much to add here. I think it's important to have a presence in Africa, and it's neatly placed considering the championship jumps from Asia and Oceania, to Africa, America, Europe etc.

Round Five - São Paulo ePrix, Brazil - 02/02/2019
This event has been trying to get itself off of the ground since the beginning but it has always fallen through, and it's sad as I feel São Paulo should have an ePrix. Two of the three Formula E champions have been Brazilian, and there's already a street circuit in this Brazilian city that has not been used since IndyCar last used it in 2013.

I do hope they are able to make it happen, though the Formula One event has been hampered by the robberies and people being held at gunpoint for the last few years, I don't know if the IndyCar event was also hampered by that but whether or not, I'd hope the local government can sort this out as the Brazilian fans are some of the most passionate in the world and deserve an ePrix.

Round Six - Santiago ePrix, Chile - 16/02/2019
The Chile event this season was amazing so it pains me to say it, I am not sure if it will remain on the calendar, I'd be very surprised. The race was extremely well attended but I'm hearing after one year, they're already apparently having to move location and this doesn't bode very well.

It pains me to have to admit it, I can't see Chile being a mainstay on the FE schedule or indeed on the schedule past this year, but I would be happy to be proven wrong. The Santiago ePrix was an amazing event, I just hope it isn't a logistical nightmare. The inclusion of Brazil may mean that Chile is no longer a necessary event.

Round Seven - Mexico City ePrix, Mexico - 09/03/2019
The only round with a dedicated circuit, using a shortened layout of the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez circuit. It has always been one of the most exciting races on the Formula E schedule, and the fans always come out in force so I see no need to have it removed.

Round Eight - Long Beach ePrix, USA - 30/03/2019
The heads of Formula E have been looking to have a race on the east coast of the US and the west coast as well, and the presence of this championship in the US has been extremely strong. The US has had the most venues of any country that has held Formula E, one of which is the Long Beach venue.

In the first two seasons, Formula E visited the California based street circuit two weeks before the IndyCar race would take place and as far as west coast venues go, you can pick a whole lot worse in terms of layout, racing and pedigree. The layout they use is a shortened version of the typical circuit but with the newer cars that can do a full race distance, the organisers are infact using the full length Monaco Grand Prix circuit for season five so maybe the full Long Beach circuit can be used.

Round Nine - Rome ePrix, Italy - 27/04/2019
The Rome ePrix was a huge success last weekend, the fans sold out the tickets within hours, the circuit is up there as being one of the best in the championship, and the racing was so good as it always is. Not only is this race in my opinion a must be mainstay, I feel like that this event should become a two race weekend like they have every so often in Formula E.

Round Ten - Monaco ePrix, Monaco - 11/05/2019
Two weeks before the Monaco F1 Grand Prix is the Monaco ePrix, or the Monaco Historic Grand Prix. This is such a major frustration of mine, why can't we have the Monaco ePrix every year? Basically, every other year Formula E goes to Monaco and the years inbetween is the Monaco Historic Grand Prix, please stop faffing around and let us have it all? Could it be possible to have the ePrix on the 11th, the Historics the following week which proceeds the F1? I do hope this is possible.

Round Eleven - Paris ePrix, France - 25/05/2019
Paris is another city in which we need Formula E to remain, another amazing location which holds major importance for the manufacturers and for the city as a whole in regards to electric racing. I don't know much more to say honestly, but bare in mind that along with Rome and two other locations, I'd like to expand more on the importance of these events.

Round Twelve - Berlin ePrix, Germany - 08/06/2019
I do love the location that the Berlin ePrix uses, the Berlin Tempelhof Airport which hosted the event in season one, then in season three with a completely different layout which will run into season four as well. Season two's event was relocated to the city centre after refugees were being held at the airport, and the circuit they used was okay but certainly not good enough in my opinion.

Whilst I did like season one's Berlin Tempelhof circuit layout especially the bit where they drive under the terminal roof, season three's Tempelhof layout was so much better overall with so many fast corners providing a new challenge for the drivers. I see no reason to get rid of this amazing circuit and venue, I hope we get to see more airport circuits possibly added in the future too.

Round Thirteen - Zurich ePrix, Switzerland - 22/06/2019
This one is very much hypothetical since we haven't yet visited Switzerland for the inaugural Zurich ePrix, but it's already majorly significant since Switzerland have had motorsport banned for the most part and allowed for a relaxing of this rule when Formula E came knocking. So it's obvious as to the role Formula E has played in the Swiss getting a major motorsport event.

I am very much going to tune in to this year's Zurich ePrix to see how the reaction is, and I'm actually kind of hoping season two champion Sébastien Buemi can win on home soil. If it's any good then it'll be worth keeping, but I must say that I am very much willing to boot Switzerland away in favour of another event, but I'll save that until later.

Round Fourteen - New York ePrix, USA - 20/07/2019
Last season, Formula E made the trip to North America for double headers in both New York and Montreal. I wish more than anything that Montreal could have remained on the calendar because in my opinion, it had one of the best layouts out of any Formula E circuit, however it was removed after locals complained about a shit tonne of things which I can honestly understand.

We are focusing on New York though and I think the event last season was great and is an ideal place for the season finale, racing in New York is incredibly significant and whilst I was hoping they could have utilised the Port Imperial circuit in New Jersey that F1 has been trying to make happen since 2013, but it would never have worked for Formula E since they need a lot of heavy braking zones. I do hope that Port Imperial circuit is one day utilised for F1 because it is one incredible circuit.

The circuit that the New York ePrix uses is an erected layout around the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal, which was quite the location for the circuit but it seemed to logistically work very well. On that note though, I'd like to put up a picture of a few New York ePrix circuit layouts.

Both images are directly from FIA Formula E.

On the top is the layout that will be used for this season's New York ePrix, which is essentially the exact same as last season's but with that section added at the at the end of that long straight whereas beforehand it was just a simple right handed hairpin. However below that you'll see a layout that was originally showcased as being the layout that had been settled on, which I have taken the original photo and flipped it so you can see the comparison to the actual layout.

I don't know why the original layout that was decided upon was abandoned, I mean there are some things I prefer on the actual layout. I for one would keep the actual layout's bottom section from the sweeping right hander to the exit of the chicane and hairpin, but then the original layout's more technical section that you see in the top of the picture, that for me would make it by far the best overall possible layout.

Anyway the race in New York is incredibly significant, and I've said this also for Paris and Rome but you may remember that I spoke on the topic of the Zurich ePrix that I'd be wanting to see a different event if Zurich did fail, and that's what I want to talk about now.

Bonus round - London ePrix, Britain
I visited the London ePrix in 2015 for the first season finale and the witnessing of Formula E's first champion being crowned, and it was situated in Battersea Park. I was really happy to be there, but the thing that killed it for me was the inability to watch the racing unless you were allowed to go up onto the platforms, which sucked.

Overall the experience was very much a positive one, I am very much glad I could see the London ePrix but I can't honestly sit here and say that having it at Battersea Park again would be a good idea, though I really want the London ePrix back so I have a much better location that I do hope would be logistically possible. In 2012, there was a London Grand Prix proposal made by Sky Sports, Santander and McLaren along with their current driver line-up made up of Britain's two most recent F1 world champions Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

I'll link the video here for you all to watch the circuit presentation by Button and Hamilton.

The circuit itself is absolutely incredible and I would hope that one day, the circuit could possibly also host F1 but that itself seems to ambitious. Maybe it's too ambitious to think about this London circuit as a host for an ePrix let alone a Grand Prix, but either way it's very important that Formula E returns to London.

I had been hearing that the organisers were planning on heading to Birmingham in the UK either as a replacement round after Montreal's cancellation this year or for the upcoming season and as excited as I was at first at the prospect of racing in Birmingham, I quickly realised that London holds as much significance for Formula E as Paris, Rome and New York which is why we need all of them on the schedule.

Alex Stanger's ideal Formula E schedule is near absolute perfection. What I'd probably end up changing is, possibly removing the Santiago round, trying to shuffle everything up and trying to possible move the end of the season back so there's a gap of about three months until the next season which would begin again in late September early October. Oh and of course, I'd add London and possibly put that in place of Zurich if the Swiss event isn't successful.

Now, there was another idea that I wanted to discuss. You will have seen earlier in the article that I spoke about the current Formula E chassis being retired from usage in the FIA championship, and I also mentioned that the US has had more ePrix than all other countries that have held an ePrix. This including Miami in season one, Long Beach in seasons one and two, New York in seasons three and four and also including a non-championship virtual eRace held in Las Vegas between Formula E regulars and simulator racers.

It seems that along with these events that did happen, there is so much demand for Formula E in so many US cities, some of which include but are not limited to Austin and Detroit. I bring this up because it's quite obvious that there is a demand to see Formula E in so many cities in America, and obviously the heads of the FIA Formula E championship won't be able to satisfy all of them, since America is so vast that having more than one round in the States would still be quite excessive when so many other countries want to be on the schedule too.

I think Formula E's plan to have both an east and west coast event is very much ideal, so as far as I'm concerned that's a great idea and having Long Beach ePrix be the west coast event and New York ePrix be the east coast event, that provides a great balance. However, so many other cities have their sights set on a Formula E event and unfortunately, this isn't something that the FIA championship could ever dream of satisfying, so here's my idea.

With the chassis that FIA Formula E has used since its first season being retired after the end of this season, how about taking these soon to be disused Spark SRT01E cars and using them in a United States based championship, racing in as many of the cities that are wanting to have an ePrix. These would include Miami which would run on the weekend that the FIA championship ran in Miami on in 2015, Long Beach and New York possibly as a supporting event to the main championship, the absolutely brilliant circuit utilised in the Las Vegas eRace but brought into reality if it's possible. Then of course, literally any other US city wanting an ePrix.

The format for the US Formula E would remain very much the same in terms of how the race weekend would be set up, though unlike the FIA championship with the majority of rounds having one race and a few select others having two races across two days. For the US championship, there would always be two races per weekend, with one practice session, qualifying following with a similar format to what FIA Formula E uses with a shootout for superpole between five top drivers, then a race, this applying to both days.

I do reckon though that the US Formula E races should probably be half the length of traditional FIA Formula E races which are roughly around the 50-60 miles or 80-100 kilometres mark, this being because up until now the current Formula E cars have not been able to make a full race distance on a single charge and so therefore the drivers come into the pits mid-race and swap into another car. Shortening the races would mean no need to jump into another car mid way and basically just meaning less freight to have to haul to each round and the costs going down, whilst still putting on a show.

Been trying to get in touch with the right people to see if putting this idea into their minds would work, and so far I have had nothing but people ignoring me or not seeing the complete genius in this idea, if I do say so myself! But seriously, I thought by putting it out to you guys it would get some people thinking and hopefully there will be a racing organisation in America willing to work with the heads of Formula E to make this happen because I wouldn't be suggesting it if I didn't see the benefits for everyone involved.

Along with my US based Formula E championship and the ideal FIA Formula E schedule by Alex Stanger with my spin on it, I want to know all your thoughts on everything here today. If anybody has anything to say, feel free to let me know either in the comments or on Twitter @TheLucaFormat.

Alright! Well speaking of Twitter, go ahead and follow me on there if you haven't already and give Alex Stranger a follow @alexstanger1993. If you want my articles sent straight to your inbox then look for the Follow By Email option on the right hand side of your screen. That'll be it from me, hope you enjoyed reading and that you will be back soon for more of my mindless drivel.

So until we meet again,
Luca.