London has been provisionally named as one event on the FIA`s new Formula E electric racing series calendar, it has been confirmed.
Interest in a race in the capital was re-awakened last year with two separate F1 proposals unveiled in the build-up to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone – one in dramatic CGI form by Santander UK and another following confirmation that bids for future use of London`s Olympic Park included one from a party looking to stage an F1 race there, not that the latter was successful.
“The new 2014 FIA Formula E Championship, run on urban and city centre circuits, will be made up of between eight and 10 events,” confirmed a statement issued by the FIA following the latest World Motor Sport Council meeting in Geneva, Switzerland on Friday.
Other cities on the preliminary 2014 calendar include Rome, Los Angeles, Miami, Beijing, Putrajaya, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro. No dates were released.
“The WMSC was pleased to note that a number of cities have expressed an interest in hosting a race and that there are expected to be 10 teams participating, each comprising two drivers and four cars,” the FIA added.
Meanwhile, the FIA has also now published technical regulations for Formula E, as well as the proposed sporting format. Race meetings will take place over one day with a pre-qualifying practice session and a qualifying practice session culminating in a 45-minute race with two mandatory pit stops to change cars.
Pirelli test driver and former Virgin F1 pilot, Lucas di Grassi was announced as the official development driver for Formula E last September, while in October it was revealed that McLaren will supply the electric engine, transmission and electronics for the cars in partnership with Spark Racing Technology.
Drayson Racing Technologies lodged the first official entry for Formula E in January.
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