FORMULA E ANNOUNCES FIRST NIGHT RACE

Formula E announces first night race – Image: Supplied

It has been announced that Saudi Arabia will hold the first ever Formula E night race under lights as part of the seventh season of the all-electric championship.

By DAN McCARTHY

Saudi Arabia was listed on the provisional FIA Formula E World Championship calendar several weeks ago, and with the announcement of the night race comes confirmation that the event will take place on February 26-27 as the second round.

Following on from the season opening event at Santiago in Chile, the Saudi Arabian round on the streets of Diriyah will be a double header with two races to be held under lights, one on Friday and one on Saturday.

Formula E is proud to say that it will not only be the first night event for the championship, but the first race under lights for any all-electric series.

“We are very proud to partner with Saudi to create Formula E’s first ever night race,” said co-founder and chief championship officer of Formula E, Alberto Longo.

“I am confident the race will be spectacular and lead to a style of competitive action we haven’t seen before.

“As with everything we do, our first thought was about how to bring our sporting vision to life in a sustainable way.

“Before we innovate our racing product, we must be confident we can maintain the standards of sustainable practice we hold ourselves accountable to.”

2021 will be the third time that the series will visit the Saudi Arabian venue which has produced several exciting races since its introduction.

“In 2018 the ancient historical city of Diriyah made history in hosting the first fully electric race on the streets of the region, said the Minister of Sport his Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz Bin Turki AlFaisal Al Saud.

“The debut event sparked so much joy and energy to our sporting journey and was one of a number of major sporting firsts that have since inspired our people and helped to shine a spotlight on Saudi Arabia’s massive transformation under the Kingdom’s vision 2030.

“In 2019 Diryah was the first to host back to back (Formula E) races during a race weekend and now once again we will make sporting history.

“It is very fitting that a place so ancient will showcase the latest in sustainable technology as Diriyah lights up to shine bright for the world to see. We look forward to the dramatic racing and incredible scenes that are guaranteed to unfold under the lights.”

As always Formula E plans for the event to be as innovative and sustainable as it can be and as a result the track will be illuminated with the latest low consumption LED technology, which Formula E claims will reduce energy consumption by up to fifty per cent compared to non-LED technologies.

The remaining energy needed to power the floodlighting around the venue will be fully renewable provided by a high performing low-carbon certified hydrogenated vegetable oil made from sustainable materials.

For more of the latest motorsport news pick up the current issue of Auto Action. Also make sure you follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or our weekly email newsletter for all the latest updates between issues.