Formula E to come to New York

It has been announced that Brooklyn, New York, will be host to two formula E races for the first time next July.

Alejandro Agag, Chief Executive of Formula E, said:  “The world has been trying for years to race in New York City, and it has never been possible... Everyone has been trying to race in New York City. Formula One, everyone. New York is the capital of the world. We are really over the moon.”

The races will be part of the third season of the green circuit, on a week end at the end of July 2017, and will be held at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal in Red Hook.

Fred Dixon, the president of NYC & Company, the city’s official tourism organization said: "It’s a phenomenal setting in terms of view... Governors Island, the Statue of Liberty, Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge. Very iconic.”

The cars usually run at up to 150mph during races, but can reach 180mph.

As Formula E cars’ batteries cannot last a whole race yet, and drivers would have to change the battery in the middle of the race, July’s races will feature two cars per driver – 20 drivers and 40 cars.

Agag expects these kind of changes not to be necessary anymore by season 5, as the Formula E team is working on extending the lifespan of the batteries.

Companies such as Jaguar, Renault, Audi and Richard Branson’s Virgin take part in Formula E races, and Leonardo DiCaprio is Head of the Sustainability committee.

The race attracts tourism and shows the power of renewable energy around the world.

Formula E has already showcased in Beijing, Buenos Aires, Paris and Mexico , and next season is set to start this month in Hong Kong to finish in New York next July.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement:  “New York City is where technology, sustainability and commerce collide... We are thrilled to be the new home of the ePrix.”

Maria Torres-Springer, the president of the city’s Economic Development Corporation, said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to promote the borough as a leader in sustainable technology.”

Formula E tries to be as undisruptive as possible as it races in cities’ streets – its cars are barely noisier than normal cars, as opposed to Formula One cars.

Agag said: “[The track] is assembled and disassembled very quickly... We come in five or six days before the race and we assemble it and take it away in a similar amount of time or less.”

Aga also added that the electricity powering Formula E cars was generated thanks to glycerin form sea algae.