The FIA announced today that the penultimate race of the 2014/2015 Formula E world championship will take place on a street circuit in the Russian capital city of Moscow. The calendar for the season had featured nine rounds, plus an unannounced race that was thought to be taking place this month; however the FIA elected to install a Russian round in between the Berlin and London rounds.
FIA President Jean Todt said: “Russia’s presence in Motorsport dates back to the beginning of the 20th Century but the growth rate which we’ve seen in the last few years is incredible. After the debut of WTCC two years ago and of Formula One last year, the launch of another FIA Championship in the country is an important milestone in this growth path. Formula E represents a new form of racing and entertainment as it’s aimed to attract and engage not only Motorsport fans but also a new audience and in particular the younger generations. It fits perfectly in the FIA’s traditional role as a leading promoter of innovation, technology and performance in the automotive sector. I am sure that Moscow will enjoy the event.”
“We are delighted to be welcoming Moscow onto the 2014/2015 Formula E calendar as our 10th host city,” said Alejandro Agag. “Russian people have always welcomed with passion and enthusiasm international events and we are sure it will be the same with the Moscow ePrix. Russia’s automotive market is steadily growing, as is its electric vehicle industry and I am confident that Formula E will help to promote the concept of sustainable mobility in this country. As with our previous races, we have no doubt the Moscow ePrix is going to be a fantastic spectacle for teams, drivers and fans.”
The 13-turn circuit is located right next to three of the most famous landmarks in Russia; St Basils Cathedral, the Kremlin (currently the official residence of the President of Russia) and the Red Square. The site has seen many Motorsport events over the years, including several demonstrations by Formula One teams.
Svetlana Korshunova, organiser of the Moscow ePrix, said: “For eight years now we have been holding Moscow City Racing events and each year we would do our best to come up with something new and exciting. In 2011 the highlight of our show was the participation of EF01 Formulec racing car, the first in the world completely eco-friendly vehicle, developed in France. Since then we’ve been closely following the development of this segment in Motorsport and it is a great honour for us to see fully electric racing cars on Moscow streets again but in a totally different status. This is going to be an unforgettable experience!”
The Moscow ePrix will take place on June 6th as the penultimate round of the championship. As a result of the new round, the Berlin ePrix (the round just before Moscow) has been moved forward by a week to allow enough time between events. The next round of the championship takes place on the streets of Miami, USA, on March 14th; one day before the Formula One world championship gets under-way in Melbourne.
