Formula E could return to the streets of Britain in 2019 for the first time since 2016 as Birmingham enters "advanced talks" with the all-electric single seater series about hosting a potential round in Season Five according to West Midlands Mayor Andy Street.
If Birmingham did join the Season Five calendar, its arrival would coincide with Formula E's latest revolution in the form of the all-new Gen2 car, which replaces the series' current Spark SRT 01E machinery which has been in use since the championship's inaugural season in 2014.
From 1986-1990, Birmingham memorably held its 'Superprix' – a round on the Formula 3000 calendar.
“Over the last year, we have been in negotiations with the organisers of the FIA Formula E Championship about bringing a road race to Birmingham, effectively reviving the Superprix,” Street told Reuters.
“We are now in the advanced stages of these negotiations.”
After the cancellation of the doubleheader Montreal ePrix which was set to act as the backdrop for the 2017/18 season finale, multiple reports linked Birmingham to the series as a potential replacement while Norising was also allegedly under consideration although the idea for a replacement race has since dissolved.
“So much of the engineering that goes into the cars already used in Formula E racing comes from the West Midlands, it makes perfect sense we should be hosting such events,” Street added.
“If we are successful in concluding the deal, this Formula E race will take place next summer on a route similar to the one used in the original Superprix.”
In Season One and Season Two, Formula E memorably raced at Battersea Park in London although this event was removed from the Season Three and Season Four calendars after residents complained about the disruption that the race caused. A round in Britain has since been absent.
