FIA Formula E’s co-founder, Alberto Longo, has said that the series is committed to seeking a return to India after Season 10’s race was cancelled at short notice.
After a breakdown in talks with local government caused the event to be shelved with only weeks to go, the sport is keen to return to the country, and Longo, speaking to The Press Trust of India, has indicated that such a move is a high priority, and revealed that it is talking to other potential venues for a future race.
“India is a tier 1 market for us,” he said.
“We are working every day to get back there. We are currently talking to three major cities – that’s all I can reveal.
“There is a lot of interest in a Formula E race in India.”
Despite keeping its options open, Longo recognises that a new circuit would have complications in comparison to a return to the same circuit.
“It is much more difficult to organise a completely new race than to return to an existing location. That’s why there is so much frustration about the situation in Hyderabad.”
Hyderabad made its debut in Season 9, and after initial negativity from drivers about the circuit’s layout, alterations were made and the race produced an entertaining affair, with DS Penske’s Jean-Éric Vergne taking victory.
Formula E has already a new potential issue in its provisional calendar, with an unconfirmed but widely-speculated race in Thailand, apparently pencilled-in for March 8th, under threat after political unease in the Asian country.
The race was due to make Formula E the first single-seater motor-racing series to hold a race in the country, but the recent removal from power of its Prime Minister has brought doubt over the race now taking place.
If it will not go ahead, it is likely that the date will be kept on the calendar, but will instead move to Formula E’s trusted Tempelhof street circuit layout in Berlin.
However, the series can boast a brand new American venue in Miami for Season 11 as well as double-headers announced for both the Tokyo and Monaco E-Prix.
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