The largest metropolitan area of the Philippines has been proposed as a potential future venue for the FIA Formula E World Championship, according to reports.
The English-language Philippine Star newspaper has said that “foreign investors” are interested in the Metro Manila region, which encompasses the capital city, becoming a location for the championship.
Romando Artes, Acting Chairman of the Metro Manila Development Authority, confirmed to the publication that at a meeting of the Metro Manila Council on Wednesday, the proposal was made for the region to potentially host a race in the future.
Artes said that little information could be shared at the present moment, but adding that any potential race would be held “at no cost to the government”, due to the event being funded by the organisers.
Formula E’s CEO Jeff Dodds has previously indicated that he would like to expand the series’ interest in Asia, telling BlackBook Motorsport in March: “I definitely feel we can do more in Asia,” adding: “It’s the perfect market for us,” owing to the number of electric vehicles that are currently being sold in the continent.
Formula E took big steps by returning to China in Season 10 for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as debuting a new street circuit in Tokyo, which became of the first sporting events outside of its own marathon to close the city. The success of the event has now led to the race becoming a double-header in Season 11.
The Philippines has little experience in hosting single-seater racing in the past, but Dodds’ vision for other Formula E races being staged in nations largely untouched by top-level motor racing has been evident already, with a race in Thailand having been mooted for the upcoming 11th season.
However, due to political unrest in the country, it is now understood that the chances of the race are slim, with other options being considered.
It was originally thought that the Berlin Tempelhof circuit, pencilled-in for a double-header in July, was the likeliest venue to step in as a replacement, but Motorsport Week understands that other venues are now also being considered.
These include the Circuit Ricardo Tormo in Valencia, which hosted rounds five and six of Season 7, and also serves as the track for its pre-season testing programme, with FE also in the process of currently upheaving its global logistics and development hub to the facility.
It is thought that other unnamed circuits outside of Europe are also on the list of potential replacements.
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