Santiago, the capital city of Chile, will once again play host to a round of the all-electric Formula E championship, filling one of the vacant spots on the Season 5 calendar.
The city hosted Formula E earlier this year as part of the 2017/18 season, but wasn't on the confirmed 2018/19 calendar. However following a change of venue, it has been announced that it will return for the upcoming Season 5 which starts in December.
Santiago will host round three of the championship on January 26 in the surroundings of Parque O’Higgins. Antofagasta Minerals will be the title sponsor for a second consecutive year and has also expanded its affiliation with the electric street racing series as official copper mining partner.
"I’m incredibly happy that Santiago will again feature on the ABB FIA Formula E Championship calendar for season five," said Alberto Longo, Formula E's co-founder and chief championship officer. "I have particularly fond memories of the event last year and I really like the atmosphere of the city and backdrop against the Andes.
"I’d like to thank the Mayor Felipe Alessandri for his support – as well as the Minister of Sport Pauline Kantor, the Minister of Energy Susana Jiménez, the Intendenta de la Región Metropolitana Karla Rubilar and the President of FADECH Mauricio Melo Avaria for making it possible to host a race in Chile.
"Parque O’Higgins is an ideal location for an international sporting event such as ours. Also, I’d like to express my gratitude to Antofagasta Minerals for their continued partnership and I look forward to working closely with them as they join the Formula E family as an official partner."
The new circuit will feature 14 corners, running through the centre of the park and around the Movistar Arena.
City mayor, Felipe Alessandri, said the new venue had been chosen in response to feedback and further improvements would be made to ensure the impact of the race was minimal on the local area.
"Now we’re changing the location, we learned and we listened to the neighbours – we’re talking with them to mitigate the negative externalities that means organising this event inside Parque O'Higgins. Therefore, the work is done during the day and retaining open access – swimming pools and recreational areas still in operation.
"As happened in Parque Forestal, the monies obtained by the concept of municipal rights are invested in projects that improve the quality of life for residents – stories such as the installation of new public lighting, recovery of facades, bollards and improvements to playgrounds, pet areas and the installation of an exercise zone."
2018/19 Formula E Calendar
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| December 15 | Saudi Arabia | Ad Diriyah* |
| January 12 | Morocco | Marrakesh |
| January 26 | Chile | Santiago* |
| February 16 | Mexico | Mexico City |
| March 10 | China | Hong Kong |
| March 23 | China | TBA |
| April 13 | Italy | Rome |
| April 27 | France | Paris |
| May 11 | Monaco | Monaco* |
| May 25 | Germany | Berlin |
| June 9 | Switzerland | Zurich** |
| July 13 | USA | New York |
| July 14 | USA | New York |
* Subject to circuit homologation
** Subject to ASN approval, circuit homologation and final approval of the city
