Having debuted its circuit for the E-Prix in 2017, the Brooklyn Street Circuit has returned to the Formula E calendar in 2022 for a double-header of races as the 2022 E-Prix season reaches its conclusion this summer.
The New York City E-Prix has been an annual motorsports event for the Brooklyn Street Circuit in conjunction with the ABB FIA Formula E Championship and has notably served as the final round of the season on two occasions during its six-season tenure. While the 2022 E-Prix season won’t be holding its final race day in Brooklyn – as London and Seoul will close out the series – we can still expect a weekend of action-packed all-electric motorsport and the first season where an American-born driver will fly the flag as an active driver.
Brooklyn’s Street Circuit will feature Rounds 11 and 12 on the weekend of July 16-17 in the most extensive 16-round schedule in ABB FIA Formula E World Championship history. The scheduled calendar has featured and will feature iconic cities from around the globe, including London, Berlin, Monaco, Diriyah, Mexico City, and location debutants Jakarta, Vancouver, and Seoul.
A recent shift in legislation and law has allowed New York City residents to legally wager on sports events from their mobile apps or local sportsbooks. This significant alter in gambling laws will steer bettors to favour their American driver in his rookie season on the Brooklyn-based circuit. You’ll find exceptionally well-priced odds at BetMGM New York sportsbook for the native driver to lift the cup.
With that said, the betting opportunities across the board wouldn’t favour Oliver Askew, and his high-priced odds are certainly warranted. The likes of Mitch Evans, who went on record to discuss his excitement for the New York race, would be a viable betting selection, given his third place within the Formula E standings and his eagerness to race once again on the Brooklyn circuit.
Mitch Evans Countdown to Formula E in Brooklyn
When previously questioned about his excitement to race around the streets of Brooklyn, Evans said: “I can’t wait. The backdrop will be spectacular, with the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty right there. Everyone in the Jaguar team is thrilled to be part of this, the only race in the U.S. this season, making it extra special.”
Evans was also asked how challenging the Brooklyn Circuit is.
“The track is 1.21 miles around Pier 11 and the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal with some high-speed straights and very tight hairpins. All street circuits are incredibly demanding; there’s no room for error. Everyone is so tightly bunched you have to be focused; you can’t let your guard down. One thing’s for sure; it has the makings of being one of the season’s most exciting races.”
Twenty-two drivers from the eleven race teams will be competing in Brooklyn, including TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, Jaguar TCS Racing, and Mercedes-EQ, as they’ll defend their Season 7 Drivers’ and Teams’ titles. Although, the main attraction for American E-Prix supports will undoubtedly be Oliver Askew, the first American Formula E driver, and the 2019 Indy Lights Champion.
Home Country Formula E Debut
Oliver Askew hasn’t enjoyed the most successful rookie E-Prix season thus far – currently sits in 17th place in the points standings – but the Florida-born driver shouldn’t be overlooked when competing for his fellow American natives. During the South by Southwest conference, when making the NYC E-Prix ticket sale announcement, Askew was a panellist for the festival’s ‘No Turning Back’ E-Prix and ‘Electric Future’ panel. When discussing the New York race, Askew said:
“Racing in New York City in my first season in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship will be a personal highlight. The racing in Formula E is intense, and the wheel-to-wheel racing makes it one of the most exciting motorsport series out there. Formula E is an incredible, unique experience for fans too, and I can’t wait to be part of what will be an unforgettable double-header race weekend in Brooklyn.”
Racing under the Avalanche Andretti race team, as the first-ever American to compete in the series, it has been natural that a lot of attention has come his way this season. When speaking with Billy Steele of Engadget, Askew was questioned on the challenges that are unique to the series and which aspects of the E-Prix calendar have been more challenging than others.
“Multiple things; we’ll start with the tracks,” added Askew. “They are very different from what I’m used to. I have raced street tracks from the Road to Indy and IndyCar, but there are other straight tracks; they’re a lot tighter. Combine that with how I need to drive this car, which has minimal grip. It’s cumbersome, no aero, and we’re on treaded tires. So that’s been a bit of a challenge.
“But it’s a race car at the end of the day, and it has good power, good acceleration, and decelerates well. The operation window is tiny, so it’s an entirely different story in the racing situation with our energy…
“Qualifying is one thing, but it’s all a big chess match when we go to the race. You are racing other guys and deciding when to deploy energy and when to save energy. Obviously, qualifying is crucial. But if you’re able to go fast while saving energy simultaneously, you can overtake guys. It’s a very action-packed race day, and you keep seeing guys come from the back to the front by preserving energy in the beginning and then deploying it at the end – and vice versa.
“We rely a lot on our engineering. Our preparation in the simulator is massive, especially for me. I show up on the race weekend, and I get like six push laps if I’m lucky before qualifying, which is nothing from what I’m used to.”
As the world’s first all-electric FIA World Championship and the only sport that boasts a net-zero carbon since its beginning, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship provides elite racing in the heart of the world’s most iconic cities, and the double-header in New York is no exception.
