Cape Town will host the first Formula E race in South Africa as Seoul venue becomes unavailable due to local renovations
The FIA World Motor Sport Council ratified updates to the Season 9 Formula E calendar today, confirming Cape Town as the latest new-entry on the list.
The first ever Formula E race in South Africa will take place on the streets of Cape Town on February 25 for Round 5 of the 2022/23 World Championship. The circuit, announced with a map still subject to FIA homologation, is set to be one of the fastest tracks on the calendar – with long straights, and only 12 turns.
“We are excited to announce Cape Town as a new destination for our series in Season 9,” said Formula E Co-Founder and Chief Championship Alberto Longo. “Our local partners are working incredibly hard to bring an ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race to the city and we cannot wait to see the futuristic Gen3 race cars competing against the iconic natural backdrop of Table Mountain.”
Cape Town joins Hyderabad and São Paulo as new cities scheduled to hold races in the upcoming Season 9, which opens in Mexico City on 14 January 2023.
A double header in Berlin has also been confirmed for the race weekend on 22 and 23 April, while Seoul and New York disappear from the ratified calendar, with locations for Rounds 10 and 13 in the 17-race season set to be announced at a later date.
After issues with the North American double header, Formula E had to scramble to find a replacement for the previously secured venue of the Seoul E-Prix, which is now at risk due to construction work in and around the Olympic area where the Season 8 finale took place last August.
“Renovation work at the Olympic Stadium in Seoul means we cannot return to the same location next season as originally planned,” said Longo. “We are exploring other options in South Korea to replace this venue. We are also in active discussions with more world cities and venues to host an event on the other date without a confirmed location.”
With the possibility to increase the amount of double headers in order to reach their quota, or even call upon Marrakesh as a substitute for either the New York or Seoul rounds, Formula E’s priority is to ensure that the beginning of the Gen3 era in Formula E will mark another step towards the series expansion, with a calendar counting at least 10 different venues.
