Formula E has confirmed that it will be returning to India next year, with the Hyderabad E-Prix scheduled for February 10, 2024. The event joins a 16-round calendar that has been revealed following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council.
- 2024 Hyderabad E-Prix on February 10
- 2024 calendar features 16 rounds
- New Italian venue being evaluated
Hyderabad E-Prix to return
The inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix was held on the streets alongside the Hussain Sagar Lake earlier this year, with an attendance of roughly 31,000. Speaking to Autocar India at the event, Alberto Longo, co-founder and chief championship officer, Formula E, stressed that India was “a must” for Formula E.
“Yes, there were challenges, as there are in every single city that we have raced in for the first time. But these are definitely something that we can work around,” he had added.
However, in the months since, there were doubts surrounding the return of the Hyderabad E-Prix, especially since the organising team for the event was disbanded back in August. Formula E has now put those doubts to rest, giving the 2024 Hyderabad E-Prix the go-ahead with support from the Telangana Government and Minister KT Rama Rao.
Mahindra Racing has been part of Formula E since the series’ inception. But there’s going to be even more India representation on grid next year, with Jehan Daruvala racing for Maserati.
2024 Formula E calendar revealed
Formula E will also return to China was the first time in five years, with the first-ever Shanghai E-Prix scheduled as a double-header in May 2024. This means Formula E will be the only motorsport championship to race in the world’s three most populous countries (China, India and USA) in 2024.
“Without doubt, our Season 10 calendar is the most compelling yet for drivers, teams, fans and viewers around the world. The combination of street circuits, which is in Formula E’s DNA, and established race tracks will allow drivers to push the capabilities of the Gen3 car harder and further,” Longo said.
Three events have been dropped, though, with the 2024 calendar not including Jakarta, Rome and Cape Town. Organisers are evaluating a venue change for the Italian rounds after a review by experts found that the new Gen3 Formula E car has “reached the limits of the narrow, sharp-turning circuit in Rome’s business district”. An official statement adds that “Formula E is exploring alternative venues, including permanent circuits, to maintain an event in the key Italian market.”
Dinshaw Magol
