Brooklyn Formula E

Series champion Jean-Eric Vergne. [Photo by FIA Formula E]

By Eddie LePine

I’m just back from New York City where I covered the ABB FIA Formula E races in Brooklyn. After covering Formula E since the beginning of the Formula’s appearance in the US, I think I am in a good spot to reflect on the growth of this form of motorsport. Bottom line: it is growing rapidly and is the future of the sport.

This year there were ten different winners in ten different races and the championship came down the last lap of the last race of the season.

Katherine Legge with her I Pace Jaguar. [Photo by Eddie LePine]

Andre Lotterer and the new Porsche Formula E car. [Photo by Porsche Motorsport]

Audi in the garage area. [Photo by Eddie LePine]

Lucas di Grassi, Jean-Eric Vergne and Andre Lotterer try out the simulators. [Photo by Eddie LePine]

In the end, it was Jean-Eric Vergne winning the driver’s championship for the DS Techeetah Formula E Team, the first back to back champion in series history.

Next season, Porsche and Mercedes join the championship and the series just continues to go from strength to strength. Right after the race it was announced that Andre Lotterer will be one of the drivers for the Porsche factory entry. Andre said: “I’m really looking forward to competing for Porsche in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in the 2019/2020 season. I have been part of the Porsche family since 2017 and have lots of great memories of joint successes.”

I also caught up with Neel Jani in Brooklyn, who will be driving alongside Andre for Porsche next season. Neel said: “I’m looking forward to the new challenge of Formula E and feel like this is the direction that racing will be going in the future. The platform is very good as evidenced by ten different winners in ten races. I can’t wait to get started.”

The 2019/20 season will begin November 22 and encompass 14 races in 12 cities on 4 continents.

The ABB FIA Formula E series offers the race fan the entire package – close racing and a fan friendly atmosphere at a very reasonable price. It looks to me like the wave of the future, and in the opinion of many of the world’s top drivers, they think it is the future as well.

Not only is Formula E growing and entertaining, the new support series, e trophy, featuring the Jaguar I Pace electric racer is great as well. I saw a couple of our IMSA regulars in Brooklyn racing in this series, Katherine Legge and Bryan Sellers.

If you haven’t yet made it to a Formula E race event, get yourself to New York next year to enjoy it in person.

I think you will like it.

Eddie LePine

Eddie has been involved in motorsports for over 30 years as photographer, columnist, and driver. Eddie also is now a retired racer (well, retired unless a good ride pops up).

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