Formula E hit the streets of the Big Apple to launch this year’s edition of the New York International Auto Show, marking the first time the official championship car has run on the roads of Manhattan ahead of the Qatar Airways New York City EPrix on July 14 & 15 – the final two rounds of the 2017/18 ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
The fully-electric Formula E car led a fleet of electric vehicles along 11th Ave. to the Javits Center on the west side of New York with season one champion and Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Nelson Piquet Jr. behind the wheel.
Running parallel to the Hudson River and the backdrop of Midtown Manhattan and the Empire State Building, the parade also featured the Jaguar brand’s first all-electric vehicle – the Jaguar I-PACE performance SUV.
The Jaguar I-PACE will arrive at retailers later this year. A modified race-ready version is set to make its debut in a new all-electric support series alongside races in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship next season – titled the Jaguar I-PACE eTROPHY.
The ABB FIA Formula E Championship is returning to Red Hook in Brooklyn for the second time after the inaugural event last summer, where Formula E made history with the first FIA-sanctioned singleseater race taking place within the five boroughs of New York City in modern history.
As part of a long-term vision to make the Brooklyn waterfront Formula E’s home in New York, the cars will navigate a slightly different route this year – with an extension to the track in a bid to cater to the next generation of faster and more efficient cars next season, together with adding further overtaking opportunities.
Subject to new track homologation, instead of taking the sharp hairpin at Turn 6 the drivers will now tackle a left-right complex at the North end of the circuit – adding four extra corners and lengthening the track to 1.52-miles (2.45-km).
Tickets for the season finale of the 2017/18 ABB FIA Formula E Championship in New York go on sale next week on April 3. Grandstand tickets are priced at $85 per day or $150 for a combined weekend ticket. Children aged 12 and under can enter for free and students can watch all the action from $55 per day or $95 for both races.
Nelson Piquet Jr, Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver, said:
To be the first to drive the Formula E car on the streets in Manhattan has been a lot of fun. I love this city and I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to promote electric vehicles like the new Jaguar I-PACE, our first all-electric performance SUV, and launch the race returning to Brooklyn. The new track layout will make the racing more competitive and New York is the perfect place for the finale of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in July. I’m looking forward to fighting for more points for Panasonic Jaguar Racing and racing to the flag in my all-electric Jaguar I-TYPE 2.
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