Vancouver is in position

Motorsport-Magazin.com – Formula E may return to Canada in the next 2021/22 season. Vancouver city officials have now positioned themselves to host a race in July 2022 in Canada’s third largest city. According to several local media outlets, City Counselors Sarah Kirby-Yung and Michael Wieb have submitted a proposal to the Vancouver City Council for further review.

For the first and last time, Formula E made a guest appearance in the season finale at the time in Canada in 2017, with Audi driver Lucas de Grassi championing himself. Subsequently, a legal dispute between the electric racing series and the city of Montreal began after a race was not planned for 2018 as a result of the change of mayor.

Montreal had approached private Canadian organizer OSS Group (One Stop Strategy Motorsports) with a proposal to organize a race in the city. Behind the organization, who is said to have been involved in the staging of the Bern ePrix 2019 in addition to the Montreal season finale, is former Lotus Formula 1 team CEO Matthew Carter.

With Formula E, which had always shown interest in a Canadian comeback, Vancouver would host a motorsport event for the first time since 2004. From 1990 to 2004, the American formula series IndyCar / CART / Champ Car competed the so-called ‘Molson Indy’ race on a temporary course in the Fake Creek district. In preparation for Vancouver’s 2010 Winter Olympics, the event eventually fell flat.

According to the OSS Group, the city will not bear any costs for the Formula E event. While some cities have in the past had to invest tens of euros in public funds to race in the e-racing series, other ePricks were primarily funded by private investors. The question of costs was decisive for the application to the Vancouver city council.

Formula E races can be clubbed together with concerts over an extended weekend – such as in Saudi Arabia in 2018 – and rounds of discussions on sustainability. “It’s a win-win situation,” Councilor Kirby-Yung said. “You get a fantastic event, support the tourism sector, promote dialogue on sustainable transportation, and all without the investment of taxpayers.”