Hyderabad Gears Up for Formula E Racing in 2023
As Hyderabad prepares to host Formula-E racing on February 11, 2023, a management committee has been created to oversee the arrangements, which include event planning, work progress reviews, marketing, and outreach. The committee will be led by K T Rama Rao, Minister of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), and Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group.
On June 29, 2022, the FIA (Federation Internationale de l’Automobile) World Motor Sport Council confirmed the Formula E Championship calendar for the ninth season (2022-23). The inaugural ABB FIA Formula E World Championship race will be held in Hyderabad.
With this championship, India has re-established itself as a worldwide racing powerhouse, having previously held the Formula One event at the Buddha International track in Greater Noida from 2011 to 2013. With this announcement, Hyderabad becomes the only city in India and one of 13 locations worldwide to hold Formula E racing. This is an electric single-seater competition that began in 2014 and was given World Championship status by the FIA during the seventh season in 2020-21. Unlike Formula One, which is staged on purpose-built courses, Formula E, also known as E-Prix, races are held on street circuits, according to the organisers, promoting electric mobility and racing to spectators.
The State government and Formula E authorities signed a letter of intent (LOI) in January 2022 to organise the race in the city, with “Ace Urban Race” as the promoter partner with the FIA. The course has been finalized, and the race will be run on a 2.37 km circle around Hussain Sagar Lake – the circuit encompassing both the Secretariat Complex and Lumbini Park.
Inter-departmental coordination has been made sure of, as well as other requirements such as transportation, lodging for logistics, media preparation, outreach, marketing, and promotion. KTR has also examined the planned action plan and the necessary preparations and has determined that two high-level committees would be formed.
The Minister for MA&UD, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, Dilbagh Gill, Chief Executive Officer and Team Principal of Mahindra Racing, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Ace Urban Race, and a representative of the FIA will serve as the chairmen of the Managing Committee.
Arvind Kumar, Special Chief Secretary (MA&UD) Department, Member Convener, and the Committee will decide on the three topic experts/brand ambassadors.
