MOTORSPORT: Formula E ruled out for Australia

Formula E racing will not be coming to Australia any time soon, despite the enthusiasm of the series’ founder Alejandro Agag and a number of approaches from local cities.

Agag created Formula E and rules the world’s premier battery-electric open-wheeler championship with a Bernie Ecclestone-style approach that covers everything from promotion of races to the influx of close to a dozen of the world’s carmakers.

The wealthy Spanish businessman, who now operates from London and was once a politician and also chairman of Queens Park Rangers, tells carsales.com.au he has had approaches from three Australian cities about a Formula E race.

“We spoke to Adelaide a few years ago. But there is not really a proposal on the table at the moment,” he reveals in the Formula E pits in Hong Kong.

“But, yeah, we would be open to an opportunity. I have been to Australia a few times. We talk also to Perth, we spoke to Sydney. So we are talking to many different cities.”

So, is a deal close?

“Not so close.”

He reveals the biggest blockage is the cost of airlifting the series down under.

“It is a big expense because the flight is a little bit longer. The logistic cost is a little bit higher. Anything  between 12 and 15 million Euros.

“But on the other hand we would love to come. It is a great country. And the country is also doing a lot of renewables. We would love to be there.”

Agag believes Formula E is playing a pivotal role in the global transition to battery cars.

“I think formula E can accelerate the uptake of electric vehicles. It really helps change the perception about electric vehicles.

"Actually, we have seen a lot of interest from Australian companies to bring Formula E there. So I think the private sector would be there.”

He admits the sound of the cars, which is more like a full-scale slot car than a thundering V8, has polarised opinion but is happy to defend it.

“We are quite happy with the low level of noise.”

But he also says it could change in future.

“We may do something but it would not be anything energy produced. We would not use any noise that is produced by some sort of device.

“It would be more some twist on the bodywork, or something with the wind to make noise. And you can do really high noises with airflow. So it would be more the shape of the cars that would make the noise, not something artificial.”

With nine brands now involved in Formula E, at a time when most carmakers are fleeing from motorsport, Agag admits that his series could turn into a big-spending arms war despite tight controls on things like bodywork and batteries.

“We have to be very careful. We have a lot of big car manufacturers. And next year Porsche and Mercedes-Benz are in and they want to win. Both really want to win. So we have to be careful.

“I am worried. We are putting a lot of measures against that, and the fact that a lot of the car is standardised means you have a small window of development. “That keeps the cost under control. The aerodynamics is all controlled. But the engine is an opportunity and this is where they are developing.”

At the same time, Agag and his team are working on Generation 3 regulations for Formula E.

Despite the power of the manufacturers in the series, including their own association, he is not too concerned.

“These guys cannot agree what time of the day it is. We say where we are going and they have to follow. And if they are not happy they don’t have to be here.

“Of course we listen, then we dictate the rules.”

One of his ideas for the future is pitstops with fast-charger hook-ups to boost the batteries.

“I want to focus on fast charging. The battery will be smaller, but with some pitstops and you come and put some juice in the battery.

“That makes a lot of sense for the industry. Because electric cars you cannot charge them quick. That is going to make a big difference to the uptake of electric cars.”