Formula E gets the FIA World Championship status
Formula E, the world’s first all-electric racing series, will have the status of the FIA World Championship status from season seven (2020-2021), according to a decision made by the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC). FIA President Jean Todt and Chairman of Formula E Alejandro Agag signed the agreement together at the FIA headquarters in Paris.
The season six, which features 14 races across five continents, started ten days ago in Saudi Arabia. The championship has, for the first time, thirteen teams included. Porsche and Mercedes joined the series in 2019, and now they race against Audi, BMW, Jaguar, DS Automobiles, NIO, Penske, Nissan and Mahindra Racing.
FIA President Jean Todt said: “The creation and development of Formula E have been a great adventure. I am proud that today we confirm its FIA world championship status. Since we started this journey, Formula E has undoubtedly gone from strength to strength. Within a short timeframe, the series has proven itself relevant for the automotive industry with two more major car manufacturers having joined the series at the start of the current season, bringing their total number to ten. The commitment and professionalism of those manufacturers and their respective teams is mirrored in the quality of the driver roster which has improved with every season. Since its first race in Beijing in 2014 and with every E-Prix thereafter, Formula E has proven that the concept of cutting-edge electric racing works. I wholeheartedly welcome Formula E as the latest FIA world championship.”
Chairman of Formula E Alejandro Agag said: “It was always our ambition to one day become an FIA world championship. Everything we have done and delivered to this point has been working towards this particular moment in time. Achieving the feat and being granted with FIA world championship status adds more credibility to what is already a fully-fledged formula of racing and a spectacular sporting product. This agreement and announcement truly puts Formula E in the top tier of international single-seater racing. It has been a tremendous effort from many people involved and none of it would have been possible without the support of FIA President Jean Todt and the federation, as well as the dedication and commitment shown by our teams and partners. Now we can say we have done it. But it is only the beginning of a new chapter under the banner of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.”
There’s no doubt that the future of racing lies in the electric vehicles, and it’s great that the FIA has finally decided to accept this.
Photo: FIA
