Motor racing takes place in countries across Europe, but you never hear about races in Switzerland. That's because the Swiss government banned motorsports within its insular borders back in 1955, and hasn't looked back since. But sixty years later, Switzerland has lifted the ban, if only for one type of racing: Formula E.
According to the organizers of the new electric racing series, the Council of States – the upper house of the Swiss legislature – has adopted a resolution that will open its borders to have Formula E hold a race there in a couple of years from now.
With the inaugural season currently under way and the calendar for next year already apparently locked in, the Swiss ePrix (or whatever it will ultimately be called) is set to form part of the 2016/17 championship in its third year. Organizers have yet to determine exactly where the race will be held, but the events to date have been fielded on street circuits set up within city centers, and not on purpose-built tracks.
The development follows a demonstration event held in Geneva during the motor show there, in which Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro drove the spec Spark-Renault SRT_01E around the city.
The last time Switzerland hosted a major event was at the Bremgarten circuit near Bern in 1954. The following year, the Swiss government joined those of many neighboring countries in banning motor racing after numerous spectators were killed in a particularly horrific accident at Le Mans.
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According to the organizers of the new electric racing series, the Council of States – the upper house of the Swiss legislature – has adopted a resolution that will open its borders to have Formula E hold a race there in a couple of years from now.
With the inaugural season currently under way and the calendar for next year already apparently locked in, the Swiss ePrix (or whatever it will ultimately be called) is set to form part of the 2016/17 championship in its third year. Organizers have yet to determine exactly where the race will be held, but the events to date have been fielded on street circuits set up within city centers, and not on purpose-built tracks.
The development follows a demonstration event held in Geneva during the motor show there, in which Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro drove the spec Spark-Renault SRT_01E around the city.
The last time Switzerland hosted a major event was at the Bremgarten circuit near Bern in 1954. The following year, the Swiss government joined those of many neighboring countries in banning motor racing after numerous spectators were killed in a particularly horrific accident at Le Mans.
Related Video:
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