The excitement surrounding the FIA Formula E Championship was raised by yet another notch, as Lucas di Grassi, the series development driver, took the Spark-Renault SRT_01E on its maiden demonstration run on the streets surrounding the Mandalay Bay Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on Monday.
The invited guests, media and general onlookers got to experience the car in person for the very first time as a part of the 2014 International Consumer Electronics Show, as a result of the partnership between Formula E and Qualcomm Incorporated, as Qualcomm is one of the founding partners since Formula E started up 12 months ago.
Formula E Holdings CEO, Alejandro Agag, said that it had been a special landmark for the first public run of the new car that will be the basis for the ten-race championship that starts in September this year. This was also because of the fact that there is a lot happening in the USA, especially with Miami and Florida holding twenty percent of the races, FOX Sports being the USA’s official broadcaster of Formula E, as well as the investment that has been put in by the owner of the Boston Celtics, Wyc Grousbeck
Agag was also quick to mention one important other factor: “Of course, the US’s ever expanding electric vehicle market.” He also fondly looked back to where it all began: “When we started we had no cities, no teams, no broadcasters and no car. Now we have all these things so to be able to showcase our new car to everyone involved, and of course the fans, is a very proud moment.
“2014 is a very big year for Formula E with the championship starting in September so it’s important to be starting on such a positive note. Today will also be the first of many roadshows we have planned over the coming months as we want as many people as possible to see, and hear, what we believe is the future of motorsport.”
Another new sponsor that has come on board for the series is the Ceasars Palace casino brand, as Tariq Shaukat, Caesars Entertainment’s Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, explained that the established group is “proud to keep at the leading edge of the auto sports industry and technology innovation by partnering as the exclusive casino sponsor with the first-of-its-kind Formula E racing car. This partnership complements our ongoing global environmental efforts and supports the company’s focus of leveraging technology to enhance the overall guest experience at our many entertainment destinations worldwide.”
The car itself will now be part of the International CES for the remainder of the show at the Qualcomm stand, where the new Halo™ WEVC (Wireless Electric Vehicle Charging) will be showcased as a part of Qualcomm’s leadership in the mobile space technology, but will also showcase the application of the technology for the series.
Dr. Paul E. Jacobs, Chairman and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated, stated that the company is “proud to be a Founding Technology Partner of the FIA Formula E Championship and a part of a global movement towards sustainable living.”
Like a lot of people and partners that have been involved with this new series from the very beginning, the “buzz” surrounding Formula E is continuing to grow as the time draws near…