The FIA Formula E championship will be making its Middle East debut next season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The electric series has entered into an agreement with the Middle Eastern country, which will host the opening round of the 2018/19 Formula E Championship in December this year. The 10-year agreement with the General Sports Authority and Saudi Arabian Motor Federation aims to diversify sporting activities in the country while giving Saudi Arabia its first global motorsport event. The exact date for the Season 5 opening race is yet to be confirmed, with the 2018/19 calendar still awaiting official confirmation from the FIA World Motorsport Council.
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The Formula E Season 5 opener will take place at a circuit built on the outskirts of the city and will also mark the debut of the new Gen2 cars in the electric championship. The move also comes as Saudi Arabia aims to diversify its economy and reduce its dependence on oil.
"Saudi Arabia is looking to the future and Formula E is the motorsport of the future, that's why this is such an exciting opportunity," said His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Faisal Al Saud, Vice-Chair of the Saudi Arabia General Sports Authority.
"It aligns perfectly with the country's 2030 vision and offers the prospect of world-class racing on the streets of the capital for the first time in our history. For all fans, men, women, young and old, the dream of a hosting a 'home race' will now come true," he added further.
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He also said, "The length of the partnership will give Saudi Arabia and Formula E the platform to create a lasting legacy for both the sport globally and the Kingdom over the course of a decade."
Speaking on adding Riyadh to the calendar, Formula E, Founder and CEO, Alejandro Agag said, "Bringing racing to Riyadh for the first round of the new season is the perfect setting for the next phase of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. An exciting and vibrant country that is focussing on its future, Saudi Arabia will be the ideal venue to mark the competitive debut of the next generation Formula E cars. We think Saudi Arabia - with the new vision of Prince Abdulaziz, Prince Khalid and the country - is a fitting location to launch the latest chapter of the electric street racing series."
His Royal Highness Prince Khaled Bin Sultan Bin Abdullah Al Faisal, President of the Saudi Arabian Motor Federation, commented: "The interest and passion for motorsport amongst the people in the Kingdom is already vast, with a rich heritage in rallying, drag racing and other forms of motorsport - but the sport in Saudi Arabia is about to be supercharged by this development."
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"This event and all that surrounds it, from welcoming world-class teams to the global TV coverage, represents a watershed moment. By hosting Formula E in Riyadh, the enthusiasm for motorsport and sustainable technologies will be heightened further to leave behind a valuable footprint in the Kingdom's landscape and showcase its growing credentials as a sporting destination."
Formula E is being seen as the future of motorsport and has pecked the interests of manufacturers, teams and masses alike. The electric series has grown exponentially since its debut in 2014 and will see its biggest overhaul next season with the Gen2 cars.
While Season 5 is still some time away, the 2017/18 Formula E Season 4 is well underway and has seen its fair share of action too. The series is gearing up for its next round in Berlin, scheduled on May 19, 2018.
