Law amendment paves way for possible London ePrix
London lost its Formula E race this season following a public battle by local residents, but a recent ruling by the Department of Transport could give hope for a British ePrix in the future by allowing racing on closed English roads.
As revealed by the Motor Sports Association (MSA), the new legislation which came into effect on Monday will allow motorsport events no matter their size to take place on public roads following a recent consultation.
London hosted the finale for the first and second seasons of the Formula E Championship around Battersea Park, although series founder and CEO Alejandro Agag has expressed and interest in hosting an event in a more central location in the city. Other locations including the former Olympic Park in Stratford have also been floated as a possible alternative.
The amendment to the Road Traffic Act now allows both the MSA and the Auto-Cycle Union (ACU) to be the two authorising bodies, who are able to issue permits from April 10.
Pleased with the progress made over the last seven years, MSA Chief Executive Rob Jones said: “This is a seismic shift for UK motorsport, and one that the MSA and the wider motorsport community have pursued determinedly for many years. We can now take motorsport to the people, and in turn those local hosting communities have the opportunity to benefit from the economic boost that these events may provide.”
This season’s finale of the Formula E Championship will take place in Montreal with a doubleheader on July 29 and 30, the series heading to Canada for the first time.