Montreal ePrix could have new venue for season finale

Formula E’s Montreal ePrix could take place at a new venue following the election of Valerie Plante as the city’s mayor.

Formula 1’s Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is under consideration for the race which is scheduled to take place in July 2018.

The previous Mayor, Denis Coderre, signed a three-year deal with Formula E for Montreal to host the season finale.

Plante is keen to honour the contract signed by her predecessor but hopes to hold the race on the Formula 1 circuit due to difficulties for citizens and businesses.

CTV News Montreal quotes Plante as saying: “It’s not going to happen in the streets of Montreal because we’ve seen how it was difficult for both businesses and citizens as well.

“My conviction or my will is to make sure that we will honour the contract of the Formula E, there are two editions left. That said I don’t have all the documents of what needs to be done, for example, the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve.”

There is a complication with the fact that the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is supposed to be renovated under the contract signed with Bernie Ecclestone.

A 10-year extension was signed for the Formula 1 race in 2014 under the condition that circuit facilities were upgraded.

Work on the upgrades is due to start after the 2018 Canadian Grand Prix which takes place in June 2018, around seven weeks before the scheduled Montreal ePrix.