Bethonie WaringIndia is one step closer to hosting a Formula E race as Hyderabad signs a Letter of Intent to host the series.
Hyderabad is the capital city of the southeastern state of Telangana and is famous for the Hussain Sagar lake, which has a large Buddha statue in the waters.
The circuit which the city hopes to attract Formula E with runs alongside the lake and features multiple tight hairpins and a long curve under a flyover. It was designed with Formula E in mind, but will get its first racing action later this year when it hosts the FIA Formula Regional Indian Championship and Indian Formula 4.
“The competition is immense,” said Telangana minister Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao said ahead of the official letter signing. “Cities all over the world actually want Formual E to race in their city and compete with each other.
“Officially we are on the candidate list and so therefore I hope fervently and sincerely that the race will happen in Hyderabad between November of this year and February-March of next year.
“I’m very confident we will see a brilliant race happen right here because we have everything in place.”
India has been one of multiple countries that has had an interest in hosting Formula E for several years. In 2016, Indian team Mahindra Racing held a competition asking fans to design a circuit for a potential New Delhi E-Prix. The team has been at the forefront of campaigns to bring the electric racing series to India.
“We welcome Hyderabad and the State of Telangana’s interest in hosting a round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship,” said series CCO Alberto Longo. “With this Letter of Intent, we can further explore the exciting potential of returning elite motorsport to India.”
There are currently more than 20 cities around the world aiming for a spot on Formula E’s Season 9 calendar. So far the series has visited 24 different cities across 20 countries and territories.
