Buenos Aires welcomes Formula E with official launch ceremony

Government officials, local authorities and the Automovil Club Argentino (ACA) gathered in Buenos Aires today for a press conference to officially welcome the new all-electric FIA Formula E Championship, which will see the Argentinean capital host a race for the next three years. 

“To connect sports with sustainable development, taking care of the environment, is the path that we choose in order to make Buenos Aires a healthier place to live,” Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, Head of the Cabinet for Buenos Aires, said. “It is also very important to carry out these kind of activities that not only attract thousands of tourists but also hundreds of neighbours in the city who can enjoy this attractive event with their families.”

The prestigious event was attended by more than 100 distinguished guests and was held at the Yacht Club of Puerto Madero – which is only a short walk from the track located in the popular Puerto Madero district.

“I’m delighted to welcome Formula E to Buenos Aires,” Carlos Garcia Remohi, President of Automovil Club Argentino, said. “Argentina is a country of great automotive tradition as well as a unique setting to host a race. I’d like to thank the FIA for its continued support for Formula E and commitment to clean mobility and sustainable technologies.”

Buenos Aires joins a list of nine cities to be announced for the inaugural season and one of two races taking place in South America. Together with the CEO of Formula E Alejandro Agag, government officials and the President of the ACA addressed invited media ahead of the city’s first electric race on January 10 2015.

“We’re very excited about racing in Argentina and want to thank the City Government, the ACA and all the local authorities for their continued support, investment and backing,” Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said. “We believe this race is going to provide a fantastic spectacle for the people of Buenos Aires and for Formula E fans around the world.”

Buenos Aires will also see the debut of the first Greenpower event as a support race on the Formula E schedule, designed to promote sustainable engineering to young people. The project sees students from local schools designing and building their own small-scale electric race car, which will then compete on the full Formula E circuit.

Full details on tickets for the event will be revealed shortly. For more information on Formula E, including viewing an interactive circuit map of the Buenos Aires ePrix, visit www.fiaformulae.com.

 

Adam Sinclair