Formula E has conceded it may be unable to continue racing at London’s ExCel Centre in the Gen4 era, and has begun assessing alternative venues to maintain a UK round on the calendar.
The all-electric championship returned to the British capital in 2021 with a race around the ExCeL, five years after the Battersea Park layout was dropped following its short stint in 2015-16.
ExCel’s unique indoor/outdoor layout and prime location immediately made it popular among fans, and it has quickly become one of the series’ most commercially important venues.
However, as the series’ 12th season gets underway this weekend in Sao Paulo, work is already underway to determine whether each current venue can safely accommodate the wider and more powerful Gen4 car due for introduction in 2026/27.
While most tracks can be modified according to the increased safety requirements, ExCel’s structural constraints pose significant challenges.
Asked if the ExCel London Circuit could continue into the Gen4 era, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds told Autosport: “London is one of those circuits where it's very difficult.
“London is an incredibly important city in the world, but that particular circuit is kind of governed by the structure of the ExCel [venue]. At Turns 3 and 4, it really narrows down and it is really tight with the bollards there, and there's structural elements of the ExCel that can't be changed.
“So that becomes one of the circuits that is very tricky for the Gen 4 set-up, so we may not be able to race there in the future. One thing is for sure, we have one more race there, which is the end of Season 12.”
Dodds explained that Formula E is considering other sites in London as well as potential venues outside the capital for the UK round of the championship.
With FE increasingly moving towards permanent venues in recent years, even tracks like Brands Hatch are under consideration.
“We look at other locations in London. It's a big city, there are lots of places there,” Dodds said.
“There are other big cities besides London. Places like Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham that would also be very large locations for a race, albeit London has a special place in the UK.
“But then you've got other circuits like Brands Hatch and Silverstone. So there are other fixed circuits there that may be really good for the Gen 4 car. We've got probably a shortlist of six or seven different locations for London or for the UK.”
Gen4 represents Formula E’s most ambitious project till date, with the new all-wheel drive car capable of producing 800bhp and lapping significantly quicker than its predecessors.
While Dodds acknowledged that adapting certain circuits will be a challenge, he was also looking forward to seeing drivers push the Gen4 car to the limit on other, more flowing circuits.
“We've looked at every one of the tracks we raced on today,” he said. “Without saying too much, there's one circuit we raced on today where that car probably is too big for and too powerful for, so we'll have to make some changes there. [For] some of the existing circuits, we'd need to modify the track layout slightly, but actually we could race on all the same tracks.
“But I think there are certain tracks that are really going to allow this car to shine. I love all the circuits equally but I think on some of those circuits like Jeddah and Miami Hard Rock where it's a road-style layout but a big permanent facility, you're going to be able to see the car do what it does on the street-style circuit but also show off its top-end capabilities.”
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