Baek Byung-yeul is a journalist at The Korea Times focused on cultural content, including films and cultural events in South Korea. You can contact him at baekby@koreatimes.co.kr to share your insights.
Seoul E-Prix ready to thrill EV racing fans
The poster for the Seoul E-Prix electric car racing competition / Courtesy of Formula E Korea
By Baek Byung-yeul
By Baek Byung-yeul
Seoul E-Prix, the first global electric vehicle (EV) race to be held in Korea, is in the final stages of preparing for a successful motor sports competition at Jamsil Sports Complex, ahead of its opening on Aug. 13, according to its organizing committee, Thursday.
“As the racing competition has been delayed for about two years because of COVID-19 and will be held after a long wait, the Seoul E-Prix will feature a variety of events to enjoy,” Formula E Korea, the organizing committee of the event, said.
Organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the Seoul E-Prix will be a stage for global carmakers, such as Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar and Porsche, to show off their EV technologies.
For the two-day event, which will be held on Aug. 13 and 14, 22 drivers ― two drivers per team ―of 11 teams will race around the sports complex in southeastern Seoul.
A spokesperson of the committee said, “The circuit will be built on the roads outside the stadium and the main stadium, and more than 90 percent of the track has been completed as of Aug. 3, 10 days before the event.”
Organizers said the biggest feature of the Seoul E-Prix is the design of the track, at which spectators can enjoy the excitement of motorsports in any seat inside the stadium.
“Spectators can watch drivers dynamically turn and compete fiercely for cornering on a doughnut-shaped track. Outside the stadium, they can also watch the overtaking competition among drivers in the long stretch,” the organizers said.
As the Seoul event is the final competition to confirm the winner of the 2021/2022 season, a large-sized podium will also be installed inside the stadium.
In addition to the racing event, the Seoul E-Prix will also open Allianz E-VILLAGE, enabling visitors to enjoy a variety of forms of entertainment. This is a free space where people can see future concept cars by famous car brands and GEN2 racing cars and try out Formula E racing via a racing simulator.
Visitors can also watch the event on the screen in this space, and various events such as signing events for Formula E drivers and Pokemon Parade are prepared.
Given that the Seoul E-Prix is an eco-friendly motor sports event with the motto, “Race for the Earth,” the Allianz E-VILLAGE is designed using eco-friendly materials, the organizers added.
“Formula E Korea is making every effort to ensure safety and success, as the event will be the first EV race to be held in Korea. The goal is to organize various programs that everyone can enjoy regardless of gender, age, nationality or language and to make it a world-class entertainment festival that can be enjoyed by both competitors and tourists beyond racing,” the organizers said.