The state of Telangana has signed a letter of intent with Formula E to bring the full electric championship to India for the first time, with the formal agreement expected to be signed within 90 days instead.
The first race is expected to take place between November 2022 and March 2023 at a 2.3km circuit overlooking Hussain Sagar Lake in Hyderabad, one of the largest cities in the country.
The E-Prix is expected to be part of Telangana state’s drive to position itself as India’s electricity hub and is supported by the Greenko Group, a leading renewable energy company in the country.
Both Formula E CEO Alberto Longo and Series Track Manager Agus Zomeno were present at the official ceremony in Hyderabad this morning, as were Mahindra Racing team principal Dilbagh Gill.
“We are only announcing Hyderabad as a candidate city, but it is too early to say it will be officially on the Formula E calendar,” said Longo.
“We hope this happens very soon and that we can actually enjoy a race at this location in the months to come. We hope to come here between December 2022 and March 2023,” he added.
Both Mahindra Racing and the organizers of the series have long sought to bring the championship to India, the fourth largest market for the automotive sector. However, previous efforts have all failed.
Ahead of the start of Formula E 7 season, 2021, Longo had said that India is very high on the list of countries he would like to take the series to in the coming years.
If the race were to go ahead as planned, it would be the first FIA event in India around a decade after the 2013 Formula 1 Grand Prix.
As mentioned, the landing in India should also coincide with the introduction of the Gen3 cars, which will be capable of producing 470 horsepower.
Alexander Sims, Mahindra Racing, Mahindra M7Electro
Photo by: Carl Bingham / Motorsport Images
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