A first-ever E-Prix in the Netherlands still has an outside chance of happening in the summer of 2022 despite the city of Eindhoven not making it onto the provisional 2021-22 FIA Formula E world championship calendar.
Eindhoven has been planning a large-scale technology and sustainability festival in the Brainport area of the Dutch city for two years and was granted a letter of acceptance by the Dutch government earlier this year.
Several track configurations in the area, which has seen huge investment for Smart City infrastructure, are being considered for the first Dutch E-Prix.
While there’s a degree of disappointment from the organisers over the Eindhoven event not being on the latest calendar, Formula E co-founder and deputy CEO Alberto Longo has told The Race that there is still a possibility of it being added to the schedule for the summer of 2022.
“We have been talking to Eindhoven closely, it will be a great pleasure to be there,” said Longo.
“They are moving very quickly, as well as some other cities in Europe, and we will hope to have them for the calendar of season nine [2022/23].
“But if COVID doesn’t allow us to respect the provisional calendar fully, they could come.
“They are really known for being far down the line, which is really good.
“So, it could be in two months, they are ready and if they are ready, we will reserve a possibility and try to accommodate them into a calendar.
“If that cannot happen in season eight, then we will go with season nine for sure.”
The Race understands that the TBC date in June, which in theory is believed to be reserved for the first-ever Jakarta E-Prix, is highly unlikely to materialise.
Formula E could then have the option of running the Eindhoven race after visiting Berlin in mid-May to make a logistically efficient brace of events.
However, Formula E could also leave June completely fallow to shift its infrastructure across to North America for the Vancouver and New York City races in early to mid-July.
The Eindhoven event’s driving force Peter-Paul Laumans issued a statement on the initiative’s plans, which stated that “the calendar that Formula E has communicated is a preliminary version.”
“COVID still has an impact on event calendars worldwide,” he said.
“So awarding a race to our foundation for 2022 is not out of the question at all. But we are thinking beyond 2022.
“Our discussions with Formula E Holdings have always been based on a long-term, multi-year partnership, starting in 2022 or 2023.
“Parallel to the discussions with Formula E, we are also finalising the various track options.”
Laumans will attend the London E-Prix later this month to hold further talks with Formula E Holdings Ltd.
