Formula E reveals new track for Santiago’s 2018/19 race

Santiago’s place on the season five Formula E calendar has been confirmed, with the all-electric championship revealing an all-new track and location.

Chile’s capital City had been pencilled in to host the third round of the 2018/19 championship, though the exact location for the circuit was marked as to be determined following opposition over the Forestal Park venue that held its debut event.

A new track inside the Parque O’Higgings in the centre of the Chilean capital will form the venue for the second Santiago E-Prix. The proposed anti-clockwise circuit features 14 turns and loops around the Movistar Arena.

“I’m incredibly happy that Santiago will again feature on the ABB FIA Formula E Championship calendar for season five,” Formula E co-founder and chief championship officer Alberto Longo said.

“I have particularly fond memories of the event last year and I really like the atmosphere of the city and backdrop against the Andes.

“I’d like to thank the Mayor Felipe Alessandri for his support - as well as the Minister of Sport Pauline Kantor, the Minister of Energy Susana Jiménez, the Intendenta de la Región Metropolitana Karla Rubilar and the President of FADECH Mauricio Melo Avaria for making it possible to host a race in Chile.

“Parque O’Higgins is an ideal location for an international sporting event such as ours. Also, I’d like to express my gratitude to Antofagasta Minerals for their continued partnership and I look forward to working closely with them as they join the Formula E family as an official partner.”

Felipe Alessandri, Mayor of Santiago, added: “Now we’re changing the location, we learned and we listened to the neighbours - we’re talking with them to mitigate the negative externalities that means organising this event inside Parque O'Higgins.

“Therefore, the work is done during the day and retaining open access - swimming pools and recreational areas still in operation.

“As happened in Parque Forestal, the monies obtained by the concept of municipal rights are invested in projects that improve the quality of life for residents - stories such as the installation of new public lighting, recovery of facades, bollards and improvements to playgrounds, pet areas and the installation of an exercise zone.”