MONTREAL EV RACE A WINNER ALL AROUND
MONTREAL And the winner is … the Planet!
OK, a little over the top for a car race, but the doubleheader HydroQuebec ePrix in Montreal last weekend proved a low-decibel testament to how fun, entertaining and, yes, emission-free, a car race can be.
Here are some take-aways from the weekend, which wrapped up the 2016/17 season that saw 12 races in nine cities, including doubleheader races in Berlin, New York and in Montreal, the sole Canadian stop on the schedule.
POP-UP RACETRACKS
The low decibels emitted from the race cars has meant the series has found support in very unlikely downtown cores, including Paris, Brooklyn and the east end of Montreal. Locals certainly can’t complain about the sound — which has killed off many a race series in this country, notably the Vancouver Indy — and the footprint required for the street circuits is also low impact. The pits are simple tents manned by each team, and the paddock likewise, albeit much bigger ones. Meaning this series can come into most cities and “pop up” then “pop down” with very little disruption. The lower speed cars also open up the possibility of returning open-wheel racing to such historic venues as Laguna Seca, where the hilly and shorter circuit would be ideal for the electric cars and their need for regeneration.
ALL HAIL THE PRESIDENT
FIA president Jean Todt strolled through the paddock and hospitality suites on Saturday and Sunday, despite the fact that the organization’s Hungary F1 race took place the same weekend. If that doesn’t underscore how invested the FIA is in Formula E, nothing does.
PUMP UP THE JAM
In the interests of getting millennials and future generations through racetrack turnstiles — a live DJ plays electronic music (what else?) throughout practice and qualifying sessions and during the races themselves. And it works. The buzzing sound from the electric race cars is such that you can easily carry on a conversation with the person sitting next to you in the stands, so playing music around the circuit just makes sense.
CELEBS
Star power has long been a part of racing, and while not boasting a lengthy A-list of celebs, the Montreal weekend did have some notables. Super model Kate Upton is an ambassador of the series — she’s also a Tesla owner — and she rubbed padded shoulders with X-Men actor Nicholas Hoult, former prime minister Jean Chrétien, Canadian racer Patrick Carpentier and even some British royals. Four-time F1 champ Alain Prost was also in attendance — his son Nico is one of the Renault drivers. Corporate money makes all race series go, and Formula E is no exception. The Montreal circuit had a number of large hospitality tents for sponsors to wine and dine guests, along with pit-side tables to get lucky fans very close to the action.
QUALITY DRIVERS
What both Montreal races proved is that the quality of the drivers up and down the grid is high. Not a single bonehead move (hello Indy!), and respectful, but hard, racing on every lap. Not surprising as many of the drivers have Formula One experience, while others have surnames of some of racing’s legends. One can only surmise that as the series grows more excellent open-wheel pilots will be strapping in.
FAMILY FRIENDLY
No need for ear protection for the little ones at Formula E races, and Montreal families took full advantage as the stands were teeming with kids, from toddlers to teens.