Kart races between Formula E qualifying and race? FIA paves the way for new support series

The FIA has decided to introduce new categories for e-karting, which opens up a new opportunity for Formula E: In future, electric kart races will be added to the supporting programme of the electric world championship. The first races in the Formula E support programme could take place as early as season 12.

In order to make the waiting time between sessions more enjoyable for fans, Formula E is endeavouring to bring more racing action to the race track - even at times when the Formula E cars themselves are not racing around the track. Cooperation with other electric racing series, such as the NXT Gen Cup, is just one possible option.

An electric karting series opens up a new option, which is now part of Formula E's future plans, as Alberto Longo, Formula E co-founder and Chief Championship Officer of the racing series, revealed when asked by e-Formula.news: "There is not (yet) such thing as a feeder series that is going to be coming along all our races. I'm sure you've seen that the FIA has announced e-karting. As you can imagine, obviously e-karting is going to go alongside Formula E."

 

 

 

 

 

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"This is a matter of the technology working properly"

Karting is the first step into motorsport for most racing drivers. Electric karts would therefore also be an important part of introducing new talent to electric motorsport, such as Formula E. "Electric karting offers a significant opportunity to contribute to the further growth of global karting and these regulations will open up new opportunities for events and championships around the world", said Akbar Ebrahim, President of the FIA Karting Commission in a statement from the FIA Karting Championship.

With the Formula E World Championship, the FIA seems to have found the perfect championship for the integration of electric kart racing. A collaboration would be obvious: Formula E would reduce the currently still very large amount of idle time on the race track and, more than five years after the cancellation of the Jaguar I-Pace eTROPHY, would once again have support races with electric vehicles at its E-Prix. "We are just finalising the details, but we are definitely working on it. I think it will be ready next year", describes Longo.

It is not yet known on which race weekends of the coming season the electric karts will drive around the race track between Formula E qualifying and the race. The technology is still the decisive factor. But Longo is optimistic: "The FIA is working hard (to make it work), and hopefully this will be the case. If not, then it will happen for sure for season 13."