Formula E has responded to reports that its Hyderabad E-Prix will be canceled for 2024, admitting that it is “concerned the race will not be able to go ahead as planned.”
According to a story by The Race, the second edition of the event — scheduled for Feb. 10 — is being called off after recent local elections resulted in a new administration coming in that wants to focus on other events instead.
In a statement issued by Formula E, the series has acknowledged the reported issue, saying that the new local authority has contacted the series and thrown the event in doubt. Formula E says it is engaging in discussions with the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department — which is now under control of the recently-elected government of the Indian state of Telangana — about the event.
“Following a recent official communication received from the new Government of Telangana, Formula E is seeking urgent clarification of their contractual commitments under the agreement and how it could impact the Hyderabad race,” the statement read. “Based on the content of the letter received, Formula E is concerned the race will not be able to go ahead as planned.
“Formula E’s senior executive team met with the new leadership of the Government of Telangana immediately following elections earlier this month. Discussions have been ongoing since then.”
Formula E touted the significant economic benefits of the inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix, which took place on Feb. 11 this year, which the series says outweighed the costs invested to stage the event both by series organizers and local authorities.
“With the event just a few weeks away and in its final stages of preparation, Formula E, partners and suppliers have already made significant commercial investments in the event,” it said. “The inaugural Hyderabad E-Prix in February this year returned almost $84m USD in positive economic impact to the region, many times more than the overhead costs invested by Formula E and the Government of Telangana.”
With the anticipated cancellation of the Hyderabad E-Prix, there now stands to be a seven-week gap between round three of the season in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and the next planned race in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on March 16. The season will begin on Jan. 13 in Mexico City, while further official updates on the status of the Hyderabad E-Prix have been promised “in due course.”