Hyderabad to host Formula E, first time in country

JAKARTA/HYDERABAD: Come February 11, and Hyderabad will become the first city in the country to host a race of Formula E cars. The race will be held alongside Hussainsagar, most probably at night.

Speaking at an event in Hyderabad, minister K.T. Rama Rao said Hyderabad would be the first Indian city to host a Formula E race, an electric car championship, in February-March 2023. Hyderabad will be one of the 18 cities across the globe and the only one from India as a host city for the race.

A formal announcement is expected later this month, Mahindra Racing CEO and team principal Dilbagh Gill said on Friday, speaking on the sidelines of the first-ever Formula E race in Jakarta.

“Cautiously optimistic is the correct word to use. The race should take place on February 11. We are in constant talks with the Telangana government. The race is on track and an announcement will be made this month,” Gill said on the sidelines of the first-ever Formula E race in Jakarta.

“It is a beautiful track which has been proposed and the infrastructure is really nice. I am confident we will put up a world class show. It is also one of the fastest tracks on the calendar,” he said. Formula E cars have a top speed of 250 kmph.

“The Telangana government intends to make the state a hub for electric vehicles and a Formula E race will go a long way in helping it achieve that goal," he said. “It will be around the lake in Hyderabad and we are looking to have it in the evening under lights. While it is a city race, we will not be disrupting public life.”