Formula E: Better with Battersea?

Next month, the third season of the Formula E championship will draw to a close. The final run-in consists of a trio of double-headers in Berlin, New York and Montreal, the latter two of which are new additions to the calendar. Although it’s fantastic that the series is growing, building its exposure by visiting some of the world’s most famous cities, from a purely selfish point of view it feels like there’s something missing.

It’s missing a London ePrix.

The past two seasons played host to double-header season finales in London’s Battersea Park, and both championships ended in dramatic fashion; in the first season, Nelson Piquet Jr snatched the title ahead of rivals Lucas di Grassi and Sébastien Buemi by a single point. A year later, Buemi beat di Grassi to the crown in a hot-lap showdown after their “Spark in the Park”, where the two controversially collided at the first corner.

I was lucky enough to attend both Saturday races from both years. Formula E’s ethos is to bring racing to the masses, hosting them in the middle of the world’s biggest cities. For many, attending these races still requires some kind of commute, but getting to a large city with established transport links is a far less invidious position than trying to get to a remotely-located purpose-built circuit.

On both occasions, I enjoyed the walk to Battersea Park from Sloane Square, cutting a scruffy figure in stark contrast to the beautiful people of Chelsea, before crossing the Thames to reach the park. The racing was always exciting to watch too; although overtakes were sparse on the tightly-enclosed course, watching drivers try to tame their electric monsters over the harsh kerbs and leaf-covered roads was awesome to experience.

The Formula E management put on a good show for the fans, and hosting the race in a park offered conveniently wide and open spaces for the “eVillage”, where series partners and food vendors were able to set up shop. Hosted in July, the (largely) sunny weather yielded an atmosphere akin to a festival, creating a wonderfully unique motorsports event. Truthfully, you couldn’t see a great deal from the standing areas, but the experience was terrific all the same.

I do, however, appreciate the reasons why Battersea wasn’t sustainable. In the run up to the second season of Formula E, opposition to the race was brought to the High Court against Wandsworth Council, urging them to break the five-year contract with the venue. Local residents were unhappy at the condition that the park was left in after the race, along with the disruption caused during the event setup. People wanted to walk their dogs in peace, not stare at endless Julius Baer-adorned concrete walls.

The case was withdrawn from the High Court, albeit on the proviso that the season two races would be the last. With Battersea Park gone from the calendar, no other suitable venue could be found, leaving the London ePrix off the table for the 2016-17 season. Without wishing to denigrate the residents of Wandsworth, who understandably just wanted to use their local park, this summer is going to feel a little more empty without the trip to Battersea.

I’m going to miss the “pilgrimage” through Chelsea, the walk across the Thames, and the opportunity to watch 20 drivers hurling their racing cars around a public park. However, on the off-chance that pigs might fly and racing ever returns to Battersea, I’ll be there in a heartbeat. Or, at least as long as porcine flight generally takes.