Hong Kong E-Prix

Hong Kong E-Prix
E-Prix Details
Name	FIA Formula HKT Hong Kong E-Prix
Location	Hong Kong, China
No. Held	4
Circuit	Hong Kong Harbourfront Circuit
Previous Circuits	{{{previouscircuits}}}
First Race	2016 Hong Kong ePrix
Last Race	2019 Hong Kong E-Prix
Only Race	unknown
Most Recent Results
Name	2019 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix
Pole	Stoffel Vandoorne 1:11.580
First	Second	Third
Edoardo Mortara	Lucas di Grassi	Robin Frijns
Fastest lap	Sam Bird 1:02.358

The Hong Kong E-Prix is an annual motorsports event, staged in Hong Kong (香港 in Chinese) as a round of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship. First staged as part of the 2016/17 FE campaign, serving as the season opener, Hong Kong has become a regular fixture on the calendar, having host four E-Prix.

The Hong Kong E-Prix was set to return for a fifth rendition during the 2019/20 season, although civil unrest over the summer of 2019 ultimately resulted in the race being dropped in favour of a return to Marrakech.

City History

Having spent centuries as a minor port and melting pot of various Chinese groups, Hong Kong would become part of European trade in Asia during the sixteenth century, having been "discovered" by Portuguese explorer Jorge Álvares. The population of the port would only remain in the thousands, however, until the Qing dynasty ceded the island and port to the British Empire on the 29th of August 1832, Britain's prize for winning the First Opium War. The population then ballooned as the City of Victoria was established, coinciding with several natural disasters and rebellions in China, allowing Hong Kong to establish itself as a safe haven for many Chinese citizens and traders.

A steady growth in population, and size would continue into the twentieth century, with Britain obtaining a 99 year lease in 1898 to maintain control over the port. Hong Kong would also retain its status as a safe haven throughout the period, with only the Japanese occupation during the Second World War disrupting an otherwise peaceful international trade hub. British rule would resume after the War and would see Hong Kong industrialise at an incredible rate, before the lease came to an end of the 1st of July 1997. The city then became Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, with the future of Hong Kong as an autonomous state coming into question as the years passed.

Formula E History

The city of Hong Kong was first proposed as an Formula E venue in 2015 as negotiations over the second season of the Championship began. The problem with staging a FE race in the City was that the major roads in the city would have to be closed, and so the race had to coincide with another event in order to stage an ePrix. Fortunately, an agreement was signed that allowed FE to come to Hong Kong for the first time on the 9th of October 2016, with the deal also stipulating that the race should be the opening round of the 2016/17 FIA Formula E Championship.

The first Hong Kong ePrix would be an eventful affair, with Sébastien Buemi taking a fortunate victory in an incident filled race. The race, attended by some 30,000 people, would also be highlighted for making a HK$50 million loss, although Alejandro Agag, chairman of Formula E Holdings was quick to dismiss the impact those losses would have on the race in future.

Circuit History

José María López powers through turn two at the 2016 Hong Kong ePrix.

The Harbourfront would be chosen as the basis for the maiden Hong Kong ePrix, with a ten turn circuit established amid the city's major landmarks. The Harbourfront circuit would see Buemi claim a surprise win after a poor qualifying run, aided by a safety car caused by a crash for José María López. His major rivals for victory would be ruled out of the race too, with Nelson Piquet Jr. hitting the wall just moments after Lopez did, while Sam Bird had an issue during his car change that left him a lap down.

Records

A full list of records for the Hong Kong ePrix are outlined below, including a list of race winners.

Winners

Below is a list of all of the winners of ePrix held in Hong Kong E-Prix:

Hong Kong E-Prix Winners List
Season	Name	Circuit	Date	Winner	Report
2016/17	2016 HKT Hong Kong ePrix	Harbourfront Circuit	9 October 2016	Sébastien Buemi	Report
2017/18	2017 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix	Harbourfront Circuit	2 December 2017	Sam Bird	Report
2017/18	2017 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix	Harbourfront Circuit	3 December 2017	Felix Rosenqvist	Report
2018/19	2019 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix	Harbourfront Circuit	10 March 2019	Edoardo Mortara	Report
2019/20	2020 HKT Hong Kong E-Prix	Harbourfront Circuit	1 March 2020	Cancelled

References

Videos and Images:

• Wpcpey, 'File:Lung Wo Road Formula Race view 20161009.jpg', wikimedia.org, (WikiMedia Commons, 10/10/2016), https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Lung_Wo_Road_Formula_Race_view_20161009.jpg, (Accessed 17/10/2016)

References: