The World Motor Sport Council has approved the calendar for the second FIA Formula E season following its meeting in Mexico City earlier this week.
As expected, the majority of the races held in the first season have been retained for the second campaign, which will start in Beijing on October 17.
Formula E will once again head to Putrajaya in Malaysia for the second round of the season before rounding out the calendar year in Punta del Este, Uruguay.
Buenos Aires will host the first round of 2016, albeit a month later than it did in season one, before a “TBD” round that is slated for March 19. MotorSportsTalk understands that this will be in Mexico City at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
The United States will only host one Formula E round in season two as the Miami round is cut from the schedule. Long Beach has been retained, though, and will welcome the series on April 2.
The championship will then head to Europe on April 23 for a race in Paris, new for season two, before a one month break ahead of the Berlin ePrix on May 21. The Monaco ePrix has been dropped.
Moscow is set to host an ePrix on June 4 before another double-header season finale in London. However, the date is yet to be confirmed, but may need to be shelved until July 10 to avoid clashing with a Formula 1 grand prix.
2015/2016 FIA Formula E Championship calendar
Round | Date | Country | ePrix |
1 | 17 October 2015 | China | Beijing |
2 | 7 November 2015 | Malaysia | Putrajaya |
3 | 19 December 2015 | Uruguay** | Punta del Este** |
4 | 6 February 2016 | Argentina** | Buenos Aires** |
5 | 19 March 2016 | TBD | TBD |
6 | 2 April 2016 | USA | Long Beach |
7 | 23 April 2016 | France | Paris |
8 | 21 May 2016 | Germany | Berlin |
9 | 4 June 2016 | Russia | Moscow |
10 & 11 | TBD | United Kingdom | London |
The WMSC also approved plans for the introduction of an ‘e-licence’ in Formula E, required by all drivers participating in the series.
“In order to qualify for the e-Licence, the following is required:
- A specific FIA training session on the most important points of electrical safety, technical and sporting aspects of the competition
- To have accumulated in the previous three years at least 20 points of the FIA points system used to qualify for the F1 Super Licence, or to have previously held an F1 Super Licence, or to have participated in at least three races of the previous FIA Formula E Championship.”
Finally, the Formula E champion will be granted a super licence to race in F1 as part of the FIA’s revised points system to gain one. The series is not included in the points classification, though.