Montreal Mayor cancels Formula E's planned season four finale - MotorSportsTalk

New Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante has cancelled the FIA Formula E Championship’s planned season four finale, which was set for two races on July 28 and 29, 2018, citing what was termed a “financial fiasco.”

Plante was elected to replace Denis Coderre in the role, and didn’t follow Coderre’s support of the event.

She announced the news today citing financial and logistical challenges she didn’t feel the city could overcome.

Via a report in the CBC, Plante’s administration estimated a potential cost of up to $35 million would needed to be paid by the city’s taxpayers for the event’s second running. Additionally, a nonprofit organization reportedly owes creditors some $9.5 million.

Plante revealed details today in a series of messages posted on Twitter, which you can see in order below.

I was pretty clear during the campaign: the E-race won’t happen at the same location in 2018 and we must re-negotiate the deal so that Montrealers are not on the hook for tens of millions of dollars. #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

When we took office we immediately started looking into the #FormulaE file. What we discovered was not only troubling, it was shocking. #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

It became pretty clear as early as May 2017 that we were heading towards a financial fiasco. #polmtl #FormuleE

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

We had 3 options in mind : moving the race to the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, building a temporary race track somewhere else, taking a one year break in order to clean the house and work on a better business model. #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

My administration is willing to take risks and to invest money to promote Montreal, to attract international events, but not without a serious business case. #polmtl #FormuleE

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

The administrators of the #FormulaE told me they couldn’t bridge the gap for 2018 because they are accountable to their stakeholders, I reminded them that we are accountable to the people of Montreal #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

Keeping the event in Montreal would cost taxpayers between 30 to 35 M$. #polmtl #FormuleE

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

This is where we draw the line. The #FormulaE will not be back in Montreal under these conditions. #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

We will show the greatest transparency by publishing the financial report of the #FormuleE #polmtl

— Valérie Plante (@Val_Plante) December 18, 2017

A Formula E spokesperson supplied a statement of the surprise news to e-racing365.com:

From a Formula E spokesperson: “We are very surprised and disappointed by the unilateral decision and announcement of the Mayor of Montreal. This is a clear case of a new mayor undoing what the previous mayor did.”

— e-racing365 (@eracing365) December 18, 2017

Formula E’s fourth season underwent one calendar change with a return to Punta Del Este, Uruguay replacing a cancelled race in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Whether a replacement can be sourced for this race weekend will now remain to be seen.

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In a continuing effort to help fans keep track of the on track action, SuperMotocross is in the process of developing and implementing leader lights for the unified series.

Currently Supercross (SMX) utilizes stanchions in the infield that are triggered manually by a race official. At least two stanchions are used in each race as a way to draw the eye to the leader, which is especially useful in the tight confines of the stadium series when lapping often begins before the halfway mark in the 22-bike field. This system has been in place for the past two decades.

Later this year, a fully automated system will move to the bike itself to replace the old system. At that point, fans will be able to identify the leader regardless of where he is on track.

The leader lights were tested in the second Anaheim round this year. An example can be seen at the 1:45 mark in the video above on the No. 69 bike.

“What we don’t want to do is move too fast, where it’s confusing to people,” said Mike Muye, senior director of operations for Supercross and SMX in a press release. “We’ve really just focused on the leader at this point with the thought that maybe down the road we’ll introduce others.”

Scheduled to debut with the first SuperMotocross World Championship race at zMax Dragway, located just outside the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a 3D carbon fiber-printed LED light will be affixed to each motorcycle. Ten timing loops positioned around the track will trigger the lights of the leader, which will turn green.

SMX’s partner LiveTime Scoring helped develop and implement the system that has been tested in some form or fashion since 2019.

When the leader lights are successfully deployed, SuperMotocross will explore expanding the system to identify the second- and third-place riders. Depending on need and fan acceptance, more positions could be added.

SuperMotocross is exploring future enhancements, including allowing for live fan interaction with the lights and ways to use the lighting system during the race’s opening ceremony.

Montreal Mayor cancels Formula E’s planned season four finale

SuperMotocross set to introduce Leader Lights beginning with the World Championship finals

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