Getting to work can be a drag. Squeezing onto a packed bus, a tight tube or train is never pleasant - but for Renault e.dams' frontman Sebastien Buemi, commuters in Zurich spotted him cruising around behind the wheel of his Formula E car. Why? To celebrate the return of circuit racing to Switzerland after a 60-year hiatus and to welcome in the first ABB FIA Formula E Championship race on the streets of Zurich on June 10. Click here to be a part of the action.
Starting at Ausstellungsstrasse, the Swiss driver stopped along the way at famous landmarks throughout the city, including Limmatquai overlooking the old town, before pulling up outside the ETH Zurich University. With circuit racing banned in the country in 1954, a law change in 2015 legalised all-electric circuit racing, paving the way for the inaugural Julius Baer Zurich E-Prix on June 10.
"Environmentally-friendly, affordable and energy efficient mobility is one of the important topics of research and training at ETH Zurich," said ETH-President Lino Guzzella. "Furthermore, the Formula E race in Zurich is a chance, beyond the competition, to address this important topic."
Greeting Buemi was the Mayor of Zurich, Corine Mauch and other representatives including Gian Rossi, Head of Region Switzerland, Julius Baer and Remo Lütolf, Chief Executive Officer, ABB Switzerland who came together at the science, technology, engineering and mathematics STEM university that morning to discuss the importance of bringing the electric street racing series to Switzerland.
"ABB is a global leader in fast-chargers for e-mobility. We consider the long-lasting partnership with this fascinating series as the perfect platform to develop and test electrification technologies," said Lütolf, Chief Executive Officer, ABB Switzerland. "It is also a good opportunity to show the public the development and performance of e-mobility."
With 20 podiums, 12 wins and one championship title to his name, Buemi is one of the most successful drivers in Formula E history. Currently fourth in the standings with 60 points, the Swiss driver will be looking for nothing short of an outright victory in Zurich ahead of the season finale in New York. “I am so happy to be in Zurich today and I’m really looking forward to running in the streets with my Z.E. 17 car for promoting my home race in June!" said Buemi on his arrival. "The E-Prix is really a special one for me! I hope we are going to have a great new race there after the first European race we had in Rome last weekend.”
Racing 2.47km through the heart of Zurich, the cars will travel along the lakeside, past the Arboretum - the home of the Allianz E-Village festival - before bearing left, into the historic city centre and looping back to the start/finish line in front of Enge harbour.
Just three rounds from the end of the season, the 2018 Julius Baer E-Prix will be a critical moment in the championship, before the racing moves west to New York City for the double-header season finale. The pressure is on.
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