Porsche has become the latest and third manufacturer after Nissan and Jaguar to extend&nbsp;its commitment to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.&nbsp;The latter two manufacturers confirmed their continued participation in the all-electric open-wheel racing series at the beginning of the year. The German manufacturer will continue to race in the sport’s upcoming Gen4 era (2026-27/Season 13 onwards), meaning it will remain in the sport until the end of 2030&nbsp;at least.

Porsche joined Formula E alongside Mercedes-Benz at the start of the 2019/2020 season (Season Six) that ran Gen2 cars. The cars are currently in their third generation, achieving up to 350kW of power, a&nbsp;maximum&nbsp;recuperation&nbsp;of 600kW and a top speed of over 300km/h. Before the Gen4 cars come in with potentially up to 600kW and a regenerative capacity of up to 700kW, the current Gen3 cars will get a boost, with the arrival of ‘Gen3 Evo’ specs at the start of Season 11 (2024-25).

Currently in its fifth Formula E season, so far, Porsche has garnered seven race wins and a best finish of fourth place in the constructors’ championship. Last year, Porsche customer team Andretti Racing’s Jake Dennis won the drivers’ championship.

Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/after-f1-and-formula-e-motogp-set-to-dump-india-know-why-721010">After F1 and Formula E, MotoGP set to dump India. Know why</a>

Sharing his thoughts on the announcement,&nbsp;Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG, said,&nbsp;“Right from the outset, we regarded our Formula E commitment as long-term. The evolution of racing vehicles shows how much development potential there is in e-mobility.&nbsp;Going forward, we want to glean even more knowledge from Formula E that we can transfer to our roadgoing sports cars. As one of the most competitive series in motor racing, it’s already pushing us to achieve technological excellence.&nbsp;We look forward&nbsp;to continuing to shape the championship and contributing to the advancement of e-mobility.”

Pablo Martino,&nbsp;Head of the Formula E Championship at the FIA, said, “We’re pleased to announce Porsche as the third manufacturer to commit to Formula E’s GEN4 era.&nbsp;Like Nissan and&nbsp;Jaguar&nbsp;whose participation has already&nbsp;been revealed, Porsche has long been synonymous with motorsport heritage and innovation. We look forward to continuing this journey&nbsp;together&nbsp;with the manufacturers already confirmed and with those still to be announced until at least 2030, as we continue to grow the championship’s exciting momentum and keep building towards the future of electric racing.”

Porsche has become the latest and third manufacturer after Nissan and Jaguar to extend its commitment to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The latter two manufacturers confirmed their continued participation in the all-electric open-wheel racing series at the beginning of the year.

Porsche has become the latest and third manufacturer after Nissan and Jaguar to extend its commitment to the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The latter two manufacturers confirmed their continued participation in the all-electric open-wheel racing series at the beginning of the year. The German manufacturer will continue to race in the sport’s upcoming Gen4 era (2026-27/Season 13 onwards), meaning it will remain in the sport until the end of 2030 at least. Porsche joined Formula E alongside Mercedes-Benz at the start of the 2019/2020 season (Season Six) that ran Gen2 cars. The cars are currently in their third generation, achieving up to 350kW of power, a maximum recuperation of 600kW and a top speed of over 300km/h. Before the Gen4 cars come in with potentially up to 600kW and a regenerative capacity of up to 700kW, the current Gen3 cars will get a boost, with the arrival of ‘Gen3 Evo’ specs at the start of Season 11 (2024-25). Currently in its fifth Formula E season, so far, Porsche has garnered seven race wins and a best finish of fourth place in the constructors’ championship. Last year, Porsche customer team Andretti Racing’s Jake Dennis won the drivers’ championship. Also Read: After F1 and Formula E, MotoGP set to dump India. Know why Sharing his thoughts on the announcement, Michael Steiner, Member of the Executive Board for Research and Development at Porsche AG, said, “Right from the outset, we regarded our Formula E commitment as long-term. The evolution of racing vehicles shows how much development potential there is in e-mobility. Going forward, we want to glean even more knowledge from Formula E that we can transfer to our roadgoing sports cars. As one of the most competitive series in motor racing, it’s already pushing us to achieve technological excellence. We look forward to continuing to shape the championship and contributing to the advancement of e-mobility.” Pablo Martino, Head of the Formula E Championship at the FIA, said, “We’re pleased to announce Porsche as the third manufacturer to commit to Formula E’s GEN4 era. Like Nissan and Jaguar whose participation has already been revealed, Porsche has long been synonymous with motorsport heritage and innovation. We look forward to continuing this journey together with the manufacturers already confirmed and with those still to be announced until at least 2030, as we continue to grow the championship’s exciting momentum and keep building towards the future of electric racing.”

Porsche extends Formula E commitment to Gen4 era

In what comes as a sad news for motorsport enthusiasts in the country, MotoGP is set to drop India from the 2024 calendar, replacing it with Kazakhstan GP, according to a report in motorsport.

In what comes as a sad news for motorsport enthusiasts in the country, MotoGP is set to drop India from the 2024 calendar, replacing it with Kazakhstan GP, according to a report in motorsport.com. The championship was hosted for the first time at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC) on the outskirts of the capital city of Delhi in September last year, as part of the sport's expansion in South Asia. Though the race was delivered successfully, despite some troubles, the last few months have seemingly dented hopes of MotoGP returning to the subcontinent. The report states that promoter Fairstreet Sports hasn’t paid its dues to certain vendors, including Dorna - the exclusive commercial rights holder to the MotoGP World Championship., recently bought by Formula One owner Liberty Media. The high-ranking Dorna officials had set a May 20 deadline for Fairstreet to settle the dues. However, taking the previous delays into account, it appears highly unlikely that the Indian promoter will be able to catch up with the payments. With India nearly out of the calendar, plans are being chalked up to replace it with the inaugural Kazakhstan Grand Prix on September 20-22. "Dorna has made several visits to Sokol and also to Almaty, the most populous city in Kazakhstan with the intention of ensuring that all the necessary infrastructures are in place," the report stated. The series originally had 22 races in the 2024 calendar but the cancellation of the Argentina GP and India GP has brought down to 20. Also read | Max Verstappen's dad might be the reason if at all he decides to leave Red Bull: Ex-driver Previous instances This is not the first instance when a motorsport event has been cancelled in India. Earlier this year, Formula E announced the cancellation of the Hyderabad E-Prix, alleging a contract breach by the Telangana government. The second Formula E race in India was slated to take place on February 10. "The cancellation comes following a decision by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department (MAUD), under the control of the Government of Telangana, not to fulfil the Host City Agreement signed on 30 October 2023," Formula E said in a statement. The introduction of MotoGP and Formula E had raised hopes among Indian spectators that Formula 1 would make its long-awaited return to BIC, having staged three Indian Grand Prix between 2011 and 2013. However, given the quick cancellations, it appears unlikely that Liberty Media will take the risk again. (With inputs from agencies)

After F1 and Formula E, MotoGP set to dump India. Know why

Hyderabad will achieve the distinction of becoming the first city in India to host the Formula E race. Hyderabad E-Prix will take place over two days, February 10 and 11, 2023 at Necklace Road. Formula E is the premier electric single seater racing series in the world governed by the Federation Internationale de l`Automobile (FIA). With this event, Hyderabad will join the prestigious list of E-Prix host cities such as New York, London, Berlin, Seoul, Monaco, and Rome. 
 
The event will see 22 drivers from 11 teams including Team Mahindra to fight it out for the victory around the Hyderabad Street Circuit. As a run up to the marquee race, the government of Telangana will be organising the Hyderabad e-Mobility Week from February 6 to February 11. The week will be packed with several exciting events that will showcase the global electric vehicle ecosystem in Hyderabad. As part of the week-long celebrations, the city will host the Hyderabad EV Summit, the Rall-E Hyderabad, and the Hyderabad E-Motor Show before closing the week with the Hyderabad E-Prix. 
 
Minister for information technology and industries K.T. Rama Rao on Friday formally announced the Hyderabad e-Mobility Week by launching the website and unveiling the logo and flyer for the event in the presence of the minister for energy, G. Jagadish Reddy, Principal Secretary, Jayesh Ranjan and others. "This is going to be a monumental week for Hyderabad and India. The Hyderabad E-Prix will be one of the largest global events ever hosted in the state," Rama Rao said. 
 
He said that the Hyderabad e-Mobility Week is a great step to put Hyderabad on the EV map of the world. "The EV sector is the future of sustainable mobility and Telangana has stayed ahead of the curve in creating a favourable environment for the adoption of zero emission vehicles. We were one of the first states to launch EV&amp;ESS policy in 2020 and have also attracted investments from key EV companies such as Fisker, Olectra, Hyundai, Biliti Electric and ZF Group. Now, with the Hyderabad e-Prix and the e-Mobility Week, we are bringing global leaders of the EV landscape to Telangana. This event will provide fresh dynamism for this sunrise sector in the state and in India," he said.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/briton-george-russell-and-lewis-hamilton-lead-f1-practice-in-soaking-suzuka-523358">Briton George Russell and Lewis Hamilton lead F1 practice in soaking Suzuka</a>

Jayesh Ranjan stated that the Hyderabad e-Mobility Week will be one of the largest global platforms for EV companies and ancillary businesses in the world to showcase their latest technologies, products and services that will shape the future of green mobility, and will enrich the growing EV ecosystem of the state. The events being conducted as part of this week will provide opportunities to interact with the best in the industry and potentially attract more investments to the state, he said. 
 
The Hyderabad EV Summit will showcase global leaders, eminent academics, policy makers discussing about the most pressing topics related to the future of sustainable mobility. It will consist of engaging panel discussions, keynote speeches and networking sessions attended by prominent stakeholders in the global EV ecosystem. Rall-E Hyderabad will be first-of-its-kind EV bike rally which will witness thousands of bikers, male and female, riding their electric 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers together to spread the message of sustainable mobility and the depth of EV adoption in Hyderabad. 
 
Hyderabad E-Motor Show will provide a platform for the public to experience the strengths and capabilities of the global Electric Vehicle industry, along with significant international participation. At this first-of-its-kind event, the Hyderabad E-Motor Show will host the world`s EV manufacturers (2W, 3W, 4W, Commercial EVs, etc.,), Energy Storage companies, Charging infrastructure and EV components manufacturers, and Startups across these segments.

Hyderabad will achieve the distinction of becoming the first city in India to host the Formula E race. Hyderabad E-Prix will take place over two days, February 10 and 11, 2023 at Necklace Road.

Hyderabad will achieve the distinction of becoming the first city in India to host the Formula E race. Hyderabad E-Prix will take place over two days, February 10 and 11, 2023 at Necklace Road. Formula E is the premier electric single seater racing series in the world governed by the Federation Internationale de l`Automobile (FIA). With this event, Hyderabad will join the prestigious list of E-Prix host cities such as New York, London, Berlin, Seoul, Monaco, and Rome. The event will see 22 drivers from 11 teams including Team Mahindra to fight it out for the victory around the Hyderabad Street Circuit. As a run up to the marquee race, the government of Telangana will be organising the Hyderabad e-Mobility Week from February 6 to February 11. The week will be packed with several exciting events that will showcase the global electric vehicle ecosystem in Hyderabad. As part of the week-long celebrations, the city will host the Hyderabad EV Summit, the Rall-E Hyderabad, and the Hyderabad E-Motor Show before closing the week with the Hyderabad E-Prix. Minister for information technology and industries K.T. Rama Rao on Friday formally announced the Hyderabad e-Mobility Week by launching the website and unveiling the logo and flyer for the event in the presence of the minister for energy, G. Jagadish Reddy, Principal Secretary, Jayesh Ranjan and others. "This is going to be a monumental week for Hyderabad and India. The Hyderabad E-Prix will be one of the largest global events ever hosted in the state," Rama Rao said. He said that the Hyderabad e-Mobility Week is a great step to put Hyderabad on the EV map of the world. "The EV sector is the future of sustainable mobility and Telangana has stayed ahead of the curve in creating a favourable environment for the adoption of zero emission vehicles. We were one of the first states to launch EV&ESS policy in 2020 and have also attracted investments from key EV companies such as Fisker, Olectra, Hyundai, Biliti Electric and ZF Group. Now, with the Hyderabad e-Prix and the e-Mobility Week, we are bringing global leaders of the EV landscape to Telangana. This event will provide fresh dynamism for this sunrise sector in the state and in India," he said. ALSO READ | Briton George Russell and Lewis Hamilton lead F1 practice in soaking Suzuka Jayesh Ranjan stated that the Hyderabad e-Mobility Week will be one of the largest global platforms for EV companies and ancillary businesses in the world to showcase their latest technologies, products and services that will shape the future of green mobility, and will enrich the growing EV ecosystem of the state. The events being conducted as part of this week will provide opportunities to interact with the best in the industry and potentially attract more investments to the state, he said. The Hyderabad EV Summit will showcase global leaders, eminent academics, policy makers discussing about the most pressing topics related to the future of sustainable mobility. It will consist of engaging panel discussions, keynote speeches and networking sessions attended by prominent stakeholders in the global EV ecosystem. Rall-E Hyderabad will be first-of-its-kind EV bike rally which will witness thousands of bikers, male and female, riding their electric 2-wheelers and 3-wheelers together to spread the message of sustainable mobility and the depth of EV adoption in Hyderabad. Hyderabad E-Motor Show will provide a platform for the public to experience the strengths and capabilities of the global Electric Vehicle industry, along with significant international participation. At this first-of-its-kind event, the Hyderabad E-Motor Show will host the world`s EV manufacturers (2W, 3W, 4W, Commercial EVs, etc.,), Energy Storage companies, Charging infrastructure and EV components manufacturers, and Startups across these segments.

Hyderabad set to host Formula E race early in 2023

Sporting events that fell victim to coronavirus!

&nbsp;BMWi Andretti driver Max Guenther became&nbsp;Formula&nbsp;E's youngest winner on Saturday when the 22-year-old German pulled off a last-lap overtake in the third round of the season in the Chilean capital Santiago.

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WHAT A DRIVE! <a href="https://twitter.com/maxg_official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@maxg_official</a> wins the 2020 Antofagasta Minerals <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SantiagoEPrix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SantiagoEPrix</a> for <a href="https://twitter.com/BMWMotorsport?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BMWMotorsport</a> 🏆 <a href="https://t.co/I5KXXzzeDx">pic.twitter.com/I5KXXzzeDx</a>
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIAFormulaE/status/1218622090057785344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne finished sixth for Mercedes to take the overall lead in the all-electric series from Guenther's teammate Alexander Sims, who retired.

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🥇 <a href="https://twitter.com/maxg_official?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@maxg_official</a> 
🥈 <a href="https://twitter.com/afelixdacosta?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@afelixdacosta</a> 
🥉 <a href="https://twitter.com/mitchevans_?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@mitchevans_</a> 
 
+ the full race results from the 2020 Antofagasta Minerals <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SantiagoEPrix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SantiagoEPrix</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ty4ixK9cu1">pic.twitter.com/Ty4ixK9cu1</a>
— ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) <a href="https://twitter.com/FIAFormulaE/status/1218684102766927872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Guenther passed DS Techeetah's Antonio Felix Da Costa with two corners to go after the Portuguese, who had started 10th and went into the lead with two laps to go, had to slow due to soaring battery temperatures on a hot afternoon.

New Zealander Mitch Evans started on pole position at the Parque O'Higgins, led the first half of the race for Jaguar and completed the podium in third place.

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WE DID IT! My first win in <a href="https://twitter.com/FIAFormulaE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fiaformulae</a>! Words can’t describe how happy I am about P1 at the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SantiagoEPrix?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SantiagoEPrix</a>. What an incredible feeling! 🏆🍾<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MAXG?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MAXG</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RacingBeyond?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RacingBeyond</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ABBFormulaE?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ABBFormulaE</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/winner?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#winner</a> <a href="https://t.co/SC0iSvQtBj">pic.twitter.com/SC0iSvQtBj</a>
— Maximilian Günther (@maxg_official) <a href="https://twitter.com/maxg_official/status/1218647803657801728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 18, 2020</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

Evans finished behind Nyck de Vries on track but the Mercedes driver was demoted with a five-second time penalty due to excessive battery temperature and dropped to fifth.

"Without a doubt, we made a mistake with cooling the battery on Nyck's car. That compromised his sublime driving today," commented Mercedes EQ team principal Ian James.

Former McLaren F1 driver Vandoorne now has 38 points to Sims' 35 with Britain's Sam Bird third overall for Virgin Envision Racing on 28.

"That was a tough and highly eventful race for me," said Vandoorne. "My car was clattered into from all sides and afterwards didn't drive 100% straight."

Reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne, for Techeetah, was another retirement with front wing and tyre problems after he had moved up into third place in a lively race.

Venturi's Felipe Massa was forced into the wall by his teammate Edoardo Mortara and ended up eighth.

The next race is in Mexico City on February&nbsp;15.

BMWi Andretti driver Max Guenther became Formula E's youngest winner on Saturday when the 22-year-old German pulled off a last-lap overtake in the third round of the season in the Chilean capital Santiago.

BMWi Andretti driver Max Guenther became Formula E's youngest winner on Saturday when the 22-year-old German pulled off a last-lap overtake in the third round of the season in the Chilean capital Santiago. WHAT A DRIVE! @maxg_official wins the 2020 Antofagasta Minerals #SantiagoEPrix for @BMWMotorsport 🏆 pic.twitter.com/I5KXXzzeDx — ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) January 18, 2020 × Belgian Stoffel Vandoorne finished sixth for Mercedes to take the overall lead in the all-electric series from Guenther's teammate Alexander Sims, who retired. 🥇 @maxg_official 🥈 @afelixdacosta 🥉 @mitchevans_ + the full race results from the 2020 Antofagasta Minerals #SantiagoEPrix pic.twitter.com/Ty4ixK9cu1 — ABB Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) January 18, 2020 × Guenther passed DS Techeetah's Antonio Felix Da Costa with two corners to go after the Portuguese, who had started 10th and went into the lead with two laps to go, had to slow due to soaring battery temperatures on a hot afternoon. New Zealander Mitch Evans started on pole position at the Parque O'Higgins, led the first half of the race for Jaguar and completed the podium in third place. WE DID IT! My first win in @fiaformulae! Words can’t describe how happy I am about P1 at the #SantiagoEPrix. What an incredible feeling! 🏆🍾#MAXG #RacingBeyond #ABBFormulaE #winner pic.twitter.com/SC0iSvQtBj — Maximilian Günther (@maxg_official) January 18, 2020 × Evans finished behind Nyck de Vries on track but the Mercedes driver was demoted with a five-second time penalty due to excessive battery temperature and dropped to fifth. "Without a doubt, we made a mistake with cooling the battery on Nyck's car. That compromised his sublime driving today," commented Mercedes EQ team principal Ian James. Former McLaren F1 driver Vandoorne now has 38 points to Sims' 35 with Britain's Sam Bird third overall for Virgin Envision Racing on 28. "That was a tough and highly eventful race for me," said Vandoorne. "My car was clattered into from all sides and afterwards didn't drive 100% straight." Reigning champion Jean-Eric Vergne, for Techeetah, was another retirement with front wing and tyre problems after he had moved up into third place in a lively race. Venturi's Felipe Massa was forced into the wall by his teammate Edoardo Mortara and ended up eighth. The next race is in Mexico City on February 15.

Max Guenther becomes youngest driver to win race in Formula E

Formula E racer Sam Bird is hardly leaping into the unknown this season after five years in the all-electric series, but the Briton could be jumping into the River Thames come July.

The 32-year-old told reporters on Tuesday, as he looked forward to season six that starts in Saudi Arabia on November&nbsp;22-23, that he was prepared to take the plunge if he won his home London round.

If his Virgin Racing team have to throw him a lifeline, it would not be the first time.

Bird was <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/lewis-hamilton-painting-masterpiece-with-sixth-drivers-title-259841">Lewis Hamilton's</a> Mercedes Formula One teammate in 2013,&nbsp;living the dream as a test and reserve driver while also finishing runner-up in the GP2 support series.

And then it ended. Cut loose, he found himself in a single bedroom apartment with the electricity supply cut off and no money to pay the bills.

The Briton remembers calling his parents in tears, telling them he would have to give up and become a personal trainer, before Virgin called to offer a seat in the first all-electric series.

"I owe Formula E everything. It resurrected my career," he said.

Fast forward, and Bird is his country's top electric driver while Hamilton probes ever deeper into the realms of greatness with his sixth Formula One championship.

The contrast between their career paths is not lost on Bird, who is in no risk of being mobbed when he steps out into central London, but he has no doubt his compatriot deserves all the recognition.

"He has to be considered as the greatest ever now, surely?," he said.

"I’ve worked with him and seen what he can do, data-wise. I’ve never said it about any other driver, but he did things where you just think ‘I cannot do that. My skill level will just not allow me to do what he does’.

"I worked with two other incredible drivers at Mercedes but you always felt like you could do it. Given enough time in the car, I felt I could do what they did. But with him sometimes there’s things that you just think, well that’s not achievable."

Hamilton had arrived from McLaren to replace seven times champion Michael Schumacher alongside Nico Rosberg for the start of 2013 and would go on to win five of the next six championships.

As one Briton took off, the other fell to earth with a bump.

"I parted ways with Mercedes and all of a sudden I literally had nothing. I had no money and no income. I didn’t have any money that I’d saved up or anything like that," said Bird.

"My electricity got cut off. I couldn’t afford my council tax bill."

In Formula E, he has found a new life - a race winner in every season so far with a total of eight victories, Bird is third in the winners' list,&nbsp;and third overall in 2017-18.

This season he will be up against a works Mercedes team for the first time, with the German carmaker joining Porsche as debutants.

"I tend not to try and race with emotion. To me it’s just another team that I need to beat in order to be the best," said the Briton.

"It’s great to have them on the grid. But it would be nice to keep them behind me."

Formula E racer Sam Bird is hardly leaping into the unknown this season after five years in the all-electric series, but the Briton could be jumping into the River Thames come July.

Formula E racer Sam Bird is hardly leaping into the unknown this season after five years in the all-electric series, but the Briton could be jumping into the River Thames come July. The 32-year-old told reporters on Tuesday, as he looked forward to season six that starts in Saudi Arabia on November 22-23, that he was prepared to take the plunge if he won his home London round. If his Virgin Racing team have to throw him a lifeline, it would not be the first time. Bird was Lewis Hamilton's Mercedes Formula One teammate in 2013, living the dream as a test and reserve driver while also finishing runner-up in the GP2 support series. And then it ended. Cut loose, he found himself in a single bedroom apartment with the electricity supply cut off and no money to pay the bills. The Briton remembers calling his parents in tears, telling them he would have to give up and become a personal trainer, before Virgin called to offer a seat in the first all-electric series. "I owe Formula E everything. It resurrected my career," he said. Fast forward, and Bird is his country's top electric driver while Hamilton probes ever deeper into the realms of greatness with his sixth Formula One championship. The contrast between their career paths is not lost on Bird, who is in no risk of being mobbed when he steps out into central London, but he has no doubt his compatriot deserves all the recognition. "He has to be considered as the greatest ever now, surely?," he said. "I’ve worked with him and seen what he can do, data-wise. I’ve never said it about any other driver, but he did things where you just think ‘I cannot do that. My skill level will just not allow me to do what he does’. "I worked with two other incredible drivers at Mercedes but you always felt like you could do it. Given enough time in the car, I felt I could do what they did. But with him sometimes there’s things that you just think, well that’s not achievable." Hamilton had arrived from McLaren to replace seven times champion Michael Schumacher alongside Nico Rosberg for the start of 2013 and would go on to win five of the next six championships. As one Briton took off, the other fell to earth with a bump. "I parted ways with Mercedes and all of a sudden I literally had nothing. I had no money and no income. I didn’t have any money that I’d saved up or anything like that," said Bird. "My electricity got cut off. I couldn’t afford my council tax bill." In Formula E, he has found a new life - a race winner in every season so far with a total of eight victories, Bird is third in the winners' list, and third overall in 2017-18. This season he will be up against a works Mercedes team for the first time, with the German carmaker joining Porsche as debutants. "I tend not to try and race with emotion. To me it’s just another team that I need to beat in order to be the best," said the Briton. "It’s great to have them on the grid. But it would be nice to keep them behind me."

Sam Bird ready to take the plunge as Formula E turns six

Is it a bird? Massa races falcon in Formula E car

The English city of Birmingham is in advanced talks to host a round of the Formula E electric series next year, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said on Monday.

The street race would bring back memories of the Birmingham Superprix, a Formula 3000 race that was held between 1986 and 1990.

"Over the last year, we have been in negotiations with the organizers of the FIA Formula E Championship about bringing a road race to Birmingham, effectively reviving the Superprix," Street said.

"We are now in the advanced stages of these negotiations."

Street said Birmingham wanted to showcase its revamped city centre and also the region's position "as a world leader in next-generation automotive technologies".

Jaguar Land Rover, which has its own Formula E team, is based in nearby Coventry.

"So much of the engineering that goes into the cars already used in Formula E racing comes from the West Midlands, it makes perfect sense we should be hosting such events," added Street.

"If we are successful in concluding the deal, this Formula E race will take place next summer on a route similar to the one used in the original Superprix."

Birmingham is also due to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Formula E officials were not immediately available for comment.

The last round of the championship to be held in England was in London's Battersea Park in July 2016.

Street said Birmingham wanted to showcase its revamped city centre and also the region's position "as a world leader in next-generation automotive technologies"

The English city of Birmingham is in advanced talks to host a round of the Formula E electric series next year, West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said on Monday. The street race would bring back memories of the Birmingham Superprix, a Formula 3000 race that was held between 1986 and 1990. "Over the last year, we have been in negotiations with the organizers of the FIA Formula E Championship about bringing a road race to Birmingham, effectively reviving the Superprix," Street said. "We are now in the advanced stages of these negotiations." Street said Birmingham wanted to showcase its revamped city centre and also the region's position "as a world leader in next-generation automotive technologies". Jaguar Land Rover, which has its own Formula E team, is based in nearby Coventry. "So much of the engineering that goes into the cars already used in Formula E racing comes from the West Midlands, it makes perfect sense we should be hosting such events," added Street. "If we are successful in concluding the deal, this Formula E race will take place next summer on a route similar to the one used in the original Superprix." Birmingham is also due to host the Commonwealth Games in 2022. Formula E officials were not immediately available for comment. The last round of the championship to be held in England was in London's Battersea Park in July 2016.

Birmingham in advanced talks for Formula E race

Formula E, the world&#39;s first fully electric car racing series, is planning a virtual race in Las Vegas next January with a likely $1-million jackpot for the winner. 
 
Series chief executive Alejandro Agag told Reuters in London on Tuesday that the event, pitting regular race drivers against a handful of fans on simulators, could even become a round of the regular championship in future. 
 
&quot;We think e-sports (electronic sports) is a huge opportunity and we want to be the first ones fully immersed in that,&quot; he said. 
&quot;This will be the first virtual race with 20 professional drivers of a racing championship on a big stage and with a very large prize fund.&quot; 
 
The Spanish entrepreneur said the race would be part of the January 5-8 global Consumer Electronics Show (CES). 
 
While insiders indicated $1 million as the likely prize, Agag said only that the amount would be &quot;significantly plus of six figures&quot;. 
 
To qualify, &#39;Race to Vegas&#39; competitions will be launched three months in advance for gamers to sign up and compete online. Five are likely to secure slots. 
 
Just like the real Formula E races, the drivers, and the fans, would only see the virtual track for the first time on the morning of the race. They would practise, qualify, and then race the same day. 
 
Many sports, including Formula One which raced in the past in Las Vegas and has been linked to a return to the famed strip, are experimenting with virtual reality (VR) technology to engage fans and attract new audiences. 
 
Tech giants like Google, Facebook and Samsung are investing heavily in VR with some predicting the immersive technology will have the same effect on television as the internet on newspapers. 
 
(Reuters)

This will be the first virtual race with 20 professional drivers of a racing championship on one stage, says Formula E chief Alejandro Agag

Formula E, the world's first fully electric car racing series, is planning a virtual race in Las Vegas next January with a likely $1-million jackpot for the winner. Series chief executive Alejandro Agag told Reuters in London on Tuesday that the event, pitting regular race drivers against a handful of fans on simulators, could even become a round of the regular championship in future. "We think e-sports (electronic sports) is a huge opportunity and we want to be the first ones fully immersed in that," he said. "This will be the first virtual race with 20 professional drivers of a racing championship on a big stage and with a very large prize fund." The Spanish entrepreneur said the race would be part of the January 5-8 global Consumer Electronics Show (CES). While insiders indicated $1 million as the likely prize, Agag said only that the amount would be "significantly plus of six figures". To qualify, 'Race to Vegas' competitions will be launched three months in advance for gamers to sign up and compete online. Five are likely to secure slots. Just like the real Formula E races, the drivers, and the fans, would only see the virtual track for the first time on the morning of the race. They would practise, qualify, and then race the same day. Many sports, including Formula One which raced in the past in Las Vegas and has been linked to a return to the famed strip, are experimenting with virtual reality (VR) technology to engage fans and attract new audiences. Tech giants like Google, Facebook and Samsung are investing heavily in VR with some predicting the immersive technology will have the same effect on television as the internet on newspapers. (Reuters)

Virtual formula race on cards in Vegas

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