Motor buffs, revved up for tomorrow's Formula E? The fourth season of the world’s first fully electric, single-seater street racing series is roaring back—sound- and emission-free of course—onto the purpose-built, skyscraper-lined track at Central Harbourfront on December 2-3 with an impressive lineup and record 14,800 fans expected to attend the green motor extravaganza. With a jam-packed weekend of heart-pounding racing and entertainment on the agenda, we round up the top highlights to get you up to speed on the city’s biggest motorsport event:

1. Asia’s first double-header

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Formula E Hong Kong

For the first time ever in Asia, the Hong Kong Formula E championship will be kicked off by two distinct and separate races—also known as a ‘double-header’—over Saturday and Sunday complete with daily podium finishes. With this, Hong Kong joins New York and Montreal as the only cities claiming the ‘double-header’ status.

Each of the 45-lap, 1.86km race will feature 10 turns, two hairpins, and a main straight of 555m. While cars are restricted to a maximum of 170 kilowatts, speed-junkies can get voting to see your top three fan-favourite drivers getting extra horsepower boosts by 100 kilojoules to tackle the technically challenging circuit.

See also: Top Speed: See The 20 Fastest Cars In The World 

 

2. Supercars and star racers

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Formula E Hong Kong

As much a racing event as it is a star-studded spectacle of supercars and A-list racers, this year’s Hong Kong Formula E boasts an impressive lineup with 20 world-class drivers from 10 international teams including reigning champion Lucas di Grassi for Audi, FIA World Endurance Championship winner Sébastien Buemi for Renault and Macau Grand Prix champion António Félix da Costa for Andretti Autosport. 

Mercedes-Benz, Porche, BMW and more illustrious names have also officially signed on for future seasons.

 

3. The one and only Chinese Team 

Tatler Asia
Above Jean-Eric Vergne races a cheetah in the promotional short film to raise awareness on wildlife protection. Photo: Courtesy of fiaformulae.com

All eyes will be on Techeetah, the only Chinese-owned team in the race. The Peninsula Hong Kong-sponsored team will set out to beat its debut record of seven podium finishes and one race win, helmed by Formula E veteran Jean-Éric Vergne. Considering the Formula E race "the hardest I've ever driven", he claimed his first Formula E victory in 2016-17 season finale in Montreal.

He will be joined by new teammate André Lotterer, the German three-time winner at the 24-hour Le Mans race and Japanese Super Formula series. "It’s the place to be for race car drivers," says Lotterer. "It's very exciting to race on city courses; to compete against top drivers in an international motorsports team was a no-brainer."

See also: World's Best Drives: Cruising Through The Italian Countryside In A Ferrari 275

 

4. Gourmet, tipples and family fun

Tatler Asia
Above Photo: Courtesy of Formula E Hong Kong

If you can pull yourself away from the nail-biting action on the course, there's plenty of sideline fun served up at the nearby Allianz E-Villages where daily champagne celebrations with winners, autograph sessions, racing stimulators and even live music performances will thrill kids and tech enthusiasts alike.

For the best seat in the house at the Hong Kong Formula E, hop over to Emotion Club situated near the finish line for some gourmet bites and complimentary free-flow tipples while those keen to party it up with the racers should head to the official Formula E after-party at Play featuring surprise guest acts.

For more information, visit hkformulae.com

 
 

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