Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit

The Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit was a 1.860 km (1.156 mi) street circuit on the Central Harbourfront on Hong Kong Island, Hong Kong, facing the Victoria Harbour. It was used for the Hong Kong ePrix of the single-seater, electrically powered Formula E championship. Its first use was on 9 October 2016, as the opening ePrix of the 2016–17 Formula E season and its last use being in 10 March 2019.[1]

Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit
LocationHong Kong
Time zoneUTC+08:00
Coordinates22°16′55″N 114°09′29″E
Opened9 October 2016 (2016-10-09)
Closed10 March 2019 (2019-03-10)
Major eventsFormula E
Hong Kong ePrix (2016–2017, 2019)
Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy (2019)
Street Circuit (2016–2017, 2019)
Length1.860 km (1.156 miles)
Turns10
Race lap record1:02.317 (Germany Andre Lotterer, DS E-Tense FE 19, 2019, Formula E)
The Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit

Event

Formula E
Main article: Hong Kong ePrix

The circuit has been used to hold the Hong Kong ePrix in 2016, 2017 and 2019. A total of 4 races were held on this circuit in the 2016–17 season, 2017-18 season and the 2018–19 season.

The circuit failed to meet regulations set forth by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA). FIA regulations require tracks to be 2.2 km (1.4 mi) long but the Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit was only 1.860 km (1.156 mi) long. [2] The FIA required Hong Kong to extend the circuit to 2.2 km (1.4 mi) for the 2019–20 season, in which two more teams were expected to enter the E-Prix.[2] Lawrence Yu, governor of the Hong Kong Automobile Association, cited difficulties in extending the track to the west as the Hong Kong station on the western side of the circuit links up the city with the airport. An extension to the east of the circuit through a tunnel was considered too dangerous for the cars to be running at high speeds along a straight road before they enter the tunnel.[2]

The Hong Kong ePrix was eventually dropped from the 2019–20 season on the ground of continued protests in the city.[3]

Lap records

The official race lap records at the Hong Kong Central Harbourfront Circuit are listed as:

CategoryTimeDriverVehicleEvent
Formula E Circuit: 1.860 km (2016–2019)
Formula E1:02.317Andre LottererDS E-Tense FE 192019 Hong Kong ePrix
Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy1:21.657Bryan SellersJaguar I-Pace eTrophy (racecar)2019 Hong Kong Jaguar I-Pace eTrophy round

Race Winners
Season Date Driver Team Race Distance Race Time Report
Laps Miles (km)
ABB FIA Formula E World Championship
2016 Oct 9 Switzerland Sebastian Buemi e.DAMS Renault 45 51.795 (83.70) 53:13.298 Report
2017 Dec 2 United Kingdom Sam Bird Virgin-Citroën 43 49.708 (79.98) 1:17:10.486 Report
Dec 3 Sweden Felix Rosenqvist Mahindra 45 51.795 (83.70) 50:05.084
2019 Mar 10 Switzerland Edoardo Mortara Venturi 36 41.616 (66.96) 59:36.119 Report
2020 and 2021 Cancelled due to protests and the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong[4][3]

References
  1. "Hong Kong government welcomes Formula E". Formula E. Formula E Holdings Limited. Retrieved 3 October 2016.
  2. "Formula E: Hong Kong could be dropped from 2020 calendar if organisers fail to extend circuit". 7 January 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  3. "Hong Kong Formula E race left off 2020-21 calendar amid political turmoil and Covid-19 pandemic". Retrieved 13 June 2022.
  4. "Calendar Confirmed: Marrakesh Replaces Hong Kong". Retrieved 5 October 2019.
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