Formula E returned to Red Hook in July- this year with some COVID restrictions.
The organizers set up three separate “bubbles” for the three main entrance areas. The fans who entered at the E Village area got complimentary tickets and everyone who entered from the media entrance or who was associated with one of the sponsors or race teams could not go into the E Village area since those people were not COVID tested.
The E Village, which had games, simulations, food and sponsor booths in previous years was very much scaled down this year.
Local food establishments like Jam’It Bistro, Red Hook Lobster Pound and Dolce Brooklyn provided food for the E Village. Formula E and the associated teams and crew also accounted for 1,200 hotel rooms in the local area, and local residents staffed the event.
3500 free tickets were given out to Red Hook residents.
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What makes Formula E racing unique is each vehicle is equipped with the same electric battery. How the teams use the power while conserving energy makes all the difference during the race.
Alberto Longo co-founded it in 2013 to create a sport focused on sustainability, and the circuit has really grown since then.
On Saturday, July 10, the race started at 4:33 and finished after the cars finished their extra lap.
A unique part about Formula E is that a power boost allows fans to vote for their favorite drivers during the race. The drivers with the five highest tallies get extra acceleration in a specially marked zone, like a video game, which the drivers got to use in the second half of the race.
Germany’s Maximillian Gunther, who is on the BMW team, was the winner.Jean Eric Vergne, who is from France and on the DS Techeetah team, was second and Lucas Di Grassi, who is from Brazil, finished in third place in the Saturday heats.
During both the Saturday and Sunday celebrations, there was an extravagant water display show from FDNY boats after the finish of the race. The post race podium honoring the first, second and third place finishers had a beautiful background next to the part of the course that had Lower Manhattan and the harbor in the background.
Sam Bird, who finished in ninth place on Saturday, but won in Sunday, had a rough lead-up to the race. He had a crash into the wall in the practice session, which meant he couldn’t finish the session or be in the second practice. The mechanics and engineers worked on the car and got it ready six seconds before qualifying.
“I think it must have been a record,” Bird said. “It was pretty impressive. The crew got me on the grid ready for the race and we got it together. We worked on it, got some points yesterday and we delivered today. It was really amazing teamwork.”
On Sunday they offered people from the media a lap around the race track. The fastest speed that I went was 172 mph and I was driven around the track by Bruno, who is a former professional driver.
