Motorsports | HK wants Formula E to become ‘flagship event,’ like Macau’s GP

Formula E race cars inside the pit during the FIA Formula E 2014 Beijing ePrix

The president of the Hong Kong Automobile Association, Lawrence Yu Kam-kee,  wants the city to host the Formula E events as it will “put Hong Kong on the map of world sport,” and become a sporting flagship event, comparable to the Macau Grand Prix.
Hong Kong will accede to the world circuit of Formula E in October, joining cities such as London and Paris in the championship.
The Formula E racing series exclusively features electric-powered cars. Compared with other traditional racing events, the use of such electric-powered vehicles is being commended for making less noise and particle pollutant. Consequently, they are attracting interest from other international cities such as Tokyo, New York and Melbourne, all of which are believed to be interested in hosting their own events.
According to a report in the South China Morning Post, the president of the Hong Kong Automobile Association, said that Hong Kong has obtained a three-year license to operate as one of the two greater China venues for electric-powered car racing.
The decision “is a good opportunity to put Hong Kong on the map of world sport, which we have been lacking over these past few years, other than the rugby sevens,” he told the SCMP. “We are looking forward to many more years to come, just like the Macau Grand Prix, [for the ePrix circuit] to become a flagship event [in Hong Kong].”
Chinese driver Ma Qinghua separately informed the SCMP of his excitement over the October race. “Hong Kong is the origin of motor racing in China and [racing here] always carries a special feeling,” he said.