Formula E bosses pull the plug on electric-car race in Hong Kong
Circuit in Central fails to win approval - but auto association chief is hopeful for future
The new Formula E motor racing championship will not be coming to Hong Kong after the proposed circuit in Central failed to meet the approval of the world auto sports governing body.
President of the Hong Kong Automobile Association Lawrence Yu Kam-kee was in Paris last week to see the International Automobile Federation (FIA) unveil the calendar for the new electric racing series, only to see Hong Kong was excluded.
"I'm very disappointed," Yu said from Paris. "The Hong Kong race was cancelled because the FIA didn't approve the circuit. They said the circuit was not up to their standards.
"I believe it was not just one part of the circuit, but many parts which did not measure up to expectations," Yu said. "This is the first time we were making a bid and we couldn't meet the FIA requirements in time. Hopefully we can do better in the future."
It was to have been the first internationally sanctioned race in Hong Kong, with electrically powered cars speeding through the city at 200 km/h.
The initial circuit had to be changed after the government ruled that a section of road near the gates to its offices in Admiralty could not be used. Though the race would have been on a Sunday, the gates had to remain open so Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying could go to work.
The alternative route reduced the length of the circuit to 2.4 kilometres. Then another problem arose over a stretch of tarmac on Lung Wo Road in Central.