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Unus Alladin

December’s Hong Kong ePrix should see fewer crashes and a smoother race thanks to track improvements.
According to a leading track specialist, the chicane on turns three and four will be the main focus of this year’s improvements to the 1.86km circuit along the Central Harbourfront.
Architect and Formula E track specialist Rodrigo Nunes said the improved chicanes could help prevent crashes that marred last year’s race.
Hong Kong is hosting the ePrix for the second year running on the weekend of December 2 and 3 with the extravaganza kicking off the new Formula E season with a racing double-header.
Car safety will be chief among the organisers’ concerns and Nunes was hopeful the improved chicane would be the first step towards a better and safer circuit.

Last year, organisers altered the track layout at the last minute after the first practice session, leading to a spate of crashes on turn three as drivers struggled to adjust, having not been consulted about the change.


But Nunes believes there won’t be a repeat of last year’s spectacle because “there’s always been good communication between the drivers and organisers”.
Hong Kong ePrix can show Formula E is catching Formula One, says champion Di Grassi
‘I don’t think there was any bad communication [last year]. I think the race will be better this year,” said Nunes.
“We’ll try to improve some small factors [of the track] that were not so good last year. It’s only about the construction of the chicane and a little bit about the design,” he said.

“It will be a stronger chicane and not so fast so we want to prevent the drivers from crashing into the chicane.
“We’re trying for a new solution. We’re going to slow down the chicane. We’re looking at turns three and four. We had some problems last year. It was too fast.

“Also the yellow lines that were painted in the middle of the track are not good for the drivers and they didn’t have the [proper] reference point.
20,000 fans to get free tickets to eVillage for this year’s Hong Kong ePrix
“We will try to give all this reference to the drivers and try not to have the same problems as last year.”
Nunes said further improvements to the circuit “would be up to the organisers and the city” and that his team would propose more improvements for the circuit – even lengthening the track to a certain extent.

“For this year, it’s about small details. The length of the circuit will be the same and width the same.
“If the city wants, we can improve the circuit even more. It’s up to the city, the promoters, everyone. Technically, it’s possible,” he said.
Nunes said it was amazing Hong Kong had become part of the Formula E circuit.
“Formula E is all over the world ... in the big cities, Hong Kong, New York and Paris. We are in the most important cities in the world and they are trying to find new places to go. It’s always improving. Formula E is growing.”


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No more surprises: Drivers promised a better Hong Kong ePrix after last year’s crash-fest

Improvements will be made to the track according to Rodrigo Nunes, managing partner of RS Project. Photo: Xiaomei Chen

Renault e.dams driver Sébastien Buemi kisses the trophy after his win of Hong Kong ePrix celebrate at 2016 FIA Formula E HKT Hong Kong ePrix in Central. 09OCT16 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Interview with Rodrigo Nunes, Managing Partner of RS Project in Central. 20SEP17 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Hong Kong ePrix track layout

ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport's driver Lucas Di Grassi crashes his car in the qualifying round of 2016 FIA Formula E HKT Hong Kong ePrix in Central. 09OCT16 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Drivers give Hong Kong Formula E track the thumbs up amidst public backlash

ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport driver Daniel Abt during shakedown. Photo: AP

Formula E - FIA Formula E Hong Kong ePrix, Hong Kong - 8/10/16. Renault-eDAMS's Sebastien Buemi of Switzerland in action during shakedown. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

Spectators wave during the shakedown session for the Hong Kong Formula E championship in Hong Kong's Central district on October 8, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / TENGKU BAHAR

Formula E - FIA Formula E Hong Kong ePrix , Hong Kong - 8/10/16. Panasonic Jaguar Racing's driver Adam Carroll of Britain (front) and Renault-eDAMS's Nicholas Prost of France in action during shakedown. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

Formula E champion Sebastien Buemi wins incident-packed maiden Hong Kong ePrix

Sebastien Buemi in action at 2016 Formula E Hong Kong ePrix in Central. Photos: KY Cheng

E.dams driver Sébastien Buemi (Left) in action at 2016 FIA Formula E HKT Hong Kong ePrix in Central. 09OCT16 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

Hong Kong ePrix can show Formula E is catching Formula One, says champion Di Grassi

ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport’s driver Lucas Di Grassi (centre) in action at 2016 FIA Formula E HKT Hong Kong ePrix in Central. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

Lucas Di Grassi of Brazil celebrates after being presented with the driver's championship trophy at the Montreal Formula ePrix electric car race Sunday, July 30, 2017 in Montreal. (Paul Chiasson/The Canadian Press via AP)

Renault e.dams driver Sébastien Buemi (C) celebrates his win after received the trophy from Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying (R2) at 2016 FIA Formula E HKT Hong Kong ePrix in Central. On the far left is first runner-up ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport's driver Lucas Di Grassi and far right is second runner-up Mahindra Racing's Nick Heidfeld. 09OCT16 SCMP / K. Y. Cheng

View-blocking barriers necessary for safety say Formula E chiefs – and HK$50m loss ‘irrelevant’

Screens on public walkways in Central have been criticised. Photo: Dickson Lee

Panasonic Jaguar Racing driver Adam Carroll of Britain, front, and E.dams-Renault driver Sebastien Buemi of Switzerland drive in the track during shakedown at the Formula E Hong Kong ePrix auto race, Saturday, Oct. 8, 2016. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

Crowd is seen in 2016 FIA Formula E HKT Hong Kong ePrix at Apple Store in IFC, Central. 08OCT16 SCMP / Xiaomei Chen

Sport

Hong Kong

Motorsport

Improvements to the chicane on turns three and four ‘will make all the difference’ as organisers try to prevent the crashes that marred the inaugural race in 2016


Formula E

No more surprises: Drivers promised a better Hong Kong ePrix after last year’s crash-fest

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Improvements to the chicane on turns three and four ‘will make all the difference’ as organisers try to prevent the crashes that marred the inaugural race in 2016

Improvements to the chicane on turns three and four ‘will make all the difference’ as organisers try to prevent the crashes that marred the inaugural race in 2016