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Hong Kong Automobile Association president Lawrence Yu (front) announces the staging of the Formula E race. Photo: Edmond So

Hong Kong Formula E race surprise: organisers plan to sell 40,000 tickets with no view of the track for ‘ordinary people’

About 30,000 people will be confined to an ‘eVillage’ and watch the race on a giant screen; if you want to actually see the race you will have to pay more than HK$1,000

Formula E

More than 40,000 tickets will be sold for the first Formula E race in Hong Kong in October, but most spectators will only be able to watch it from a giant screen in Central, according to the company which is organising the event.

There will be three different types of tickets. The cheapest will cost less than HK$500, while grandstand tickets are likely to go for more than HK$1,000 and exclusive VIP tickets for more than HK$10,000, according to Alan Fang, chief executive officer with Formula Electric Racing (Hong Kong), which will host the event.

READ MORE: ’Hong Kong will become most beautiful race of Formula E calendar’ - the HK$300m vision for massive event

“We’d like the event to be seen by ordinary people in Hong Kong,” Fang said, adding that over 30,000 tickets would be priced below HK$500, though the company had not yet made a final decision .

However, budget tickets will not guarantee the audience sight of the actual world-class race, as they will be housed in an “eVillage” in Central, where they will be able to watch the race live on a giant screen.

The price of the ticket will also include food and beverages, as well as electric cars on display and performances on a motoring theme.

Fang said such an arrangement was being made out of “safety concerns”.

However, equivalent “eVillage” tickets at last year’s Formula E races in Beijing and Malaysia were offered free of charge. Many other cities which have hosted races do not have such arrangements.

READ MORE: Formula-E race plan back on track for Hong Kong after Central circuit tweaks

To witness the real race, a Grandstand ticket costing at least four figures would be needed, according to Fang.

The race will start from International Finance Centre and continue towards Admiralty before looping back to the Central ferry piers.

At least three lanes would be required for the race and some corners would have to be reconstructed, said Fang.

Drivers taking part include Nick Heidfeld, Bruno Senna, Nico Prost and Nelson Piquet Junior.

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