Despite the Covid Rome does not give up hosting major sporting events and this year it returns, on the weekend of 10-11 April, the Formula E Grand Prix, the top competition with single-seaters with electric motors which from this season officially becomes a world championship under the aegis of the FIA, the International Automobile Federation which also organizes Formula 1. The Rome E-Prix is the second stage of a championship which began at the end of February in Saudi Arabia: we race as usual on the Eur street circuit and this year's novelty, for the first time in three years (the first edition was in 2018), is that the races will not be one but two, one on Saturday at 16pm and the other on Sunday at 13pm. There are no Italian teams at the start and no drivers, even if former Formula 1 drivers such as Lucas Di Grassi, Jean-Eric Vergne and Sebastien will race on the roads of the capital Buemi.
For obvious reasons, the event will take place without an audience and in compliance with the anti-COVID 19 regulations the organization of Formula E has adopted a protocol called the "bubble system" to ensure the safety not only of all Formula E personnel, teams and drivers, but also of Roman citizens. The protocol provides for the screening of all those present through molecular swabs and a strict code of conduct at the event location. On the other hand, live television will not be missing, for a sport in which the public has growing interest: the E-Prix will be broadcast in 150 countries, with an expected share of 75 million viewers. In Italy coverage is guaranteed by Mediaset and Sky. Spectacularity is also guaranteed by the fact that, unlike F1, Formula E is a timed race, lasting 45 minutes + 1 lap. So it lasts less than an hour and whoever has traveled the most km wins.
As per the agreements with the Municipality for the concession of the spaces, even more so in this difficult period for citizens, Formula E wanted to contribute to the creation of value for the territory. It was announced in this case the reconstruction of the Playground located inside the EUR lake, which includes not only extraordinary maintenance with the replacement of deteriorating elements of the park, but also the installation of games that are inclusive and accessible to all, made with recycled materials. The project, which will be completed by the end of the summer, will make it possible to redevelop the entire area. Furthermore, the works for the preparation of the runway will include the reasphalting of a large part of the road surface involved and the total renovation of the sidewalk in via Murri, a segment of the city of particular historical-architectural importance which will be inherited by the neighbourhood.
In the neighborhood, speaking of the Covid emergency, there is also the Fuksas cloud, the Congress Center which in recent months has become an important vaccination hub for Roman citizens. Formula E reassured everyone: the event will not block vaccinations. For the many who wondered how the campaign could continue during the closing days of the Colombo, in fact, the organization has released a handbook in which he explains that pedestrian access to the Nuvola will always be guaranteed, even in the three days of maximum closure, i.e. also on 9, 10 and 11 April.
“Rome – he confirmed Mayor Virginia Raggi – confirms itself as the stage for major international events. Formula E is a unique show, which combines the fascination and emotions of sporting competition with the best prospects of sustainable technologies, such as those of electric mobility".
“The Formula E show returns to Rome – he added Francesco Venturini, CEO of Enel X which is a partner of the event – and, despite the lack of an audience in the stands, there will be plenty of energy and support for the drivers. Thanks to the chargers specially made by Enel X as Official Smart Charging Partner of the championship, the electric single-seaters will be able to whiz around the EUR circuit, demonstrating once again that electric mobility, in addition to being sustainable, is also capable of arousing strong emotions. For us, Formula E and electric motorsport is an open-air laboratory where we have the opportunity to develop the most innovative charging technologies which will then be adapted and used for everyday electric mobility, as demonstrated by the recent opening in Rome of the first ultrafast urban area for the charging of electric vehicles in Corso Francia”.
