The cancelled 2020 Hong Kong E-Prix would have been the best ever, with marquee names Mercedes and Porsche joining the fray and the Central Harbourfront track extended to make it an even better spectacle for fans.
Lawrence Yu Kam-kee, governor of the Hong Kong Automobile Association and one of the founders of the E-Prix, said the Hong Kong race was ready to jump to the next level.
“I cannot say how disappointed I am that the race had to be cancelled,” said Yu. “I really couldn’t wait. I was in a good mood but then it was cancelled and I am very sad about it.
“We have some great teams coming. Mercedes and Porsche are some of the biggest names in motor racing and, with a longer track, there would have been some really exciting races. It would have been the best E-Prix in Hong Kong so far.”
Hong Kong was meant to be the sixth leg of the 2019-20 Formula E season but, on Friday, organisers decided to cancel the race because of the risk of social unrest that has gripped the city for the past five months.
Yu played a major role in bringing a Formula E race to Hong Kong to kick off the 2016 season. For the past three years, the only complaint about the Hong Kong race was its relatively short 1.86-kilometre track.
Turn 1 and turn 6 of the Central Harbourfront track are tight U-turns that has caused crashes in the past and slowed down cars but Yu said the 2020 circuit would have been extended.
Yu said he met organisers for lunch recently and said it was likely Formula E’s decision to cancel the race. While disappointed, he said he understood their reasons.
“The government could not honestly tell them there was no risk,” said Yu. “Imagine on the day of the race if people started throwing things on the track, it would be a disaster.
“The government could not guarantee that the race could go ahead in safety.”
He said the timing of the decision – five months before the race – was also appropriate.
“You will have hundreds of media, tourists and fans coming in from all over the world,” he said. “These things take time to organise. In addition, the venue needs to be prepared.
“The costs involved are quite large and it is too risky to invest all that time and money with the situation in Hong Kong.”
Formula E on Saturday issued a statement explaining its decision to drop Hong Kong from the 2019-20 calendar.
“After careful consideration and following conversations with key stakeholders, Formula E and event organisers have mutually agreed to not race in Hong Kong in season six,” it said. “All parties, including the HKSAR Government, remain committed to continuing racing in Hong Kong in future, while ensuring the operational excellence of our events.”
Yu is hopeful the event will return to Hong Kong in 2021, saying the future of the sport is with electric racing and more countries joining this season’s circuit.
“Formula E and electric racing is gaining popularity around the world,” said Yu. “One of these days, car racing will be mostly electric.
“Indonesia is joining the circuit this year as well as South Korea, so the circuit is expanding. I am confident Hong Kong will return. Formula E is very happy with the Hong Kong race over the past three years.”
Marrakesh, in Morocco, will stage a race instead of Hong Kong next season, with Sanya, China also staging a leg.
