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Formula E makes history, races into Switzerland in 2018

By Alex Herbst

NEW YORK, NY - JULY 15: Mitch Evans in the Jaguar I-TYPE on track during the New York City ePrix, ninth round of the 2016/17 FIA Formula E Series on July 15, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York City, NY, USA. (Photo by Andrew Ferraro/LAT Images)
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 15: Mitch Evans in the Jaguar I-TYPE on track during the New York City ePrix, ninth round of the 2016/17 FIA Formula E Series on July 15, 2017 in Brooklyn, New York City, NY, USA. (Photo by Andrew Ferraro/LAT Images) /
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In 2018, Formula E will go where very few racing series have gone before – racing on the streets of Zurich, Switzerland in 2018.

The racing calendar for the 2017-18 season of the Formula E world championship is finally taking shape. With more dates being confirmed, and the new venues taking shape, the all-electric championship is set to travel where few in racing have ventured before. The Formula E series will race on the streets of Zurich, Switzerland in 2018, the first motorsports event in Switzerland since 1954.

Racing was originally banned in Switzerland in the mid-1950s following a horrific crash at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. Dozens of fans were killed when debris from a crash on the main straightaway flew into the stands. Since then, professional auto racing has not been allowed in Switzerland, despite many at the FIA lobbying for the ban to be lifted.

The race being scheduled for the 2018 part of the next Formula E calendar is considered a big win not only for electric racing but racing overall. Native Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi was very excited to race on his home soil:

"Having a race in Switzerland is truly a dream come true. I am delighted about this news, and still can’t believe it. Only a few years ago it seemed impossible because of the local legislation, but thanks to Formula E we have managed to bring racing back to my country. Zurich is the biggest city and racing there will be incredible."

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Racing on the streets of Zurich should also create a number of new Formula E fans, as it will be the first racing series on their soil in more than sixty years. While racing still airs on television around the country, Formula E gets a unique position as the only racing series in the nation.

Zurich will not be the only new venue for Formula E in the 2017-18 season. Santiago, Sao Paolo, and Rome will join the calendar as new venues. Among the recent changes sees the New York ePrix shift back by one week, while the German round of the world championship is now confirmed for the Tempelhof Airport in Berlin once again.

Much of the Formula E grid remains to be confirmed, however. Half of the teams have confirmed their drivers for the season starting in Hong Kong in December. The remaining five have the next two months to settle out who will be piloting their rides.

Next: Mahindra, Jaguar Confirm 2017-18 Formula E Lineups

Are you excited to see Formula E racing in Switzerland? Is it time for the country to drop their ban of professional auto racing? Comment below with your thoughts on racing coming to the streets of Zurich in 2018. Stay tuned for more news and analysis from around the Formula E paddock from Beyond The Flag.

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