The inside story of Formula E's London return
Formula E's first London foray ended in acrimony as local residents helped end any chance of a Battersea return. Not to be deterred, FE worked quietly to get a much-desired London homecoming
It doesn't seem very long since UK platforms were again playing Frank Skinner, David Baddiel and the Lightning Seeds' Three Lions 1996 hit with joy. In the summer of 2018, thanks to the performances of a young, talented and popular squad, the exploits of the England football team were merrily serenaded from afar with the song's most famous refrain: 'It's coming home'.
In 16 months time, that chorus will apply to UK motorsport, and, in particular, ABB FIA Formula E. The electric racing series, which has its headquarters in a high-rise block in Hammersmith, will return to London in the summer of 2020 for its season six finale.
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Alex Kalinauckas is Autosport's Grand Prix Editor, covering every Formula 1 race since the start of 2020. After completing a master's degree in journalism at Goldsmiths College University of London in 2014, he worked for a range of motorsport and technology publications while covering national racing as an Autosport freelancer.
A lifelong motorsport fan - no one in his family can explain quite how or why such a development first occurred - Alex joined the Autosport staff in April 2017 as the magazine’s Assistant Editor covering Formula 2 and GP3, before being made Formula E correspondent and Autosport.com’s Plus Editor in March 2018. He lives in north-east London and is constantly frustrated by the Central Line.
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