Formula E heads into new territory on Saturday with the inaugural Jakarta E-Prix. Racing in the world’s fourth most populous nation has been on the cards for three years, after being delayed during the pandemic. Indonesia has committed to an EV transition by 2050, and the country also hopes to bring visitors back to the Ancol Beach tourist market.
The 1.47-mile, 18-turn track is a different challenge that what the drivers have faced so far as the season moves past the halfway point. It’s a purpose-built circuit features both technical corners and long straights that make it potentially the fastest track the series has ever visited.
Just sixteen points split the top three drivers in the championship standings, and the points will favor the driver who can get to grips with the circuit. Mercedes driver Stoffel Vandoorne leads ROKiT Venturi driver Edoardo Mortara and DS Techeeta’s Jean-Eric Vergne in the hard-fought points table, with Mercedes barely ahead in the teams table as well.
Mercedes carries momentum, too, coming off a win at the second round of the Berlin doubleheader. Mortara won the first round, but Vandoorne finished third in both races, demonstrating the consistency that makes him such a factor in the championship.
Those three drivers, as well as plenty of others in striking distance, will be looking to master the track and bring home points, and a win, for the championship fight.
BERLIN TEMPELHOF AIRPORT, GERMANY – MAY 15: Nyck de Vries (NLD), Mercedes Benz EQ, 1st position, and Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL), Mercedes Benz EQ, 3rd position, spray champagne on the podium during the Berlin ePrix II at Berlin Tempelhof Airport on Sunday May 15, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Sam Bagnall / LAT Images)
Formula E is no stranger to Asia, though. The first race for the series was in Beijing, and races have also been held in Hong Kong, as well as elsewhere in China, and races in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia. Asia will also be a key ground for drivers hoping to win the championship, as the final round this season will also be in Asia: held in Seoul, South Korea.
Finally, as a Muslim nation, Indonesia has strict laws about alcohol. Interestingly, despite Heineken becoming global sponsor of the series, the podium will not feature any champagne and “there will be no beer ads or beer sales during the upcoming event,” said Organizing Committee Chairman Ahmad Sahroni. The winner probably won’t enjoy being on the podium any less though.
Saturday’s action gets underway with Free Practice from 07:15 WIB (Western Indonesian Time, GMT +7hrs) with qualifying at 10:40 WIB and Round 9 from 15:00 WIB. Keep track of all the action at fiaformulae.com/live and tune in live via the CBS Sports Network at 3:30 – 5:30 EDT.
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