An electric touring car support series that could be staged on the Formula E support bill is close to becoming a reality for the 2018/19 season, Autosport has learned.
Plans to introduce a tin-top series are close to being firmed up and an announcement from Formula E could come as soon as October.
FIA President Jean Todt told Autosport in Montreal that adding other electric racing events to Formula E weekend schedules was something that the governing body was looking to address.
“Clearly we want to develop electric racing,” said Todt.
“We’re discussing and studying the introduction of the electric car in other categories of motorsport and I feel it would be a good idea to introduce a second race during the race weekend.
“I think there is a space to maybe introduce a different discipline as a support race.
“It is something we are thinking of.”
It is not yet clear if such a support race would be a one-make or multi-make initiative.
One area that would need consideration is whether the existing structure of Formula E events would allow for a support race to be added to a timetable.
Current charging times for electric cars means positioning adequate session lengths and race distances around Formula E’s track time could initially prove difficult under the series’ current one-day format.
Formula E has showcased both the Roborace prototype and development cars in the three hour slots between qualifying and races this season.
The Hong Kong 2016/17 season opener also featured an electric all-Volkswagen Golf support event.
