Formula E’s Marrakesh ePrix will be the official partner to the COP22 summit in Morocco on November 12.The twenty-second meeting of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change takes place from November 7-18, taking over from the previous COP21 meeting in Paris last year.
The discussion of global environmental issues, especially in transport, makes the all-electric series an ideal sporting event to partner the summit, with the sport racing in Africa for the first time.
A documentary about Formula E will be premier the day after the race at the summit, featuring the series’ recent visit to the icecap fields in Greenland, on which Lucas di Grassi drove the stock Spark-Renault SRT_01E, designed to raise awareness of global warming.
“We are delighted to be racing in Marrakesh – the first time that Formula E has raced on the African continent, which shows how we have evolved into a truly global championship,” said Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag.
“The event has even greater significance as we are here as one of the official partners of COP22. Formula E fully understands the challenges and risks that climate change presents, and to be a part of the most significant forum for tackling this problem is a huge honour.”
With the announcement of the partnership came the reveal of the track, which will be the 2.97km Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, previously used for the World Touring Car Championship.
Unlike standard Formula E venues, the circuit features longer, more technical corners and marginally longer straights.