Eurosport has secured the broadcasting rights to Formula E in Germany, adding to its deals with seven other EU countries, while the UK rights have been awarded to ITV for the second season.

Eurosport now holds the exclusive TV and digital rights to the FIA Formula E Championship for the next two seasons in Germany, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland, as well as Iceland on a non-exclusive basis.

“Following the success of the inaugural season we want to ensure audiences can continue to watch and engage with the series,” said Ali Russell, Director of Media and Strategic Partnerships. 

“This latest agreement reinforces our outreach across key target markets in Europe alongside other existing deals.”

Under the deal, all 11 rounds of the 2015-2016 FIA Formula E Championship will be televised live and free-to-air on Eurosport in Germany.

The win adds a fast-growing event property to Eurosport’s growing portfolio. 

“Motorsport is one of Eurosport’s pillars, with the channel broadcasting major events including MotoGP, FIA WTCC, Le Mans 24 Hours and the World Superbike Championship,” said Peter Hutton, Chief Executive Officer, Eurosport. 

“Securing the rights to Formula E further bolsters the channel’s portfolio with a unique brand of racing. It supports our strategy to bring must-have content to local viewers whilst reaching a wider audience.”

In the UK, Formula E has extended its live and free-to-air broadcast deal with ITV.

"We are delighted to renew our Formula E deal for next year,” said Niall Sloane, Director of Sport at ITV. 

“The sport is building significantly on a thrilling first year and we look forward to bringing this fresh, innovative and futuristic series to our viewers on ITV and ITV4."

The second Formula E season kicks off in Beijing on 24 October.

Formula E Holdings are to stage a demonstration event in central Tokyo in the run up to its second season, motorsport.com reported on Wednesday.

The news follows statements made by CEO Alejandra Agag to HOST CITY at the London Championship in June that Formula E plans to add another Asian city to its calendar, along with other new host cities. 

“We are looking at another race in Asia – and we would like to race in the Middle East,” Agag told HOST CITY at a press conference in Battersea Park hosted by logistics partner DHL. 

“We are looking at a race in Switzerland because there is a change in law which means we can race there.”

Cities around the world are expressing an interest in hosting Formula E, he said. 

“We have probably over 200 cities that have asked. It is not the same thing when you tell them what you have to do, this is what it’s going to cost you, the implications and so on – then it filters down. There are some cities that really want it and others that are just asking to see how it works. 

“Realistically we will add five or six new more races in three of four years.

“We’ve been in discussions with DHL to figure out the logistics; we want to reduce the carbon footprint of the championship and we want to go to new locations.”

At the FIA World Motor Sport Council in July, Paris was added and Miami dropped from the Formula E calendar for the 2015/2016 season. Other cities confirmed were Putrajaya (Malaysia), Punta del Este (Uruguay), Buenos Aires (Argentina), Long Beach (USA), Berlin (Germany), Moscow (Russia) and London (UK).

The host of a race on March 16 remains unconfirmed, with Mexico City said to be the most likely candidate.

“In Mexico there are very high chances. We will have to bring it to the World Council and the local federations and so on,” Agag told HOST CITY before the World Council meeting.

The test event in Tokyo will help to build Formula E’s reach in Japan, where Aguri Suzuki heads up Team Amlin Aguri in the championships. The country is also a leader in automotive and green technology.

Formula E has a multi-year broadcasting partnership with Japanese broadcaster Asahi, which released viewing figures of 15 million for the opening four races of the 2014/2015 season.

[Source: Extreme E] Following a successful debut event in Scotland last season, Extreme E today announces its return to Dumfries and Galloway for Rounds 3 and 4 of 2024. 
The championship’s latest visit to the popular Scottish location kickstarts the European leg of Season 4, which will take place on 13-14 July.
The announcement of the race return was made today, Thursday 6 June, in the shadow of the Scottish Parliament, by Ali Russell, Managing Director of Extreme E, and Kate Forbes MSP, Scotland’s Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for the Economy.
Kate Forbes, Deputy First Minister, said: “I am delighted that Extreme E will be returning to Scotland this summer. Last year’s Hydro X Prix brought both social and economic benefits to our communities and regional and national economies, while providing a new and exciting platform to showcase the country’s offer to a global audience.
“Extreme E shares our ambition for sustainability, renewable energy, gender equality and local conservation and I am confident this this year’s event will once again demonstrate that Scotland can provide the perfect stage for major, innovative international events like the X Prix.”
In 2023, the former Glenmuckloch opencast coal mine site, on Queensberry Estate, played host to two exciting races in Scotland, won by Sir Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Vida Carbon Racing outfit and E.ON Veloce Racing, respectively. 
The restored former coal mine, set to undergo the next phase of its major transformation into a Pumped Storage Hydropower (PSH) plant and wind farm, is a project which is being developed by Foresight Group's Energy Transition Fund (FEIP). The setting provides a poignant backdrop for the sport, which uses its platform to raise awareness of climate change and global solutions. Exact details of the 2024 course layout will be confirmed ahead of the upcoming Hydro X Prix.
The Hydro X Prix in Scotland represents an exciting return home for Extreme E, creating the opportunity to highlight climate issues and solutions that are not just global, but also right on our doorstep.
Scotland's landscape includes rugged mountains, rolling hills, deep valleys, and stunning coastline. The country is home to numerous lochs, rivers, and forests, including the famous Caledonian Forest, which is one of the few remaining ancient woodlands in Europe. Scotland also has a rich and varied wildlife population, with species such as red deer, golden eagles, otters, and seals found across the country.
However, Scotland's environment is not without its challenges, including issues related to climate change, land use, and biodiversity loss, which are being addressed through a range of conservation efforts and sustainable development initiatives.
Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO of Extreme E, said: “Heading back to the UK and Scotland for the next event of the 2024 Extreme E season is an exciting prospect for our championship.
“It was a hugely successful event last year and we cannot wait to return to such a dramatic location for our action-packed racing series, but also one which has sustainability values at its core. Scotland is a strong voice in the adoption of a clean energy future and renewable energy sources, and our Hydro X Prix marks a great opportunity to highlight these important issues that are happening so close to home. 
“We are excited to race once again and get the second half of our championship underway.”
As part of the championship’s commitments to raising awareness of the climate crisis, Extreme E’s legacy initiatives will continue at the Hydro X Prix.
From the impactful re-planting of over a thousand trees, to using innovative technologies being implemented by Official Technology Partner Vodafone Business to monitor water quality and temperatures, Extreme E will continue to focus on a long-term transformation of the River Nith area that will protect the salmon stocks so important to local industries.
Anna Fergusson, Estate Director at Queensberry Estate, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Extreme E team back to Queensberry Estate for races in their 2024 season. The news of their return is exciting for Buccleuch and the wider Dumfries and Galloway area. The 2023 races at Glenmuckloch were thrilling and Extreme E’s engagement with local young people and their environmental project on the River Nith have left a lasting legacy. For this year’s Hydro X Prix, Buccleuch will work with the Extreme E team to reach more of the community and help them leave their positive mark on the local area.

DB Schenker and Porsche Motorsport will take an important step toward climate neutrality by launching a global demonstration tour for the electrically powered GT4 e-Performance race car prototype. DB Schenker has organized a complete sustainable logistics solution for the electric race car’s trip around the world, which will include stops at select racing locations. Among other things, only the most environmentally friendly modes of transport will be used for the tour, which will cover a total of 13,000 kilometres. The GT4 e-Performance Tour will kick off at the end of January with the legendary GP Ice Race in Zell am See in Austria. After that, the electric race cars will be transported in a sustainable manner by ship, rail, and trucks to other events in Europe, the U.S., and Asia.

Both DB Schenker and Porsche have firmly incorporated sustainability aspects into their corporate strategies. For example, the international logistics service provider has set itself the goal of becoming the world’s leading provider of green logistics solutions and is thus the ideal partner for the Porsche GT4 e-Performance Tour.

“This partnership is enabling us to take a major step forward together on the road to green mobility – we’re very much looking forward to addressing this challenge, and we have the right solutions to ensure we’ll be successful,” says DB Schenker CEO Jochen Thewes. “During the tour, we will be able to highlight the progress we’ve made with the development of environmentally friendly transport and logistics solutions around the world.”

The customized logistics solution for the GT4 e-Performance Tour includes environmentally friendly and emission-free rail transport of the concept vehicles, as well as transport with all-electric trucks and ships powered by marine biofuels. The latter mainly consist of fuels made with used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME). DB Schenker plans to use its position as a partner for the tour to get new target groups interested in green logistics.

“We’re very happy that we were able to get DB Schenker onboard as a partner for our motorsports logistics,” says Barbara Frenkel, member of the Porsche Executive Board, with responsibility for Procurement, and also a co-initiator of the sports car manufacturer’s sustainability strategy.

“Together, we want to generate additional momentum for sustainability and sustainable solutions. Porsche has an ambitious sustainability strategy that we are implementing together with our suppliers. We are now taking steps to make our value chain carbon-neutral on balance by 2030, and this also includes ensuring a carbon-neutral service life on balance for future battery-electric models.”

Prototype for all-electric customer motorsports

The GT4 e-Performance will offer Porsche the possibility to provide customers with a motorsports option with all-electric race cars in the future. The strategy here makes use of the technology components in the IAA Mission R concept car, which Porsche presented in 2021 as a vision for the future, but which the company has now made a reality. The vehicle’s body is made of, among other things, composite materials based on natural fibers. The prototype, which is not for sale, will be presented for fans and potential customer teams around the world to marvel at during the tour. However, the electric race car will also collect valuable data during the tour, which will enable Porsche to gain new knowledge for use in the future – and not only for motorsports.

The global tour will begin with the prestigious GP Ice Race in Zell am See from January 27-29, 2023. After that, it will move on to the U.S., where the innovative concept vehicle will take part in the famous Grand Prix of Long Beach in April, as well as in other races. Then it’s on to the Asia-Pacific region for a series of events in the second half of the year.

DB Schenker’s stated goal: Clean logistics

As a pioneer in the field of innovative logistics solutions, DB Schenker has set itself the goal of becoming the world’s leading provider of green logistics services. The company continuously invests in renewable energy and environmentally friendly products for its customers in order to achieve its ambitious goal of ensuring climate neutrality by 2040. The company also plans to achieve complete sustainability transparency in 2023.

“We believe we have an obligation to continue our pioneering work and move ahead even further in the area of clean logistics – and ensure consistent and transparent communication in this regard as well,” says Thewes.  

About DB Schenker

With around 76,100 employees at more than 1,850 locations in over 130 countries,  DB Schenker is one of the world’s leading logistics service providers. The company operates land, air, and ocean transportation services, and it also offers comprehensive solutions for logistics and global supply chain management from a single source. DB Schenker is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2022. The company continuously invests in innovative transport solutions, renewable energy, and environmentally friendly products for its customers in order to achieve its ambitious goal of ensuring climate neutrality by 2040.

[Source: Recast] Fans of one of the most exciting series in motorsport – WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup – can now watch race highlights and exclusive behind-the-scenes content from some of the sport’s biggest stars with the launch of a new WTCR Channel on subscription-free streaming platform Recast.
Audiences will have greater access to the sport than ever before as a result of WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup and promoter Discovery Sports Events joining the subscription-free, live, and on-demand streaming platform.
The WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup is the pinnacle of customer touring car racing and sits at the top of the TCR category ladder. The cream of the sport’s driving talent, including Yvan Muller, Esteban Guerrieri, defending world champion Yann Ehrlacher and Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport’s Tom Coronel will create exclusive content for WTCR’s Recast Channel on location from each race across the 2022 season.
Fans can also stream onboard camera sequences plus exclusive footage from leading WTCR teams, as well as highlights of each race.
The 10-round, 20-race 2022 championship runs through to November, with meetings taking place at some of motorsport’s most iconic venues across the globe. The season is already off to a flyer, with Mikel Azcona, of BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, leading the championship after picking up a second win of the season at the historic Hungaroring in Hungary at the weekend.
The Spaniard will take a slender 10-point lead over Argentine Nestor Girolami into the next race as the championship’s attention turns to his home circuit at the famous MotorLand Aragón circuit near Alcañiz on June 25-26. WTCR fans can expect more exclusive content alongside thrilling highlights and on-track action on the Recast Channel.
Andy Meikle, Recast Founder and CEO, hailed the beginning of a significant connection with Discovery Sports Events. He said: "Together we're giving fans greater access to the sport they love in an affordable and flexible way.
"Recast will unlock new digital revenue streams for WTCR and Discovery Sports Events, whilst bringing fans even closer to the heart of the action each race weekend – it's win-win for all involved."
Jean-Baptiste Ley, WTCR Director, Discovery Sports Events, described the deal as ‘the latest firm demonstration of our significant, ongoing promotional push and commitment behind the WTCR’.
He continued: “Recast's unique platform will allow us to give WTCR fans even greater control and access to the series, including exclusive driver generated content and the best trackside action and commentary.
“Utilising Recast's flexible functionality to align with our existing broadcasting agreements, we look forward to bringing the best WTCR content to new and existing global markets, unleashing a wave of new racing fans to enjoy another fantastic season."
Fans will be able to use Recast’s subscription-free platform to stream exclusive interviews, in-car cameras and behind-the-scenes content from the top teams from the series, including Cyan Racing Lynk & Co, ALL-INKL.COM Münnich Motorsport, BRC Hyundai N Squadra Corse, and Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport, to complement Discovery Sports Events race-by-race coverage.
Tom Coronel, Comtoyou DHL Team Audi Sport driver, said: “I want fans to go behind the scenes at WTCR events and they’ll see me being myself in my Tommy style. The content won’t just be about the racing but about my race car, the engine, the mechanics, the travel.
“They’ll get to understand what I do at race events from walking to the track from the hotel and what I have to eat. I’m going to show people the things they don’t normally see and I’m very excited to show Recast fans as much content as possible during race weekends.”
The launch of the Discovery Sports Events WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup Channel marks the latest high-profile Channel to join Recast, which has built an impressive portfolio of Publishers within sport and esports including Hibernian FC, Millwall FC, the World Curling Federation, and Formula Esports, with fans from across the world streaming affordable content every day across the platform’s 150 Channels.
The content offered across Channels ranges from live streams to on-demand content, including exclusive behind the scenes access to interviews and original content.
Recast, which is currently in beta, has secured £15 million investment to date from some of the biggest names in sport, business and venture capital.
Find all the WTCR content at WTCR – FIA World Touring Car Cup’s Recast Channel here. To find out more about Recast, visit the website.

[Source: Nitro Rallycross] Today Nitro Rallycross, a disruptive new force in motorsports, announced its inaugural global season. The expanded Nitro RX series kicks off June 18-19, 2022 at England’s legendary Lydden Hill Race Circuit for the first of ten races staged in six countries, including Sweden, Finland, Canada and Saudi Arabia. Nitro RX will then bridge the calendar year to culminate in March 2023 with a championship event held in the U.S. A full schedule is listed below. 

In 2022-23, Nitro RX is taking its groundbreaking tracks, with huge jumps and steep banked turns, to a host of new settings worldwide. Nitro RX will grow beyond its roots in outdoor dirt tracks, with drivers also set to battle on tarmac, inside stadiums, through street circuits and over snow and ice for a diverse range of race environments.

Travis Pastrana, Nitro RX mastermind and 2021 series champion says, “I’m so excited to see Nitro Rallycross expand into a full worldwide series. This is the action-packed, no limits racing that teams, drivers and fans have been looking for, and going global has been our goal from the beginning. We also have the fantastic opportunity to get things started at historic Lydden Hill, an iconic track that is the birthplace of rallycross and home to some of its biggest moments. We are going back to the beginning and making the changes we think are needed to take the sport to the next level.” 

The 2022-23 Nitro RX season will also feature an expanded racing lineup led by the competition debut of the FC1-X, the most powerful vehicle in rallycross. Created by First Corner, LLC, in collaboration with QEV Technologies and Nitro RX, the FC1-X delivers the electric equivalent of 1,070 peak horsepower (800 kW) and accelerates from 0-60 in just 1.4 seconds, launching faster off the line than an F1 car.  

Andreas Bakkerud, a highly decorated driver who got an early taste of what the new vehicle is capable of in demo sessions at Race of Champions, says, “The FC1-X blew my mind straight out the box, not only from a performance point of view but also with its toughness given the amount of laps we could do on a frozen lake up north in Sweden. The car itself is very promising to drive, loads of power – just like us rallycross drivers like it. It’s going be a blast going head to head with this new car and to see which team can first find that little detail in performance gain for the first few races.”

The FC1-X will flex its muscles in Nitro RX’s new top Group E division. Just as the legendary Group B cars set the rallycross world ablaze in the 1980s, Nitro RX’s new Group E class is set to make another quantum leap. That inspiration, supercharged by Nitro Circus’ limit-pushing DNA, will show the massive performance potential of electric vehicles unleashed by the fastest rallycross cars ever seen.

Pastrana adds, “I can’t wait to get on the starting line in the FC1-X and see what it can do in the heat of competition. With the car’s game-changing power, Group E will more than live up to the legacy of the Group B’s as it sets a new standard for the sport. This is what Nitro Rallycross is all about: getting the best cars in the hands of the best drivers so they can throw down on the best tracks, anywhere in the world.”

The FC1-X will serve as the A SHOC Energy #GoNitro star car, which returns for 2022-23. Last year, two NASCAR Cup Series champions - Kyle Busch and A SHOC Energy athlete Chase Elliott - put in strong performances in the #GoNitro driver’s seat, with Busch nearly making the podium. As fan engagement spiked, more stars from across the racing world took notice and now a growing lineup is eager to participate, including stars from F1, NASCAR, IndyCar, MotoGP and more.

In addition to the competition debuts of the FC1-X and Group E, Nitro RX 2022-23 will feature an expanded offering of high-impact racing. The iconic Supercar class will return, giving fans a double dose of elite rallycross competition while the developmental NRX Next division is back as well, providing a pathway for the next generation of drivers. Each series stop will also include additional special disciplines offering fans even more wide-open action.

On sale information will be announced shortly, and enthusiasts will also be able to watch the action away from the track through a robust slate of broadcast partners. In 2021, Nitro RX was available in over 200 territories on more than 14 platforms, including an exclusive U.S. partnership with NBCU featuring live coverage on Peacock. Look for more details on Nitro RX’s 2022-23 broadcast plans very soon.

Leading Nitro RX’s roster of commercial partners is innovative energy drink brand A SHOC Energy, who earlier this year announced a strategic alliance with Nitro RX’s parent company, Thrill One Sports & Entertainment. Foundational Nitro RX series partner Yokohama Tire is also set to return with more additions to the sponsorship roster to be announced.

Joe Carr, CEO of Thrill One Sports & Entertainment – Nitro RX’s parent company - says, “We’re thrilled to see Nitro Rallycross step onto the world stage and become a global motorsports property. Expanding to six countries, doubling the event calendar and running through the winter months shows the rising demand for this brand of high-adrenaline, fast-paced racing. We have exciting plans with broadcast and commercial partners that we look forward to sharing as anticipation builds for the 2022-23 season.”

2022–23 NITRO RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE*

June 18-19, 2022 // England (Lydden Hill Race Circuit)

July 30-31, 2022 // Sweden

August 27-28, 2022 // Finland

October 1-2, 2022 // Minneapolis, USA

October 29-30, 2022 // Los Angeles, USA

November 12-13, 2022 // Phoenix, USA

December 10-11, 2022 // Saudi Arabia

January 21-22, 2023 // Quebec, Canada

February 4-5, 2023 // Alberta, Canada

March TBA, 2023 // Nitro RX 2022-23 Series Finale // TBA, USA

(*Subject to change)

As the 2018 season draws to a close, the focus is already shifting toward improvements for the 2019 season. Since Liberty Media acquired Formula 1 in January 2017, the long-term vision has been clear: to unleash the greatest racing spectacle on the planet.

Formula 1 is in constant perpetual motion of creating, sustaining and retaining major global sporting events, with 21 different host countries across five continents vying to create the most unique race weekend experience for fans.

With a yearly cumulative TV audience of 1.8 billion people, Formula 1 has 506 million global fans and an average race attendance of 200,000 people, creating multiple layers of cultural and economic benefits for a host city. Whilst complimenting the local and national tourism strategy, other benefits include global visibility, positive economic uplift, contributions toward tourism and job creation.

Economic impact

Hosting a Formula 1 race boosts the economy of a host city and country by stimulating consumer spending and creating new opportunities in the secondary and tertiary sectors of the economy.

The Formula 1 United States Grand Prix held at The Circuit of the Americas (COTA) has contributed substantially toward the local economy, with total economic impact to the Austin Metro area between 2012 and 2015 valued at $2.8bn.

Similarly, a recent study by PriceWaterhouseCoopers found that the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in Baku created $277.3m of increased economic value in 2016 and 2017.

Increased visibility

With live broadcast to over 200 territories worldwide, Formula 1 excites fans and creates over 635 hours of broadcast footage. A host city is positively positioned in front of a global audience, showcasing them as a destination for major sporting and entertainment events.

Through destination branding, the Mexican Grand Prix has generated over $5.5bn MXN global media exposure and $885m MXN of media value of the Mexico logo.

Tourism

With over 200,000 attendees per race and on average 53 per cent coming from abroad, hosting a Formula 1 race induces tourism and opens up a city to new audiences. Mexico City experienced a 12 per cent increase in hotel occupancy in 4 and 5 star hotels during the Grand Prix and on average the weekend spend per guest is £1,600 (excluding tickets). Since their first Grand Prix in 2008, Singapore has hosted more than 450,000 international visitors, who have contributed around $1.4 billion in incremental tourism receipts.

Job creation

Returning year after year, Formula 1 increases both annual and seasonal employment, whilst creating new jobs across a number of industries. When the Grand Prix heads to Montreal an additional 640 jobs in the Quebec region are created and COTA’s annual activities and operations combined to support 9,100 jobs in the Austin region representing $306 million in annual payroll for Austin-area workers.

Formula 1 is a sport with unique heritage and a proven track record of creating economic benefit and we are excited to be hosting our 1,000^th race next year.

Chloe Targett-Adams, Global Director of Promoters and Business Relations at Formula 1 is speaking at Host City 2018 in Glasgow on 20-21 November

Formula E on Tuesday said it would be inviting expressions of interest from new prospective host cities to join the 2017/18 calendar.

The structured selection process will be managed by London-based firm The Sports Consultancy, whose co-managing director Robert Datnow is speaking at Host City 2016 – the largest meeting of cities and sports, business and cultural events.

Successful hosts will be announced in June 2017, subject to approval of the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC).

“We have enjoyed remarkable growth over the first two seasons of Formula E and now have partnerships with some of the most iconic cities in the world and cutting-edge automotive brands,” said Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag.

“There is now a unique opportunity for new cities to join our calendar and share in the continued exponential growth of the championship.”

The FIA Formula E Championship races on the streets against a backdrop of some of the most iconic host cities, including New York, Marrakesh, Buenos Aires, Monaco, Paris and Montreal.

The inaugural season of Formula E launched in September 2014 around the grounds of the Olympic Park in Beijing.

The third season, which opens in Hong Kong on 9 October 2016, sees 10 teams and 20 drivers race in 12 cities spanning five continents. The season ends in a double-header event in New York on 29 and 30 July 2017.

According to Formula E, the championship represents “a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in electric vehicle technology and alternative energy solutions”.

The rights holder anticipates that the further opening of regulations in future seasons will allow manufacturers to focus on developing motor and battery components.