From the season 2020/21, Formula E will be known as the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. A vote was passed by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile to officially recognise the all-electric single-seater series.
Formula E founder and chairman Alejandro Agag met with FIA president Jean Todt at the FIA headquarters in Paris to ratify the deal.
“I am proud that today we confirm its FIA world championship status,” said Todt.
“Since we started this journey, Formula E has undoubtedly gone from strength to strength. Within a short timeframe, the series has proven itself relevant for the automotive industry with two more major car manufacturers having joined the championship at the start of the current season, bringing the total number to ten.
“Since its first race in Beijing in 2014 and with every E-Prix thereafter, Formula E has proven that the concept of cutting-edge electric racing works. I wholeheartedly welcome Formula E as the latest FIA world championship.”
The series has attracted an impressive roster of manufacturer support in the five years it’s been running. Big names include Nissan, BMW, DS, Jaguar and Mercedes-Benz.
The future-looking appeal has even attracted some manufacturers to Formula E, away from other disciplines. Audi and Porsche, for example. Both were big players in the expensive LMP1 class at the World Endurance Championship. Both have defected, establishing a presence in FE.
Formula E is now made up of 24 cars, 24 drivers and 12 teams in total, and is expected to grow still further.
“It was always our ambition to one day become an FIA world championship”, said Alejandro Agag.
”Everything we have done and delivered to this point has been working towards this particular moment in time. Achieving the feat and being granted with FIA world championship status adds more credibility to what is already a fully-fledged formula of racing and a spectacular sporting product.”
The next Formula E race meeting with be on the weekend of the 18 January 2020 in Santiago, Chile. A further ten race weekends will follow, with the season concluding in London on 26 July 2020.