Lucas di Grassi: "Formula E's Future Shines Bright"
2017 marks an exciting debut for Formula E
New sponsors and team acquisitions
"Formula E is evolving at an incredible pace," says di Grassi
The 2016/17 championship concluded dramatically on the streets of Montreal, with Lucas di Grassi coming up just short by 12 points against his nemesis, Sebastien Buemi. Months later, he staged a remarkable comeback, finishing from behind to clinch the world championship title.
"I feel fantastic, it couldn't be better – it's a dream come true," a visibly emotional di Grassi said after the ePrix race on Sunday. "I'm thrilled for the team [ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport], our partners and myself. We truly deserve it."
The Championship Win is a Sweet Victory
The win was a celebratory moment for di Grassi, who nearly took the title the previous year in London after finishing third in the season.
READ MORE: Buemi clinches the title 2016 in a dramatic fashion
READ MORE: Championship rivals Square Off Before the Decisive Moment in Montreal
The 32-year-old Brazilian driver was a driving force behind Formula E's championship success – he was the first driver to sign up for the series, and won the inaugural race in Beijing in September 2014, setting a record of 20 podium finishes.
In this season, Di Grassi added more chapters to the story, with his heroic win in Mexico, where he started at the back of the field and emerged victorious. Then came Berlin, where he completed the race with a broken tibia.
Di Grassi has been a loyal supporter of Formula E since its inception, and has watched it grow from an unknown entity to the brink of the mainstream motorsport scene.
"Formula E has evolved at an unbelievable pace since the first season," di Grassi told CNN.
"It's truly remarkable to see what's been achieved in three years. We now have the largest number of car manufacturers in all racing series worldwide and will continue to grow in seasons four, five, and six. ... I see nothing but a brilliant future." He added.
Formula E "Breaks New Ground"
It's an exhilarating time for the world's only all-electric championship, with sponsorship money pouring in and manufacturers lining up to join the series. Jaguar enters the fray this season, with BMW preparing for the 2018 race and Mercedes and Porsche joining soon after. Even Ferrari is considering getting involved, according to CEO Sergio Marchionne.
"I think this is Formula E's starting season, with all the attention and new entrants," said series co-founder and CEO Alejandro Agag.
"I think the last weekend was a real turning point, with Lucas coming from behind to win the driver's title and Renault [eDams] defending their constructors' title worthily."
Four-time F1 world champion Alain Prost, who now leads Renault eDams to a third consecutive constructors' title, agrees with Agag.
"In our first season, we didn't expect so much support for our race, and it turned out to be a huge success," Prost told CNN.
"Now everyone knows Formula E. We had a concept, and it worked. For me, it was a huge surprise."
Promote Electric Power
Away from the racetrack, Formula E has become a catalyst for cities looking to promote electric vehicles and push for a cleaner transportation agenda – like CNN's Supercharged host, Nicki Shields, who discovered this firsthand in Montreal.
"Formula E has strong backing from the local mayor (Dennis Cordell)," Shields said. "He wants to use Montreal as a model for introducing green technology due to the wide-ranging benefits that could be achieved."
Several large automakers are also shifting their focus away from traditional gasoline engines. Volvo, for example, announced last month that all cars they manufacture starting in 2019 will be either electric or hybrid.
READ MORE: Only gasoline vehicles will be history after 2019
Ahead of the New York Electric Grand Prix, Shields learned about New York City's plans to convert its fleet of municipal vehicles from gasoline to hybrid or electric machines, including iconic police cruisers.
Mark Chambers, sustainability director for the mayor, said: "The opportunity to have an emissions-free car, either a police vehicle or a regular one, is something that we can present to people and help them become more familiar with the technology, which we know will be increasingly important in the future." CNN's Supercharged.
"Our goal is to have 2,000 electric or emissions-free vehicles by 2025 and we're already halfway there. We have 1,000 now, and you can see them all over the city."
"Formula E will prove that electric vehicles are reliable and have less environmental impact – 30% of greenhouse gases come from passenger cars and trucks."
All initiatives related to a green fleet will help New York City work towards its ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050 – a goal Trump threatened to withdraw from recently, but Mayor de Blasio remains committed.
"(Trump's announcement) isn't a surprise," Chambers said. "We know that New York City has to get stronger, and we've prepared ourselves for such an eventuality. We're taking this very seriously."
The Momentum Grows
Formula E World Championship 2016/17: Electric Odyssey
The successful conclusion of the third season provides a promising outlook for the future of Formula E.
14 ePrix events are planned for the new season, commencing with double-header events in Hong Kong in December. The season will feature new venues like Santiago and São Paulo, as well as double-header races in Monaco and Tokyo.
"The dynamics in Formula E are incredible," said CNN host Nicki Shields. "I've been following the series since its inception in Peking 2014, and every new city we visit increases the excitement among fans."
