In 150 days from now, Zurich will host Switzerland’s first Formula E race. It will be the country’s first major car racing event in 63 years and the city’s leftist government is all for it.
The city council of Zurich, dominated by a coalition of social democrats and greens, gave its go-ahead for the Zurich Formula E race in October. The race is set for June 10, 2018. The organizers since have set up a committee run by Swiss E-Prix Operations, a company founded and run by Pascal Derron, 40.
He is convinced that the race with headline sponsor Julius Baer private bank, will provide a major boost to Switzerland’s global standing as a place for business and research.
Numerous projects have sprung up since it has become clear that the Swiss economic powerhouse will host the event. The race will generate global interest in the city with pictures of Zurich’s beautiful lake and inner-city (see chart).
«Ticket sales will begin in April. There is a very high demand for seats in the grand stand and for hospitality packages,» said Derron. The local government’s firm support for the event is helping him in negotiations with sponsors, he added. The central government also signaled its interest in the staging of the race last year through the popular minister Doris Leuthard.
Julius Baer Global Partnership
Julius Baer has been a global partner of Formula E since 2014 and was a major force behind bringing the super-sleek racing cars to the city of Zurich. It will act as the event’s major sponsor, which will be called «Julius Baer Zurich E-Prix 2018».
Swiss Hopes
Swiss driver Sebastien Buemi (pictured above) is one of the top drivers of the racing series: «I can’t wait driving in my home country. It’s a dream come true,» says Buemi, who drives a Renault e.dams car. Buemi was Formula E champion of 2015/2016.
