4th Annual Official Unofficial Formula E Street Circuit Design Competition

Autosport Forums' 4th Annual Official Unofficial Formula E Street Circuit Design Competition™

brought to you by erstwhile Hispania sponsors THIS COULD BE YOU and THIS IS A COOL SPOT

It's that time of year again, ladies and gents. As your winner last year, it falls to me to host this year's competition; it's time to get your Google Maps on (other mapping providers are available), get your creative juices flowing, and get designing a street circuit for the new Formula E Gen 3 cars to race on. Theoretically, of course. Unless Hermann Tilke or Carsten Tilke or even Alexander Wurz are among us. Anyway. Using your preferred mapping service, you'll need to propose a feasible (though not necessarily conventional!) street circuit for Formula E to race on.

Previous Winners

2019 - Stockholm ePrix - FredrikB

2020 - Jacksonville ePrix - maximilian

2021 - Tokyo ePrix - Frood

The Rules

Most of the rules are the ground rules set out every year since inauguration, taken from the previous years' threads:

1. The length of your circuit should somewhere in the region of 1.5 to 3.0 miles (2.5 - 5 km) in length preferred, but not essential. 
2. The layout should be original - it should not be too similar to any circuit currently or previously in use.
3. The circuit should be temporary and within the official city limits of your chosen location (make of that what you will).
4. Entries should at least specify a route, the direction and start-line/pit-lane locations. Further details (grandstands, etc.) are welcome but not necessary.
5. Entries should take the form of an aerial-view image of your circuit and a short description of the area and how you imagine the event to be held. A few pictures from Google Street View is a nice addition too, but not mandatory.

6. Entries should have some link or relevance to climate change.

And, in an effort to expand our horizons this year, I propose the following:

7. The circuit should ideally be placed in a location (country, region or city) preferably with less of a motorsports heritage. Formula E is expanding to cities with less of a link with motorsports in order to reach new markets, with circuits like those in Jakarta and Hyderabad on the 2023 schedule. Where else could Formula E be missing out on?

The deadline is the now-tradition Christmas deadline midnight GMT on 24th December. The voting thread will then be started on 26th December and run until midnight GMT on 14th January 2023, the day of the Mexico City ePrix.

Need help uploading pictures? PayasYouRace posted this helpful guide last year.

Good luck and have fun, everyone!

Is it really that time of year again? I'll have to get thinking up something good.

Maybe a bit late now, but links to the previous voting threads to see what's been done before.

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

I've had an idea for the last two years already but never quite realised it, third time's a charm?

Aaaaawesome!   

There's no Christmas without this contest!

I have some ideas, will go pretty bonkers this season

It's back!!!!!  Thanks Frood.

Edited by cpbell, 07 November 2022 - 10:20.

Wait, what?  I didn't win last year?  Thank goodness, I don't have to do this thread, then! 

Wait, what?  I didn't win last year?  Thank goodness, I don't have to do this thread, then! 

You mean "cpbell doesn't have to do the thread"?

Edited by cpbell, 07 November 2022 - 10:13.

So i will try.

Heredia E-Prix 

Heredia, Costa Rica, the capital city of the province with the same name is locally known as the Ciudad de las Flores (city of flowers). This affectionate nickname came from the cultivation of beautiful flowers in its high mountain and also because Heredia is recognized as the city with the most beautiful Costa Rican women.

Circuit mostly located around Oxigeno Human Playground - the first green and sustainable public place in all Costa Rica. The O1 is a central and dominant space dedicated to recreational and family leisure activities with a variety of public spaces that are organized together under the world's largest double-layer ETFE air inflated cushion. As a result, visitors can enjoy their stay no matter what weather condition there is: feel the sensation of space looking at a clear sunny sky through a clear roof without steel elements disturbing the view, or be safe and protected under harsh rains. Due to unique material characteristics of ETFE, the UV radiation doesn’t heat the place and specialized lighting setup creates different experiences by adjusting colors to a specific event.

Some GSV(but some of them from 2018-2020)

Spoiler

Start-finish straight

T1-2

 

from 2 to 3

 

T3-4 

 

T5

 

T7

 

Straight to 9 

 

T9

 

T11

 

T15-16

 

T17

 

T18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by JvsKVB77, 07 November 2022 - 14:01.

You mean "cpbell doesn't have to do the thread"?

Indeed, but I wouldn't have taken it for granted! 

Is it really that time of year again? I'll have to get thinking up something good.

So i will try.

 

Heredia E-Prix 

Heredia, Costa Rica, the capital city of the province with the same name is locally known as the Ciudad de las Flores (city of flowers). This affectionate nickname came from the cultivation of beautiful flowers in its high mountain and also because Heredia is recognized as the city with the most beautiful Costa Rican women.

Circuit mostly located around Oxigeno Human Playground - the first green and sustainable public place in all Costa Rica. The O1 is a central and dominant space dedicated to recreational and family leisure activities with a variety of public spaces that are organized together under the world's largest double-layer ETFE air inflated cushion. As a result, visitors can enjoy their stay no matter what weather condition there is: feel the sensation of space looking at a clear sunny sky through a clear roof without steel elements disturbing the view, or be safe and protected under harsh rains. Due to unique material characteristics of ETFE, the UV radiation doesn’t heat the place and specialized lighting setup creates different experiences by adjusting colors to a specific event.

Spoiler

 

 

Some GSV(but some of them from 2018-2020)

Spoiler

Start-finish straight

T1-2

 

from 2 to 3

 

T3-4 

 

T5

 

T7

 

Straight to 9 

 

T9

 

T11

 

T15-16

 

T17

 

T18

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

That was quick!

Indeed, but I wouldn't have taken it for granted! 

What a gent (or, perhaps "What?  A gent?)

As my first attempt I present to you the Sydney E-Prix, as held in Sydney's Central Business District. More than anything, it's a nice personal trip down to memory lane and a tribute to the things for which Sydney is most famous for.

The track is just over 3km in length and should provide a good variation in corners and multiple overtaking opportunities. 

Start/Finish will be at Bridge Street, with sufficient space to locate the pit boxes, etc..

From there, it takes Phillip Street towards Circular Quay and there is a tight pass-through to the pedestrians boulevard with a lovely view towards the Sydney Harbour Bridge. As you can see, some of the barriers are already in place:

At the Northern end of this boulevard, with a view towards the Opera House, it will rejoin the public roads via the tight roundabout onto Macquarie Street, being a long straight.

The long straight leads all the way up to a tight corner towards Bent Street. 

From there, there are a couple of fast sweeping left corners with height difference, up until the 90 degree right corners onto Hunter Street.

From there on the track goes through the heart of CBD, heading uphill again on Margaret Street, into a tricky 90 degrees uphill right corner onto York Street.

From York street you can access the Harbour Bridge, but instead the track goes downhill to the right towards Grosvenor Street leading to the last corners, a fast right-left combination, back to Bridge Street.

In the heart of Sydney's vibrant CBD, with some iconic scenery, this might even convince Daniel Ricciardo to be the first Aussie in the series since Matthew Brabham did a couple of races in 2014/15. Feel free to post your comments. 

Love it! Line up the rescue boats in the harbour and let's go.

Nice layouts, we're up for a good start of the season!

Edited by thegamer23, 09 November 2022 - 15:32.

Love it! Line up the rescue boats in the harbour and let's go.

Divers, surely, as were used at Monaco until recently.

Nice layout, we're up for a good start of the season!

Yes, two great entries.  I think I have mine roughed-out.

When making this circuit I didn't take into account the width nor the road surface, as lots of streets in Porto are narrow and still in cobblestone
 
Douro E-Prix 2023
 

 
The profile of the track ihas a 81m difference between lowest and highest places.


 
1 - The start-finish "straight" is on a bridge over the Douro river. The last section of the track is on the banks of the river, just where Red Bull Air Race took place. (image) Pit lane is on the right side.
 


 
2 - We leave the river banks and start the uphill section. Pit lane exit is just around the corner
 

 
3 - We have the longest straight with 876m length and an average 10.6% gradient
 

 
4 - We get into the technical zone, which runs around the Cordoaria Garden.
 


 
5 - We get to the highest spot on track, Igreja do Carmo, known for its blue tiles on its exterior walls. A very fast chicane with a hard braking a few meters after.
 

 
6 - We start to go downhill passing just in front of Livraria Lello (for all Harry Potter fans).
 

 
7 - We arrive at T9, a very difficult left hander with banking towards the outside, and with view to Torre dos Clérigos, perhaps the main touristic image of the city.
 

 
8 - We're flat again at Avenida dos Aliados, the place of city Hall (just in the background) which already hosted a Rally of Portugal superspecial.
 

 
9 - On the left of T10 we have São Bento train station (google it), and the final downhill section, with T11 just ahead.
 

 
10 - We have the steepest zone of the track in Rua Mouzinho da Silveira, a 400m straight with 8,4% average slope. An excellent oportunity to pass before the slowest section of the track.
 

 
11 - We're arriving again to the river banks, wehere we have another overtaking oportunity on the Palácio da Bolsa straight.
 

 
12 - We have Ribeira, UNESCO World Heritage Site, which hosts the fan zone for the track.
 

 
13 - Final sector of the track, with a very fast flowing section passing by Alfândega do Porto. A 1,25 km run to the finish.
 

 
Pit Lane entry - just before the start/finish bridge we have the pit lane entry on the right.
 

 
 
And there you go. I just saved you 20€ on the sightseeing bus if you ever came to visit Porto.

Edited by JRodrigues, 09 November 2022 - 17:34.

What a location!

Good graphic work too!

Could be a title contender!

What a location!

Good graphic work too!

 

Could be a title contender!

Spectacular indeed.  Are we being strict about grid width?

There's no clear indication about track width in the rules.

It's a non written rule i think.

Obviously, a realistic and possibly winning layout would have to provide at least some wider sections to allow overtakings & normal racing.

But who knows, bonkers crazy tracks can have a decent shot too!

Edited by thegamer23, 09 November 2022 - 20:00.

There's no clear indication about track width in the rules.

 

It's a non written rule i think.

Obviously, a realistic and possibly winning layout would have to provide at least some wider sections to allow overtakings & normal racing.

Thanks.  I fear my question sounded harsh or critical of JRodrigues's excellent entry; I was merely wondering.

Sometimes voting for the crazy and implausible is fun

Agreed!

I seem to recall a race in the past involved laying tarmac over cobblestones, then painstakingly scraping it off after the event. I cannot for the life of me think when and where that was, though if it's true Vitesse or another walking encyclopaedia will no doubt fill in the detail. In any case, Oporto hosted (I think) the only world championship Grand Prix to race across tramlines, though they were faily common in earlier racing.

Edited by Ben1445, 09 November 2022 - 21:38.

The old Swiss Grand Prix venue of Bremgarten had cobbled sections.

Forsthaus corner, I think.

Paris was probably the standout example for tarmac-on-cobbles, but they’ve also done it here and there at other locations. One such time being at the first visit to Santiago at the Parque Forestal circuit.

Oporto hosted (I think) the only world championship Grand Prix to race across tramlines

I seem to recall a race in the past involved laying tarmac over cobblestones, then painstakingly scraping it off after the event. I cannot for the life of me think when and where that was, though if it's true Vitesse or another walking encyclopaedia will no doubt fill in the detail. In any case, Oporto hosted (I think) the only world championship Grand Prix to race across tramlines, though they were faily common in earlier racing.

I believe you're thinking of Baku.

They race over cobbles at Indianapolis!

Thank you for the messages. For the last couple of years I've been trying to come up with a possible track around this city and the few places that are wide enough are so dull, so decided to do something different.

Edited by JRodrigues, 10 November 2022 - 11:58.

I believe you're thinking of Baku.

Mm, not necessarily? The Paris ePrix first ran in April 2016 (shortly before Baku's first Grand Prix) and that very definitely involved temporary tarmac over cobbles at Place Vauban, just south of Les Invalides. Every year they laid down protective sheeting, then fresh tarmac, held the race, and then scraped it back to the undamaged cobblestones soon after the event.

Do they remove the tarmac layer from the cobblestones in Baku after the race and then replace it again every year? I didn't think they did - though I do recall that the cobbles are at least protected underneath and can be restored if/when desired. 

(Bonus round: IndyCar at Baltimore (2011-2013) used to temporarily tarmac over the metro-line rails just ahead of pit entry for the race. The bumpy chaos they caused on the start-finish straight were more famous, but...) 

Edited by Ben1445, 10 November 2022 - 09:47.

Mm, not necessarily? The Paris ePrix first ran in April 2016 (shortly before Baku's first Grand Prix) and that very definitely involved temporary tarmac over cobbles at Place Vauban, just south of Les Invalides. Every year they laid down protective sheeting, then fresh tarmac, held the race, and then scraped it back to the undamaged cobblestones soon after the event.

 
In fact StreetView imagery shows it quite clearly in these shots from 2017, 2018 and 2020 respectively: 

Edited by Ben1445, 10 November 2022 - 09:33.

Great to see this thread!
I was actually thinking about this competition the other day.

I will be back. With a track.

Would have finished my entry but was hit hard by Covid.

Would have finished my entry but was hit hard by Covid.

Shots and all, I just had a bout of it myself CP, you have my sympathies!!   

I'll jump in on this, I will have plenty of time this weekend to attend to it. I will be back with a track around Boston, cars running down a stretch of the Kennedy Greenway to South station into the financial district would be crazy to see! 

Yuk. Get well soon, CP.

Thanks Alan.  Feeling much improved now!

Thanks Alan. Feeling much improved now!

The Cairo E-Prix of the Nile

A 2.35 mile/3.79 kilometre circuit.

Egypt hasn't held any significant motorsport events so fits the brief for this years competition. This track is based next to the River Nile and encloses the Headquarters of the Arab League, the Egyptian Museum and passes twice through Tahrir Square at turn 10 and for the turns 13/14/15 complex.

The start finish straight is on the Nile Corniche, a multi carriageway road on the bank of the River Nile. The other carriageway is used for the pitlane. Inside the circuit here is an outdoor area next to the Egyptian Museum. This will be used for the E-Village. The attach mode activation will be on the outside of turn 12. The centre of the road here is a car park so there is plenty of room for it and some run off.

The track offers some more open and quicker corners than you often find at street circuits, such as turns 1-4, 10 and 13-15. Racing should be good as turns 1, 5, 12, 16 and 18 all present an overtaking opportunity.

...Egypt hasn't held any significant motorsport events...

Love that layout & location, good job! 

Also gives me Bahrain Vibes, should be very good for racing! 

Edited by thegamer23, 19 November 2022 - 20:15.

Do you have some suggestion on how to do the circuit map? Are you using google maps?

Im kind of useless in this stuff, but wanted to give it a try. haha

The Cairo E-Prix of the Nile

 

 

A 2.35 mile/3.79 kilometre circuit.

 

Egypt hasn't held any significant motorsport events so fits the brief for this years competition. This track is based next to the River Nile and encloses the Headquarters of the Arab League, the Egyptian Museum and passes twice through Tahrir Square at turn 10 and for the turns 13/14/15 complex.

 

The start finish straight is on the Nile Corniche, a multi carriageway road on the bank of the River Nile. The other carriageway is used for the pitlane. Inside the circuit here is an outdoor area next to the Egyptian Museum. This will be used for the E-Village. The attach mode activation will be on the outside of turn 12. The centre of the road here is a car park so there is plenty of room for it and some run off.

 

The track offers some more open and quicker corners than you often find at street circuits, such as turns 1-4, 10 and 13-15. Racing should be good as turns 1, 5, 12, 16 and 18 all present an overtaking opportunity.

Just an FYI, but there was a Cairo street circuit used in the early post-WWII era, though I don't know which streets.

Just an FYI, but there was a Cairo street circuit used in the early post-WWII era, though I don't know which streets.

Edited by Alan Lewis, 19 November 2022 - 21:56.