Light is shed on the layout of the Paris ePrix!
The promoters of the FIA Formula E Championship unveiled this week the layout of the Paris ePrix, which will take place on Saturday, April 23. Motorsinside.com details the features of the future circuit.

Dreamed of by motorsport fans and imagined by Jean Graton in a Michel Vaillant album, «300 km/h in Paris», Formula E is on the verge of realizing a dream: Paris will, in just over three months, be the heart of a motorsport event! For the first time in its history, the French capital is set to host an FIA-certified motorsport race. The main hall of the Town Hall was packed on Wednesday, January 13th, to hear the presentation orchestrated by Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E. The Spanish businessman could hardly contain his excitement during the press conference:
Although we are already fortunate enough to race in major international cities, there is nothing more spectacular than the setting of Paris for a Formula E race!
The course:
Comprising 14 turns and stretching 1.93 kilometers, the track follows a classic Formula E race format. According to Jean-Eric Vergne, driver for the DS Virgin Racing team: « It’s a rather fast, technical layout with plenty of overtaking opportunities. It seems to be quite a versatile circuit. »
Although little information is yet known about the actual state of the track (which remains subject to the final judgment of the FIA commissioners), its environment will be fascinating. In the heart of the 7th arrondissement, the start/finish line of the circuit, drawn on the Avenue des Invalides, will face the National Hotel of the same name. The track will follow the tour of the majestic complex, passing in front of Napoleon Bonaparte’s tomb and the Army Museum. The pit lane will be set up on the Esplanade des Invalides.
A highly anticipated ePrix:
We will be right in the heart of Paris: the panorama will even be completed with a westward view of the Eiffel Tower! This Paris ePrix will stand out particularly from the one in London, which hosted the race in the heart of an urban park (Battersea Park), or from the one in Berlin, which takes place on the track of a former airport (Berlin-Tempelhof).
The Paris ePrix will indeed take place in the heart of the city’s streets for the great pleasure of the Mayor. According to Anne Hidalgo, the city of Paris is very proud to host the very first French ePrix. This event will be a wonderful popular celebration, allowing us to promote electric mobility.
Same sentiment shared by Jean Todt, President of the FIA:
The FIA is particularly delighted to see the organization of a Formula E race in the streets of Paris. And for good reason, the headquarters of the International Federation is located just a few kilometers away, at Place de la Concorde!
This competition is linked to the development of new technologies and the promotion of a new mode of transportation. It seemed entirely logical that a country like France, which has always been at the forefront of innovation, could organize an event in this capital.
The reactions were also numerous among influential personalities, such as Leonardo DiCaprio, the famous actor and co-founder of the Monaco-based brand Venturi GP:
.@FIAFormulaE races are taking place in Paris on 4/23. Excited for the city of Paris and its people.
— Leonardo DiCaprio (@LeoDiCaprio) January 13, 2016
The pressure now lies on the shoulders of the French in the discipline:
France is a country that matters in the Formula E Championship. Besides manufacturers DS and Renault, the April ePrix will also be a home race for the tire manufacturer Michelin, which supplies all 10 teams.
For Alain Prost, there will truly be incredible pressure. The four-time Formula 1 world champion is already setting the scene: For us, it will be the race to win, and for the spectators, it will be the race to watch!
But the event will also be major for the four French drivers involved, including Paris-born Jean-Eric Vergne, who already describes it as completely unreal. It should be noted that the former Toro Rosso driver was born and raised in the Paris region.
« It’s going to be extraordinary to do such a race around Les Invalides! I usually pass by here by taxi or scooter: thinking that I’ll soon be passing through in a single-seater is something really special. »
Finally, regarding ticketing, if you wish to attend this Paris ePrix, approximately 15,000 tickets will be made available to the general public in the coming weeks, with a minimum price of around 20 euros. The schedule for the competition day has not yet been disclosed.