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Formula E electrifies Marrakesh on first visit to Africa

12.11.16

Formula E - 2016 Marrakesh ePrix

FIA, Motorsport, Mobility, Road Safety, F1, WRC, WEC, WTCC, World RX

Formula E showcased the future of electric mobility on its first visit to the African continent in the company of leading names in the world of sustainability in Marrakesh.

Sebastien Buemi clinched his second victory in succession for Renault e.DAMS against the backdrop of the Atlas Mountains and COP22 - the 22nd session of the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The 2016 FIA Formula E Marrakesh ePrix - is an official partner of COP22, which takes place in Marrakesh from November 7-18. The summit will continue the positive progress made from COP21 in Paris the previous year, to build on conversations and change policies to improve the planet.

Just minutes before the cars left the grid for the start of the inaugural Marrakesh ePrix, Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, took a gathering of key names in sustainability for a tour of the fully-electric machines - including FIA President Jean Todt, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco, EU Commissioner for Energy and Climate Action Miguel Arias Canete and United States Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz.

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, said: "Formula E is expanding to become a truly global championship, and this was again highlighted today with our first race on the continent of Africa. This is an historic moment for Formula E - to showcase the developing technologies of electric vehicles to the world and the challenges we face to counter climate change and global warming. I've seen it with my own eyes on an ice cap in the Artic, and we want to provide a solution to bolster the case for electrification in cities across the globe. The cities are the frontline in the battle against climate change - if we can find solutions in the cities, we can influence change everywhere."

Jean Todt, President of the FIA, said: “It was a pleasure for me to attend the Marrakesh ePrix today, the first-ever race of the FIA Formula E Championship in the African continent. This is another step towards the consolidation of this still very new series, which is gaining more and more success all over the world. Formula E is a great example of an FIA championship among the Federation’s two main pillars - sport and mobility. We are delighted that Formula E has been a partner of COP22 on the occasion of the Marrakesh ePrix. It was good to see today how much interest this event has created among the governing bodies who are attending this important conference. As part of the FIA mission to promote clean transport systems available to all, we are looking to encourage the development and adoption of sustainable technologies. Formula E is a fantastic laboratory that will enable the development of clean technologies for all.”

Ernest Moniz, United States Secretary of Energy, said: “It’s great to be at Formula E in Marrakesh. The whole international calendar of events is fantastic and a fabulous way of promoting electric vehicles to the broader public. They are also fun cars, and they are fast cars, and I just see a great future to bring this kind of racing home to the public. We’re very excited, in the United States we now have over half a million electric vehicles on the road, which is very good for the environment and the New York City race will obviously be special, down in Brooklyn close to the bridge.”