After a delay of a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic the FIA Formula E event returned to London after a break of 5 years to run a twin race weekend towards the end of July 2021. Due to the continuing COVID restrictions in place it meant that the event was not open to the public.
The ExCel estate was always going to provide a challenging environment to create a race track as it uses services roads and approximately a quarter of the track (and the pit land) is inside the exhibition centre and it goes both up and down inclined roadway sections..
I decided to head down to the location during the late afternoon of the Friday to coincide with the running of Free Practice 1 session – without being able to secure tickets only limited views were to be had but I did come across an Electric Mini safety car and a Michelin branded Porsche.
Having found a suitable vantage point I managed to capture a few interesting shots of FP1.
The following is a short video clip showing some of the cars in action along the North Eastern section of the track.
From a wider perspective it is impossible to know how different things might have been without the impact of the pandemic but it was very disappointing how little effort the various local organisations put in to engaging with the local residents (who were impacted to a degree by the event) or doing anything about raising awareness of electric vehicle technology. Definitely a missed opportunity to engage with the local community and to promote the area.
Similarly the Docks saw very little activity – certainly no Monaco vide (irrespective of the weather) – the only vessels were in attendance were the BOSS racing yacht supporting the brand who are an event sponsor and the motor yacht SIGRID OF CHELSEA – nothing else aside from two safety boats.
Visiting on the Saturday were hospitality vessels SILVER STURGEON and SILVER BARACUDDA of the London based Woods Silver Fleet, there were no additional visitors on the Sunday and the visiting vessels left on the Monday.
SILVER BARRACUDA 
SILVER STURGEON
The event is due to return to London ExCel for future races but it will be interesting to see how the planned development of the Eastern end of the estate will impact this due to the removal of a large area of track and associated stands – a case of wait and see!
A few more pictures from the session can be seen here.
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