On Saturday, Tokyo’s streets were buzzing with excitement as Japan hosted its first race in the all-electric Formula E world championship. The 2.6-kilometer circuit was set up around the Tokyo Big Sight convention center in the capital’s Koto Ward, using mostly public roads.
Formula E cars are known for being more environmentally friendly than Formula One cars, with engines that produce no exhaust fumes or noise. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike were present at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Tokyo E-Prix. In the race, German driver Maximilian Gunther from Maserati emerged victorious, with Nissan’s British driver Oliver Rowland coming in second place.
A total of 22 cars from 11 teams participated in the event, drawing in around 20,000 spectators to witness the race and other associated activities. Toshiyuki Nishi, a 35-year-old who attended the race with four family members from Kawasaki, just outside Tokyo, shared his thoughts on the experience. “I was surprised to see how incredibly fast the cars were but how little noise they made,” he said. “Having a race in Tokyo close to my home makes it easy for us to come. I hope they continue this next year.” With 16 events scheduled for the current Formula E season, it marks the circuit’s 10th year of operation.
