Formula E Zurich: New OC speaks out
FORMULA E For months, the official side was silent about the Formula E race planned for June 10, 2018 in Zurich. Today, the newly formed OC, headed by Pascal Derron, is addressing the public for the first time in a press release. After the Zurich City Council granted the general permit last October and thus paved the political way [...]
After the Zurich City Council granted the general permit last October, thus paving the political way, the organizers have repositioned themselves. Swiss E-Prix Operations AG is responsible for staging the race. Its managing director and founder is Pascal Derron (40). His company also owns the rights to the Zurich E-Prix.
Derron is supported by a team of specialists, which now numbers 15, as well as freelancers. Formula E Operations Limited, based in London, has granted Swiss E-Prix Operations AG a three-year license to stage the FIA Formula E race in Switzerland with an option to extend until 2024.
With the decision of October 5, 2017, the Zurich City Council allows the first Formula E race in Switzerland to be held. Since the city of Zurich does not have to bear any costs arising from the race, the authority to grant approval lies solely with the city council. The voting rights appeal pending before the district court is unlikely to change this.
Roger Tognella, Zurich city councilor and initiator of the idea to bring Formula E to Zurich, will assume the role of coordinator in the new organizational structure on behalf of Swiss E-Prix Operations AG vis-à-vis the city council, the city administration and Zurich politics.
Those responsible expect the first Formula E race in Switzerland to have a signal effect for Switzerland as a business and research location. This is shown by the numerous projects that are being developed in the vicinity of the race event. The weekend of June 10, 2018, is also likely to have a positive impact on tourism, the gastronomy scene and trade in and around Zurich.
Pascal Derron: "We are proud to have brought Formula E to Zurich. The race around the Zurich lake basin and in part of Zurich's city center will be noticed worldwide. And in Switzerland, there will be thousands who will follow the race in Zurich in the late afternoon or live on TV and the Internet. This means that a new major Swiss event with international appeal will be staged."
Ticket sales will start at the beginning of April. There is already a very high demand for the grandstand seats and the hospitality offers, says Pascal Derron.
Julius Baer is title sponsor
Not entirely unexpectedly, Julius Baer is the title sponsor of the home race. This is why it is officially called the FIA Formula E Julius Baer Zurich E-Prix.
The leading Swiss private bank headquartered in Zurich has been a global partner of Formula E since its inception in 2014. Julius Baer, with its Head of Marketing Marco Parroni, was instrumental in bringing Formula E to Zurich.
