Hyderabad e-Prix: Formula E Announces ACE Championship Electric Racing Series

Formula E Hyderabad e-Prix: A new two-step electric support racing series, the ACE Championship, has been announced by the organisers of the 2023 Formula E Hyderabad-Prix. It will make its debut in 2024. The new four-wheel electric racing series, which was unveiled at the Hyderabad-Prix, aims to expand the opportunities available to aspiring drivers in the world of motorsport, particularly in regions where there is little fan interest. Dilbagh Gill, the founder of the ACE Group and a former CEO of Mahindra Racing, is leading the project. The ACE Championship will have two levels: the Championship and the entry-level Challenger Series, both employing the same electric single-seat cars. The championship will serve as a springboard for drivers and engineers to move on to other series.

The car used in the upcoming support series, according to the organisers, will perform similarly to the Gen 2 Formula E car. ACE Championship also claimed that the series will help develop talent and give young drivers ‘an affordable entry into racing.’

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Commenting on the occasion, Dilbagh Gill, Founder and CEO of ACE Championship, said, ‘The ACE Championship is about innovation in motorsport and about the opportunity. We are looking at the ACE Championship to provide representation to people who are interested in driving and engineers around the world who have not had the opportunity to date and give them a chance to level up. The bedrock of the ACE Championship is to provide technology, opportunity, and a platform to excel. This is going to be the first championship in the world where one single race car can compete in two different championships – each team can have two different drivers in the ACE Championship and ACE Challenger series, driving the same car but with two different power levels. We are providing a pathway for our drivers in the ACE Championship at a low cost but with high performance. ACE Championship is going to be focused around the three “Ds” – we are going to be daring, we are going to be different, and we are going to be digital.’

‘The ACE Group is proud to support this groundbreaking and paradigm-shifting new ACE Championship. We believe in innovation that makes a positive difference to society. There is a lot of synergy with the technologies being developed within the other ACE Group Companies that would be shared and assimilated to make this a true “Road to Race” and “Race to Road” programme. I am so happy this is being revealed at the Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix,’ said Anil Chalamalasetty, Founder of Greenko and the ACE Group.

Alejandro Agag, Formula E Founder and Chairman, said, ‘To create opportunities for young drivers to enter motorsport via the electric avenue is crucial and was missing until now. The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is the pinnacle in electric motorsport, but to have categories that can facilitate younger drivers coming through is crucial and that's why the ACE Championship is very important. The difference between this and other championships is that there is no other electric junior racing series. This is why the ACE Championship initiative is so interesting. Having more competitions in countries around the world where there is not as much access to and representation in motorsport is key to success. Creating this championship in India is a great idea and certainly fills a gap in a huge market for the automotive industry. The ACE Championship has all the elements to develop extremely well, with all of the right partners and technology, as well as the people leading it.’

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The ACE Championship will serve as a hub for innovation and technology, increasing opportunities for manufacturing and production in the automotive industry. The series will follow a regional format and take place on regional circuits across continents, further boosting grassroots awareness of Formula E. A number of current teams have expressed interest in joining the series, according to ACE Championship.