Formula E drives racing car on melting Arctic ice cap

FIA Formula E Championship drove one of their racing cars on the Arctic ice cap in order to raise awareness and showcase the capacities of electric car technology.

Formula E is the world’s first fully-electric racing series.

The event aimed to raise awareness on the record-breaking amount of sea ice that has broken away from the Arctic this year alone.

The event was organised in partnership with Julius Baer, Visa, DHL, Schaeffler, The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation and Mumm Champagne House, with the cooperation of the Greenland government – which wants to draw attention to the need for action on climate change.

Lucas di Grassi, Brazilian race-winning Formula E driver, drove on the thin ice cap, inside the Arctic Circle in the north of Greenland.

The dangerous act was filmed to raise awareness about the threat of the melting ice cap to global sea levels.

A 48-minute documentary about the organisation of the event will be premiered in Marrakech, Morocco during COP22 in November.

Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag said: “I have four children and the future of the planet depends on how we can control the effect that human life is having on the environment and the climate. That is why I think climate change is very important to address, to control, to face, and everyone can do something. We do something for motorsport; other people can do something from whatever they do in their lives.”

Formula E vice-champion Lucas di Grassi said: “It was such a beautiful, peaceful place. To come here and see how huge the ice cap is and how the effect of global warming is changing it, melting it, gives me a completely different understanding of what we are doing with Formula E and the importance of driving electric cars.”

The event also aimed at advancing research on the behaviour of ice sheets in the open ocean and Formula E, in partnership with Southampton University, placed a tracking beacon upon an iceberg that had broken away from the ice sheet.

HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco said: “I fully support the bold and ambitious activity that Formula E has undertaken as a way of raising awareness of the effect climate change is having on the ice cap in Greenland. My Foundation recognises the role that electric vehicles can play in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and believes that Formula E can inspire a new generation of motorists and potential motorists to ‘drive electric’ and help in the fight against global warming through high-profile activations like this.”