 Formula E Circuit (2022) | |
| Location | Seoul, South Korea |
|---|---|
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 |
| Coordinates | 37°30′54.09″N 127°04′25.41″E / 37.5150250°N 127.0737250°E |
| FIA Grade | 3E |
| Opened | 12 August 2022 |
| Closed | 14 August 2022 |
| Major events | Formula E Seoul ePrix (2022) |
| Formula E Circuit (2022) | |
| Length | 2.618 km (1.627 miles) |
| Turns | 22 |
| Race lap record | 1:22.401[1] ( Nick Cassidy, Audi e-tron FE07, 2022, Formula E) |
Seoul Street Circuit is a 2.618 km (1.627 mi) street circuit laid out on the city streets of Seoul, South Korea. It hosted the Seoul ePrix as the last race of 2022 Formula E season.
In 2004, before Formula E was a thing, the American based Champ Car (Formerly CART) World Series was planning a race in Asia, with South Korea being a potential location for a date on the 2004 calendar, being a street race in Hangang Park in the capital of Seoul. The race was supposed to be held on October 16, the week before the Lexmark Indy 300 in Surfers Paradise, Australia.The race was cancelled due to track construction behind schedule. The race never returned on the provisional schedule in 2005 and instead planned to race in nearby Ansan. Unlike the proposed one at Seoul, the race was also scheduled to be on October 16 ahead of the race at Surfers Paradise. The race was cancelled in 2005 and 2006, and the site became part of a set for the South Korean version of Top Gear. The race did not come back on the provisional 2007 schedule and in February of 2008, Champ Car and its competitor IndyCar merged. And in the mid-2010s, the track was demolished for apartments. A Champ Car race in South Korea never happened. In 2010 Formula One raced in Yeongam, 400 km (200 mi) away from Seoul until 2013. The race did not come back for 2014. South Korea was previously unsuccessful to organize international motorsport events, such as the previously mentioned Korean Grand Prix. However, on 30 November 2018, Formula E CEO, Alejandro Agag signed an agreement to hold the Seoul ePrix from 2020 to 2025.[2]
The track was initially planned to be included in both 2020 Formula E calendar and 2021 Formula E calendar, however the race was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3][4]
For the 2020 season, the race was planned to be held on 3 May 2020.[5] And for the 2021 season, the race was provisionally planned to be held on 23 May 2021.[6]
After the cancellation of races in both two years due to the global pandemic, it was agreed to hold the race in August 2022.[7] After that, it was officially listed to hold the final round of the 2022 calendar.[8]
In 2022, the ePrix was successfully held at the revised layout of the circuit.[9] The races of ePrix were won by Mitch Evans and Edoardo Mortara, while Stoffel Vandoorne was crowned as the champion of the 2021–22 Formula E World Championship.
Even before the 2022 race, the circuit was listed on the provisional calendar of 2023 Formula E season.[10]
However, due to the renovation works of the Seoul Olympic Stadium, the event would not be able to take place and the circuit was dropped from the 2023 Formula E calendar in October 2022.[11]
On 23 July 2018, a feasibility study on candidate areas including Gwanghwamun in Seoul was completed. As a result of the survey, the popular tourist area around Gwanghwamun Square and City Hall Square was selected as a candidate region.[12]
Then, the proposed 2.800 km (1.740 mi) layout was revealed in July 2019, which was located around the Seoul Olympic Stadium and some part of the track was inside of this stadium.[13]
Before the 2022 race, the circuit layout was still located within the Jamsil Sports Complex, however the layout was revised and shortened from 2.800 to 2.618 km (1.740 to 1.627 mi).[9]