Season 9 was the most competitve season yet with a 17% growth in global fanbase to around 344 million, surpassing NASCAR to become the fourth largest motorsport series globally.
Research conducted by Potentia Insight in July of this year saw figures show the fanbase grow by large figures this past season, with the USA and Germany being the fastest-growing markets by fanbase, increasing by 30% an 45% respectively. Viewing figures this season were also up on the previous year, with a 4% overall increase in live race views; The USA, China, Brazil, India and South Africa all seeing significant growth in following all season long.
The ninth season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship started in January in Mexico City and concluded at the end of July with the London E-Prix. It wasn't just viewing and fanbase records that were broken either; all season long the sporting action has seen new records set and old records broken. This season alone saw more different race leaders and more overtakes in the Championship than ever seen before.
Mitch Evans set the fastest top speed for Formula E, of 276.6 km/h, during FP1 in Portland (Round 12), racing for Jaguar TCS Racing. With Sacha Fenestraz setting the new fastest average lap speed of 154.987 km/h in Cape Town (Round 5), racing for Nissan Formula E Team.
"Our teams and drivers exceeded all expectations from a year ago to take the GEN3 car and push it beyond what we all thought was possible." - Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E
During the London E-Prix weekend, Formula E also broke the world indoor land speed record with McLaren driver, Jake Hughes getting up to 218.71 km/h on the track inside the ExCeL London, smashing the previous record of 50 km/h. The world record was set in the recolutionary GENBETA project car, which has been developed by Formula E and the FIA in partnership with ABB, SABIC and Hankook. The car takes all the aspects of GEN3, and removes and limitations to effectively 'unlock' the cars full potential.
Season 9 concluded with Andretti driver, Jake Dennis, winning his first Formula E Championship after beating three other drivers who were all in contention of the title going into the final race weekend. This season saw seven different drivers from six different teams winning races, and eighteen different drivers leading for at least one lap through the season.
The brand new season of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship begins on the 13th January 2024 in Mexico City, but track action for Season 10 starts later this month with pre-season testing taking place in Valencia, Spain from the 23rd October 2023.
If you aren't already a Formula E fan, now is as best a time as any to get involved!