Formula E as an Olympic Sport? Probably Not

Aaron Cole
by Aaron Cole

Topped only by FIFA, the two next-least trustworthy international sports associations have joined forces today to speculate that we could see Formula E cars race through Tokyo streets for the glory of games and country in 2020, according to F1Insider (via Road & Track).

The original report, which was written in German, says FIA executives pitched the idea to Olympic organizers and offered the Formula E cars for competition.

Canadian driver Jacques Villeneuve said he would “definitely” participate and added that 30 years ago tennis wasn’t part of the Olympic program, but now it’s a staple.

But that’s not even the best part.

In the story, organizers speculate on a possible procedure for the event. Three drivers from each country would be nominated for competition: i.e. Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Hulkenberg from Germany; Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button and Will Stevens for the U.K.; Felipe Massa, Felipe Nasr and probably someone named Piquet from Brazil.

(America would presumably hold open tryouts in non-consecutive weekends until our losing team could be selected.)

Anyway, that is a fun game.

It wouldn’t be the first time motorsport would be at the Olympics. In 1900, motorsports were a demonstration game in the Paris Olympics, alongside ballooning, lawn bowling and possibly cannon firing.


Aaron Cole
Aaron Cole

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  • Steve65 Steve65 on Aug 04, 2015

    May as well. The olympics couldn't get any more ridiculous or irrelevant than they are now.

  • Jkk6 Jkk6 on Aug 05, 2015

    Oh gawd. I missed the days of reading news on paperback... Oh wait I still due every time an unmarked WSJ stays on the floor of our office building YAY! I'm still happy! I think there is too much politics in place for current racing organizations to add another member/branch. A "New" type of racing is perfect for perfect times. If history repeats itself, we'll have fusion mixers in no time. Marty and the Doc approves.

  • SomeGuy SomeGuy on Aug 05, 2015

    I am not a fan of Formula E at all. This first season was a total bore, most of the circuits felt like a really big autocross, speeds are too low, the cars sound bad, and the FIA's choice of graphics are too busy with the stereotypical "green" palette of blues and white. I couldn't even finish the London race. The commentators tried so hard to make it exciting, and... I know this sounds bad, but it is a field of F1 drivers who are not good enough for F1 and don't want to grind their teeth in sports cars. People think Monaco in F1 is boring? Try Formula E's circuit, turn 1 was so narrow it was meant to cause a "NASCAR pileup." I'll give it another chance next year. As they are moving away from a pure spec series and letting more tinkering on the cars happen. As for the Olympics: Keep motorsport out of it. Completely.

  • 05lgt 05lgt on Aug 05, 2015

    Why not just go whole hog and have a combined arms team competition? We could market it as WW3.

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