Formula E is a fairly new racing series about to enter it's third season. I began watching it at the end of the first season and have been really enjoying it. So when it was announced that there would be two races held in London this year for the second season I decided to go! And I can tell you now, it was a very enjoyable day!
I bought a general admission ticket for the Sunday (last race of the season!) which was just over £20 and you got so much for your money. I stayed at my cousin's in London the night before so I didn't have to travel into London that morning. We didn't have to get up early, went on the tube and when we got off the tube it was less than a 2 minute walk to Battersea Park. As soon as we walked through the gates we were given free radio's so we would be able to listen to the commentary. We walked around first of all to look around and see parts of the track. It was amazing how close we could get to the track. The cars are so much bigger and faster then you realise.
We looked around after qualifying and there was so much to do. It was a real family place but for all ages. The E-village is the place you want to be after qualifying. There you can get food and drink while also not being far from where the drivers race on a game version against each other and where the autograph session takes place. We had a bit of time before either of those events happened and Renault was one of the people that had a couple of cars and fun things in the E-village. BMW also had a couple of cars you could sit in, which I took full advantage of! They also had a little race track with remote control cars where you had a few minutes to get to grips with what you're doing before you race against 3 other people. It was not as easy as it looked but it was a lot of fun!
The one thing I wanted to do was meet Daniel Abt and as many of the other drivers as possible so knowing when and where the autograph session was vital. We originally wanted to watch the 8 drivers on the virtual race but we worked out we wouldn't get a good spot in the line for the autograph if we watched it and then went over to where the autograph session was. We got in the line and sat down. We were there a while but it was worth it! We made friends with a couple in front of us who had a little boy which was so cute. They were so friendly and clued up on what to do a FE events as they had been previously.
After a while of chatting to our new friends the drivers arrived and it was time! This was when it started to hit me that I was going to meet all the drivers. The drivers were all stood or sat along the side of the stage and you walked down and met them one by one. First up was Jerome D'Ambrosio who was the most lovely man on the planet and he was sat on the stage but got down to stand next to me for a photo! We got about just over half way down the line when the drivers had to start going and prepare for the race and you wouldn't guess who I was going to meet next. DANIEL ABT. I had been waiting all day and then he got up and went. He was being hurried away but told me to take a signed photo, so better than nothing! I did miss some other drivers that I would have liked to get but I got quite a few so not too shabby.
After that it was time to recover from what just happened! So we did what normal adults do and went to get slushies. Then we went to find the perfect spot to watch the cars go past while listening on our radios. We found a spot in which there was a gap between the walls that was just more than a car lengths. However, after the third safety car we decided to head back to the E-village and watch it on the screen. Plus my phone was dead so I couldn't take anymore photos. That did mean that for the podium we were able to get right at the front! I thought that was a bonus until two girls came out and started using the guns to shoot free tops to people in the crowd further back. But me with my loud voice managed to ask one of the girls to throw one at me which she did. Just happened to be one of the last ones. Lucky is an understatement! The atmosphere during the podium was just amazing, everyone was so happy and it was an incredible experience.
My cousin and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we got a lot for our money considering its a motorsport event! We would love to go again. However, London isn't on the provisional list for season 3. Gutted doesn't even come close to how I feel. But I will always have the memories of going to my first FE race and how much fun I had. I hope FE comes back to London one day or somewhere else in England and when it does, I'll try my very best to go!
If you have ever thought about going, it will be an incredible day, worth every penny! Highly recommend at least looking at tickets if you are able to go to one.
-ShortySian
We looked around after qualifying and there was so much to do. It was a real family place but for all ages. The E-village is the place you want to be after qualifying. There you can get food and drink while also not being far from where the drivers race on a game version against each other and where the autograph session takes place. We had a bit of time before either of those events happened and Renault was one of the people that had a couple of cars and fun things in the E-village. BMW also had a couple of cars you could sit in, which I took full advantage of! They also had a little race track with remote control cars where you had a few minutes to get to grips with what you're doing before you race against 3 other people. It was not as easy as it looked but it was a lot of fun!
The one thing I wanted to do was meet Daniel Abt and as many of the other drivers as possible so knowing when and where the autograph session was vital. We originally wanted to watch the 8 drivers on the virtual race but we worked out we wouldn't get a good spot in the line for the autograph if we watched it and then went over to where the autograph session was. We got in the line and sat down. We were there a while but it was worth it! We made friends with a couple in front of us who had a little boy which was so cute. They were so friendly and clued up on what to do a FE events as they had been previously.
After a while of chatting to our new friends the drivers arrived and it was time! This was when it started to hit me that I was going to meet all the drivers. The drivers were all stood or sat along the side of the stage and you walked down and met them one by one. First up was Jerome D'Ambrosio who was the most lovely man on the planet and he was sat on the stage but got down to stand next to me for a photo! We got about just over half way down the line when the drivers had to start going and prepare for the race and you wouldn't guess who I was going to meet next. DANIEL ABT. I had been waiting all day and then he got up and went. He was being hurried away but told me to take a signed photo, so better than nothing! I did miss some other drivers that I would have liked to get but I got quite a few so not too shabby.
After that it was time to recover from what just happened! So we did what normal adults do and went to get slushies. Then we went to find the perfect spot to watch the cars go past while listening on our radios. We found a spot in which there was a gap between the walls that was just more than a car lengths. However, after the third safety car we decided to head back to the E-village and watch it on the screen. Plus my phone was dead so I couldn't take anymore photos. That did mean that for the podium we were able to get right at the front! I thought that was a bonus until two girls came out and started using the guns to shoot free tops to people in the crowd further back. But me with my loud voice managed to ask one of the girls to throw one at me which she did. Just happened to be one of the last ones. Lucky is an understatement! The atmosphere during the podium was just amazing, everyone was so happy and it was an incredible experience.
My cousin and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and we got a lot for our money considering its a motorsport event! We would love to go again. However, London isn't on the provisional list for season 3. Gutted doesn't even come close to how I feel. But I will always have the memories of going to my first FE race and how much fun I had. I hope FE comes back to London one day or somewhere else in England and when it does, I'll try my very best to go!
If you have ever thought about going, it will be an incredible day, worth every penny! Highly recommend at least looking at tickets if you are able to go to one.
-ShortySian
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