Molly Ayala
The first race of the FIA Electric GT Championship (abbreviated as eGT) was scheduled for November 25, 2017, at Circuit Paul Ricard. The championship was expected to launch in 2023 with a minimum of six events across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, but has faced multiple delays. The inaugural season is now expected to begin in 2026. The FIA has recruited Eurosport Events and its parent company, the Discovery group, to promote the championship.
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What You'll Learn
- The inaugural FIA Electric GT Championship season is expected to start in 2026
- The FIA has recruited Eurosport Events and Discovery to promote the championship
- A minimum of six events are planned for the inaugural season
- Each event will consist of a qualifying sprint race and a 45-minute main race
- The FIA has committed to net-zero carbon races, using renewable energy sources
The inaugural FIA Electric GT Championship season is expected to start in 2026
The FIA Electric GT Championship, also known as eGT, is a planned sports car racing series for electric grand tourers. The inaugural season is expected to start in 2026, though it was originally scheduled for 2023. The championship was publicly announced on May 6, 2021, when the FIA revealed its new Electric GT category for electric-powered grand tourer racing cars.
The FIA GT Commission President, Leena Gade, unveiled the technical regulations for the new category in December 2020. These regulations were created to match the performance of current GT3 cars, with many technologies being carried over to keep costs low. For example, the minimum weight is planned to be 1,490–1,530 kg to limit the use of expensive materials. Manufacturers will also be permitted to fit an electric powertrain to an existing GT3 model.
The FIA has recruited Eurosport Events and its parent company, the Discovery group, to promote the championship. Discovery was presented as the appointed worldwide promoter alongside the initial public announcement of the championship.
A minimum of six events across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia are planned for the inaugural season, with expansion into the USA expected in the following year. Each event will consist of a qualifying sprint race on Saturday, followed by a 45-minute main race on Sunday, featuring at least one mandatory fast-charging pit stop.
The FIA has expressed its aspirations for the series to become a world championship in the future, with the FIA director of sport and touring cars, Marek Nawarecki, stating that this is "clearly the aim of this project." However, the future of the series will depend on manufacturer buy-in and the wider rollout of production EV sports cars.
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The FIA has recruited Eurosport Events and Discovery to promote the championship
The FIA Electric GT Championship (abbreviated as eGT) is a planned sports car racing series for electric grand tourers. The inaugural season was originally scheduled to begin in 2023, but it was postponed until 2026, according to the FIA's 2023 sustainability report. The FIA has recruited Eurosport Events and its parent company, the Discovery group, to promote its new Electric GT Championship. Discovery was presented as the appointed worldwide promoter when the championship was first announced in 2021. Eurosport Events has long-standing FIA links from promoting what is now the World Touring Car Cup and the European Rally Championship. Discovery is also among the shareholders in Formula E. The FIA and Discovery have committed to putting on net zero-carbon races from the outset of the championship, using renewable energy sources and reforming every step of its organization to meet that objective.
The Electric GT Championship is designed to entice manufacturer entrants keen to showcase their electric sportscar technology with performance that immediately matches traditional GT3 cars. The technical regulations of the new category were unveiled to the World Motor Sport Council by FIA GT Commission President Leena Gade in December 2020. The regulations of the new category have been created to match the performance of current GT3 cars, with many technologies being carried over from the GT3 regulations to keep costs low. For example, the minimum weight is planned to be 1,490–1,530 kg (3,280–3,370 lb) to limit the use of expensive materials. Manufacturers will also be permitted to fit an electric powertrain to an existing GT3 model.
A minimum of six events are planned for the inaugural season, with races across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The series will expand into the USA in season two. Each event will consist of a qualifying sprint race on Saturday, followed by a 45-minute main race on Sunday, featuring "super-fast" 700 kW charging pit stops. The main race will feature at least one mandatory fast-charging pit stop. The FIA has also announced plans to integrate an element of esports into the series.
The Electric GT Championship is a spec series that pits drivers against each other in Tesla Model S P100D racers outfitted with wider fenders, proper wings, and other aero pieces. The cars have been extensively tweaked, with race suspension and brakes fitted to handle the demands of racing. All cars in the series have shed 1,100 pounds from the standard version, accelerating from 0-60 MPH in 2.1 seconds. Fixed aerodynamics provide the EGT cars with 122 pounds of downforce upfront and 203 pounds in the rear. After the inaugural race at Circuit Paul Ricard in November 2017, the series continued in 2018 across other European venues, including Portugal, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain.
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A minimum of six events are planned for the inaugural season
The FIA Electric GT Championship (abbreviated as eGT) is a planned sports car racing series for electric grand tourers. The inaugural season is expected to begin in 2026, after being postponed from its original launch date of 2023.
The championship will feature cars built to regulations framed to enable them to run in the same performance window as conventionally powered GT3 machinery. The cars will be electric-powered grand tourer racing cars, with a minimum weight of 1,490-1,530 kg to limit the use of expensive materials. Manufacturers will be permitted to fit an electric powertrain to an existing GT3 model.
The FIA has also announced plans to integrate an element of esports into the series and to create a "theme park" in the paddock to offer fans an opportunity to engage with electric mobility. The championship is intended to become the world's leading GT racing championship, showcasing the latest electric sportscar technology.
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Each event will consist of a qualifying sprint race and a 45-minute main race
The first season of the FIA Electric GT Championship (abbreviated as eGT) was initially planned to begin in 2023. However, due to multiple delays, the inaugural season is now expected to start in 2026.
The championship will feature a minimum of six events across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia for the inaugural season, with plans to expand into the USA in the following year. The series will race at full-length permanent circuits, providing a challenging and engaging experience for the drivers.
The Electric GT Championship is a significant step forward in the world of motorsport, embracing the future of electric car technology and sustainability. While the series has faced delays, it remains an important milestone, with the potential to revolutionize racing and showcase the capabilities of electric sports cars.
The FIA has recruited Eurosport Events and its parent company, the Discovery group, to promote the championship. With their experience and expertise, Eurosport and Discovery will help elevate the profile of the Electric GT Championship and engage a global audience.
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The FIA has committed to net-zero carbon races, using renewable energy sources
The FIA Electric GT Championship (eGT) is a planned sports car racing series for electric grand tourers. The inaugural season is expected to begin in 2026, following postponements from the original launch date of 2023.
To achieve net-zero carbon races, the FIA is focusing on several operational areas. One key aspect is the power source of race venues. For permanent circuits, the FIA prioritises the use of renewable energy to power facilities. However, street circuits present a challenge due to their dependence on local grid infrastructure. In these cases, the FIA collaborates with local authorities to explore sustainable energy solutions.
The FIA is also addressing logistics to minimise freight transportation and reduce air freight reliance. Additionally, they are working with tyre supplier Pirelli to ensure that all tyres comply with FSC standards for sustainable forestry. The electrical energy used to produce the tyres comes from 100% renewable sources, and 'virtual' design technology reduces the materials needed for prototyping.
Furthermore, the FIA is partnering with race promoters to power their events using alternative energy sources. 80% of promoters are already using solar panels, green tariffs, and biofuels, with plans for the remaining promoters to follow suit in the coming years.
The FIA's commitment to net-zero carbon races and renewable energy sources is evident in their Environmental Accreditation Programme, which helps teams, venues, and circuits improve sustainability practices.
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Frequently asked questions
The first race of the FIA Electric GT Championship was scheduled for November 25, 2017, at Circuit Paul Ricard.
The championship was announced on May 6, 2021, with the technical regulations unveiled in December 2020.
The inaugural season was originally scheduled to begin in 2023 but has since been postponed, with the new expected start date in 2026.
Eurosport Events and its parent company, the Discovery group, will promote the championship.
