Alexander Sims heads to Saudi Arabia for Formula E season opener

Clapham racing driver Alexander Sims returns to action in The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship this weekend for the 2022 Diriyah E-Prix.

Season 8 of the Championship begins on Friday for a double-header in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia ahead of Formula E’s biggest season to date, featuring 16 races in 12 of the world’s most iconic cities including debuts in Vancouver, Seoul and Jakarta.

The season opens with a pair of spectacular night races around the historic desert surroundings of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Diryiah will see the competitive debut of the new qualifying format Formula E has introduced for Season 8. The knockout format has been compared in style to football’s Champions League with two groups of eleven drivers, ordered based on their Championship position, setting lap times in a 10-minute session.

The fastest four from each then progress into the knockout ‘Duel’ stage, with the fastest driver or Duel Winner progressing until the final two are determined and the winning driver in the final taking pole.

Sims, who lines up for Mahindra Racing alongside fellow Brit Oliver Rowland, said “I’m extremely excited about the new season starting. The new qualifying format sounds fun and should be exciting if you’re involved in the shootout, and that’s definitely our aim. I think we’ve got reason to be very positive going into this new season.”

Catch all the action from Diriyah for the season opening double-header of The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship live on Channel 4, with coverage of the second race on Saturday January 29 broadcast live on Channel 4 from 16:30 GMT.