Even though I was hoping to get a Media Accreditation for this event, that didn't happen, so this E-Prix was a complete fan experience for me. Here are my impressions.
Cittadino dell'EUR is a beautiful part of Rome, with monumental buildings and stunning architecture. That, in turn, makes it an ideal place for a futuristic racing championship to host its races. This racing weekend for me was two different experiences, due to the immense heat in the city during that time.
Why two experiences? Well, lets put it this way: I am not a fan of the sun burning my skin, but, I am a great fan of racing. Combine this information with the fact that the races are held at 3PM in the afternoon and what do you get? Sweat obviously, a lot of it, but also some burns.
So Day 1 of the weekend for me was, if it can be called like that, an urban one, watching everything from the Grandstand A3, on the outside of the exit of the corner that goes around the Obelisk (apparently there are a lot of Obelisks in Rome in general). Between the Qualifying and the Race, I was enjoying a very friendly atmosphere of the Allianz Fan Village, with multiple different attractions.
Hydration was also a really important topic over the whole weekend, with Hydration stations around the whole circuit and each fan could take a plastic cup to refill again and again while visiting the circuit, which was also a nice memento to bring back from Rome.
The Allianz stand in the Fan Village provided the fans with an opportunity to test their reflexes in the Driver Reaction Machine, while those who wanted to try something more similar to actual racing, could try the simulators in the Gaming Zone.
Hankook, as always, had a great story to tell about their tires in general, in Formula E, but also how they recycle them, turning them into skateboard parts, sneakers and also the tires for the RC cars. It is very impressive how the Korean manufacturer approached their new role and how they develop the tires for Formula E.
Fly Saudia had also a very interesting exhibition showcasing multiple aspects of Formula E, but also with an interactive quiz with the Formula E race locations. For all of those who wanted to see where the future of electric racing might be going, Nissan has put on display their concept of the electric single-seater of the future, the Ariya, so there was something for everyone in the Fan Village.
Racing was really great on both days, but also with two larger incidents. Maybe that can also be attributed to the scorching heat, but there were a lot of fans (pun intended) around the circuit.
With a clear idea that I should not repeat the same on day two, but try and remain in any sort of shade during the day, I spent the second day of the weekend in the park area of the Fan Village, where the podium is located, but also multiple fast food stands and bars. At the entrance of the park, there was also a walk through memory lane with all three generations of Formula E cars on display.
For those who wanted to buy some merch, there were Fan Stores in the urban but also the park area of the Fan Village. Another cool thing was seeing the E1 Racebird, electric speed boat which will compete in the E1 Championship.
Another thing is that two grandstands are located in the park area (great if you don't want to sit basked in the sun), and both are located on the start finish straight. So if you ever decide to go to Rome to watch Formula E, I would suggest going for the grandstands with the B label, especially if the forecast predicts a scorcher.
This park is also the place where the Fans with the so called "Prato" tickets, which is similar to "General Admission" tickets that you can get on other circuits, can walk around and spend time. Around the circuit barriers, there is a two meter gap to another fence, which is the restriction for the fans to not go near the circuit itself. Cars can be seen pretty close, especially from the park area, where you could stand basically next to the start line.
For me, Day 2 was spent going around the whole circuit watching the action from different parts of the circuit. I was watching the start from the start line, then the middle part of the race from the exit of Turn 13, and then the final part of it from the straight between Turns 15 and 16.
Overall, this was a very interesting experience, getting to explore Circuit Cittadino dell'EUR, and also watch great racing on the streets of the Eternal City. I would fully recommend to go to a Formula E race, since it is a lot different than the other racing championships, so you will get a completely new experience of a racing weekend in general.
Also, you would get a new perspective on electric mobility, and help a championship grow even more by giving it your attention.
To cap everything, here are some videos from the race weekend: