Formula E CEO eyes further growth, success for all-electric series ahead of Diriyah E-Prix

Formula E CEO eyes further growth, success for all-electric series ahead of Diriyah E-Prix
Jeff Dodds, CEO of Formula E (Supplied)
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Updated 26 January 2024
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Formula E CEO eyes further growth, success for all-electric series ahead of Diriyah E-Prix

Formula E CEO eyes further growth, success for all-electric series ahead of Diriyah E-Prix
  • Jeff Dodds on popularity of Diriyah circuit, Season 10 challenges, how Formula E drivers are some of world’s best racers

Riyadh: Formula E may be only in its 10th year, but it is no longer motorsport’s new kid on the block.

Ahead of the Diriyah E-Prix double-header of night races, Formula E CEO Jeff Dodds told Arab News that the all-electric series was set to grow even more in the coming years, having already amassed a global following of 350 million fans.

The action in north Riyadh represents rounds two and three of Season 10, the second in which the Gen3 car will be employed on the track. The novelty of the fastest and most efficient Formula E car yet saw a significant number of podium winners last season.

Dodds said: “I think we had eight different winners last season, which was pretty incredible. So, I wouldn’t be surprised to see as many different winners this season.

“What we saw in the first race in Mexico, is that the performances are getting closer together, the different teams are working out how to optimize the performance of the Gen3 car. I think in qualification there was a 10th of a second between the top four qualifiers.

“So tiny, tiny margins here. Clearly, we love the racing to be competitive. I expect the racing to be competitive. They’re beginning to work out the Gen3 a bit better in the second season.

“The challenge will be, from next season, we’re into Gen3.5, because we have the evolutionary change of the car. I think we’ll see much tighter racing this season, but I also think we’ll still see a number of different winners,” he added.

Similar to many of the drivers, Dodds has a soft spot for the Diriyah street circuit, which has been hosting Formula E racing since 2018.

He said: “I love it, because the investment that goes into building this racetrack and the infrastructure is second to none.

“First of all, the investment from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia into putting on a spectacular, not just race, but total event with the drone displays, and the Backstreet Boys playing, and the build of the track, is just an incredible spectacle, because it’s so professional, so well invested in.

“The race itself is also unique. You’ve got this racetrack carved into the UNESCO World Heritage Site here in Diriyah. So, you get this juxtaposition of the birthplace of Saudi Arabia, this kind of beautiful legacy environment with state-of-the-art racetrack and the most cutting-edge cars racing through the middle of it. Completely unique.

“It’s a night race. Our only night racing of the season. So, it’s also unique, the drivers love it. Sam Bird, the most successful driver ever on this track in terms of point scores, you’ve got Pascal Wehrlein, who won on this track last year, absolutely desperate to get back to it. All the drivers I speak to, there’s a real affection for racing on the Diriyah track,” Dodds added.

He was also looking forward to regional drivers eventually being part of major motorsport events, with an announcement on a talented Saudi driver imminent.

“The Middle East region has been a key investor in elite motorsport now for many, many years, whether that’s Bahrain, Qatar, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, or Saudi Arabia.

“We know in sport that once different locations invest significantly in certain sports, generations grow up getting more and more involved in that sport.

“We saw it with tennis in Scandinavia, we’ve seen it with football, and I’m sure we’ll see it with motor racing as well. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more elite racing drivers come out of the Middle East region,” he said.

On comparisons with Formula 1, Dodds highlighted the giant strides Formula E had made in a comparatively much shorter period of time.

“They (Formula 1) are 75 years old. Incredible history, legacy, huge fan base, very loyal fan base, I’m one of them. I’m a big Formula 1 fan and have been for almost my entire life.

“We (Formula E) are nine years old and of those nine years, two of them were impacted by COVID-19 (the coronavirus pandemic) and lockdown. So really, we’re seven proper racing seasons old. And we are already up to just under 350 million fans around the world.

“Now to give you the comparison, I think Formula 1 has about 900 million. So, we’re over one-third the size of Formula 1, in only nine years, of which a couple were affected by lockdown.

“Last year, we saw our fan base grow by about 17 percent. And my ambition this year would be to grow even faster and continue that trajectory.

“The one thing we can’t change is how old we are, we are what we are. What we can do is showcase a brilliant product to people, take the product to different street circuits around the world, and different cities around the world. And continue to drive the PR message out there for people to come and have a look.

“But I’m very optimistic that we will continue to grow, hopefully at an even faster rate than last year. We’re on the upward trajectory,” he added.

Dodds was bullish about the quality of drivers in Formula E, and noted they were as good a collective group as in any racing format.

He said: “I’ve worked around a lot of drivers in the past, so I would argue a few things here. First, the drivers are as good as any drivers in the world, in my personal view.

“In Formula 1, you have a handful of absolutely elite motor racing drivers. But you also have a large number of drivers in Formula 1 who pay for their seat. So, they’re there perhaps not always on merit, but they’re there on commercial backing.

“In Formula E, the teams are paying for some of the best drivers in the world. A number have raced in Formula 1; Stoffel Vandoorne, Nyck de Vries, Lucas di Grassi. We have several racing drivers who came out of Formula 1, we also have a number who will potentially go on to Formula 1. A very different racing experience,” Dodds added.

He pointed out that until a few years ago, not all Formula 1 drivers were the superstars they are today thanks to the intervention of streaming giant Netflix. Formula E drivers, he said, would benefit from similar exposure.

“I did a little exercise, I went back and looked at the last Formula 1 season before (Netflix series) ‘Drive to Survive.’ And I would say probably half of the drivers were recognizable and known — half of them were pretty much unknown to everyone I asked the question of.

“What ‘Drive to Survive’ did was really put those drivers on the map as personalities in their own right. It made them household names.

“Now, we (Formula E) haven’t yet launched a big global streaming series, one of the things we’re actively looking at now. That would help to put drivers’ names on the map as personalities.

“But we should be under no illusion. They might not be household names today, but they are some of the best racing drivers in the world in any format,” Dodds added.


Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool
Updated 46 sec ago
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Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool

Slot not surprised by flying start at Liverpool
Liverpool: Arne Slot said he is not shocked by a stunning start to life in charge of Liverpool as the Reds have stormed to the top of the Premier League and Champions League.
The Dutch coach has won 14 and drawn one of his 16 matches in charge in all competitions as the holders have also progressed to the League Cup quarter-finals.
Slot appeared to have a tough ask to follow Jurgen Klopp.
But he has built on the solid foundations left by the German after Liverpool finished third in the Premier League behind Manchester City and Arsenal last season.
“Surprise isn’t the right word I’d use because I knew the quality of our team. But quality is one thing, to be consistent is a second thing,” said Slot at his pre-match press conference ahead of hosting Aston Villa on Saturday.
“From the moment I started working with them I saw how much energy they put in on a daily basis and that is I think the reason you can be consistent.”
Liverpool were inspired by the power of the Anfield crowd to come from behind to beat Brighton 2-1 last weekend to move two points ahead of City at the top of the Premier League.
A similar atmosphere helped blow Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen away 4-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Slot is keen to keep his players’ feet on the ground but is happy for the fans to get excited about the possibility of just a second league title in 35 years.
“If the end result of them being excited is to bring the atmosphere of the second half against Brighton and the whole game against Leverkusen, I am hoping they will keep being excited because that atmosphere helped us a lot,” added the former Feyenoord boss.
Diogo Jota remains sidelined but should return after November’s international break.

Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar
Updated 08 November 2024
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Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar

Pakistan’s Muhammad Asif wins IBSF World Snooker Championship in Qatar
  • Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title for 3rd time
  • PM Shehbaz Sharif promises to set up world-class facilities for sportsmen

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated Pakistani cueist Muhammad Asif for winning the International Billiards and Snooker Federation (IBSF) World Snooker Championship in Qatar for the third time, Pakistani state-run media reported on Thursday.
Asif defeated Iran’s Ali Ghareghozlou 5-3 to clinch the title in a thrilling final on Nov. 6. He outclassed Ali 5-3: 70-25, 7-87(84), 82(56)-8, 106(106)-08, 82-12, 43-91(58), 0-118 and 93(80)-4.
“Asif made the entire nation proud by winning the international championship for the third time,” PM Sharif was quoted as saying by the Radio Pakistan broadcaster. “The talented youth of Pakistan are highlighting the country’s name in the fields of sports.”
The IBSF, founded in 1971, is the governing body for billiards and snooker worldwide. It represents 85 member countries and is recognized by the World Confederation of Billiard Sports and the International Olympic Committee.
Asif, 42, first won the IBSF World Snooker Championship in 2012 and went on to win it again in 2019. His victory ties him with India’s Pankaj Advani who has also won the World Snooker Championship thrice.
The Pakistan prime minister said Asif’s family and coach also deserved recognition, adding that providing quality facilities to Pakistani players was top priority of his government.
“The government is making all possible efforts to provide international standard facilities to the players,” he added.
 


Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona
Updated 08 November 2024
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Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

Raphinha’s evolution into a more versatile scorer is a big part of Flick’s great start at Barcelona

BARCELONA: Raphinha knew he would have a hard time getting off Barcelona’s bench with the soccer world enthralled by teen phenom Lamine Yamal and the club eyeing to sign another hot prospect in the attack.

Instead of pouting, he evolved.

While the entire Barcelona team improved under new coach Hansi Flick, no player has made such a leap forward this season as Raphinha.

His 12 goals and team-leading 10 assists across all competitions are a big part of why Barcelona is playing its best soccer since the exit of Lionel Messi more than three years ago.

But if one player looked to be on the out when the season started, it was the Brazil forward.

Raphinha seemed destined to become a second-choice right-side winger after 17-year-old Yamal helped Spain win the European Championship in dazzling style. To make matters worse, the club was heavily linked to a possible transfer bid to pry Spain left-side winger Nico Williams away from Athletic Bilbao.

That move never materialized for Williams, but Raphinha was still left with either playing in a new position or being a backup to Yamal.

And when Flick gave him the chance to have a new role, he made the most of it.


England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over
Updated 08 November 2024
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England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

England gives call-up to more new faces in final squad before Thomas Tuchel takes over

LONDON: Southampton defender Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Newcastle left-back Lewis Hall were called up to the England squad for the first time on Thursday as interim coach Lee Carsley made his final selection before Thomas Tuchel takes charge.

Tuchel does not start until January after being hired to lead the national team’s bid to win the 2026 World Cup.

Carsley will oversee England’s final Nations League games against Greece and Ireland and has continued to look toward a new generation of players, having already handed debuts to Angel Gomes, Morgan Gibbs-White and Noni Madueke since taking over on a temporary basis from Gareth Southgate in August.

Carsley said had not discussed his selection with Tuchel.

“He hasn’t had any influence on the squad selection. I’ve spoken to him by text, but it’s literally congratulations,” he said. “I think he’s highly respectful of the job that not only myself, but the staff are doing.

“We’ve been left to it, like we always have.”

England plays Greece in Athens on Nov. 14 and Ireland at Wembley on Nov. 17.

Carsley will resume his role as England Under-21 coach after those games.


Man City seek to end mini-slump as Liverpool soar

Man City seek to end mini-slump as Liverpool soar
Updated 08 November 2024
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Man City seek to end mini-slump as Liverpool soar

Man City seek to end mini-slump as Liverpool soar
  • Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have become so accustomed to success that three straight defeats feels like a major crisis
  • Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of his final game as interim manager of Manchester United and winless Wolves play fellow strugglers Southampton

LONDON: Injury-hit Manchester City are desperate to snap their losing streak in their final Premier League game before the international break as Chelsea aim to deepen Arsenal’s misery.

Elsewhere in the English top flight, Ruud van Nistelrooy takes charge of his final game as interim manager of Manchester United and winless Wolves play fellow strugglers Southampton.

Here are some of the key talking points ahead of the action this weekend.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have become so accustomed to success that three straight defeats feels like a major crisis.

Last week City, who face Brighton on Saturday, were ousted from the League Cup by Tottenham.

Their 32-match unbeaten run in the Premier League came to an end at Bournemouth before Sporting Lisbon beat them 4-1 in the Champions League — ending another long unbeaten stretch.

Guardiola’s men, gunning for a fifth consecutive Premier League title, are just two points behind league leaders Liverpool but will be wary of losing further ground.

Midfielder Bernardo Silva says the club’s multiple injury worries are not an excuse for their poor form but he admits the international break, which starts after the weekend, comes at a good time.

“At the moment with the injuries that we have and the psychological part as well, it will be good to have that rest, but before that we have a big game again,” he said.

One positive for City in their defeat to Sporting was the return of Kevin De Bruyne, who came on as a late substitute after seven weeks out of action.

If results go against them, Arsenal could find themselves eighth in the Premier League by the time they kick off against London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.

Mikel Arteta’s men have picked up just one point from their past three league games and lost their midweek Champions League clash against Inter Milan 1-0.

Arteta was upbeat despite the defeat at the San Siro, where captain Martin Odegaard made a welcome return to action after being absent since late August.

But defeat against in-form Chelsea plus a win for Liverpool would leave Arsenal, runners-up in each of the past two seasons, 10 points off top spot.

Thierry Henry said on CBS Sports that if Liverpool and City win at the weekend and Arsenal lose, his former side could be out of the title race.

“It would be extremely difficult because you (would) have too many teams to catch... I don’t see two teams collapsing,” he said.

Arne Slot has won 14 of his first 16 games in charge of Liverpool in all competitions.

The club had a relatively kind fixture list at the start of the season but they show no signs of letting up — taking seven points from games against Chelsea, Arsenal and Brighton in recent weeks and boasting a perfect record in the Champions League.

Liverpool have also beaten two Premier League teams, West Ham and Brighton, on their way to the League Cup quarter-finals.

Former Feyenoord boss Slot brushed off a question about whether he was finding his new job “easy” after Liverpool’s thumping 4-0 win against German champions Bayer Leverkusen this week.

“Every team that plays against us is in the top of their game,” he said. “And if you want to win that, you always have to be consistent in your intensity, and that’s not always easy but that is what’s needed.”

Liverpool have a tough run of fixtures coming up, starting with Aston Villa at home on Saturday, but so far they have proved they have what it takes.

Fixtures

Saturday (1500 GMT unless stated)

Brentford vs. Bournemouth, Crystal Palace v Fulham, West Ham vs. Everton, Wolves vs. Southampton, Brighton v Manchester City (1730), Liverpool vs. Aston Villa (2000)

Sunday (1400 unless stated)

Manchester Utd vs. Leicester, Nottingham Forest vs. Newcastle, Tottenham vs. Ipswich, Chelsea vss. Arsenal (1630)