Formula S for Scooter – E-Scooter Racing Championship Takes Off in London

As London is set to legalise the use of scooters on public roads, the eSkootr Championship (eSC) kicks off its inaugural season in the city to show what e-scooters are capable of and earn their place in the future of micromobility. Now, if you are wondering how a race, in which the goal is to simply to “scoot” fast, can help mobility, most of us are ignorant of the fact that many of the technology in everyday vehicles had “trickled down” from motorsports, such as disc brakes, all-wheel drive and yes, rear-view mirrors.

Some of the big names in motorsports are certainly embracing the new race series. Formula 1 veteran, Nico Hulkenberg, is team owner of ’27X ‘ and thinks that that race will be “a great stage to develop sustainable and safe mobility”.

Another F1 veteran and two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, Alex Wurz, co-founded the eSC with Formula E champion, Lucas Di Grassi.

The London eSkootr race took place on a makeshift semi-indoor track at the Printworks site, which is usually an events and nightclub spot, last Friday and Saturday. The track spans 470 metres with 12 turns. 30 riders—men and women—in 10 teams raced on lightweight S1-X eSkootrs, which could travel up to 100kph.

The race comprised six heat races, in which the rider in the last place after eight laps was eliminated. The top five then went on to compete in the quarterfinal, semis and final. Freestyle scooter rider, Matis Neyroud, from Switzerland took the crown on Saturday night to become the first winner ever of eSC. Coincidentally, the next race will take place in Switzerland, and then four more cities before the end of this year’s season.

Wurz said, “In the future, some of our roads will actually become living space, a shared space where you walk, some on cycles, some on electric scooters and we need to co-exist.” Are you in agreement…or annoyed?