Sporting club VICIC has been appointed organiser of the Tokyo E-Prix by the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF), and at the invitation of the Formula E promoter, some of its representatives took a trip to the Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez to experience first-hand a round of the championship from start to finish, with the myriad protocols and procedures that entails.

The Mexico City E-Prix organisational team (OMDAI) is renowned for its professionalism and expertise. Ably supported by Formula E personnel and FIA officials– from the Race Director (and Track Inspector) and Deputy Race Director to the Head of Event Operations, Sporting Delegate, Medical Delegate and E-Safety Delegate – its members demonstrated all of the aspects that will need to be taken into account when Formula E travels to Japan for the first time in its ten-year history next month.

These included the routine red car exercise, extrication exercise, e-safety briefings and recovery exercises for marshals, as well as similarly invaluable insights into the inner workings of race control and the importance of razor-sharp co-ordination between the Race Director and Clerk of the Course.

“Our inspection trip to Mexico to see Formula E up close was a new experience for us,” reported VICIC representative, Hodaka Fujii. “In its staging and the integration of elements of the local culture, it felt more like attending an entertainment-focused event than a traditional car race. That was a significant takeaway for us.

“On the sporting side, I sat in Race Control during the E-Prix itself and it was interesting to note how highly organised and carefully orchestrated everything was by the Race Director.”

“It was an honour and a privilege that the FIA and Formula E chose Mexico to host the Japanese delegation,” added Jorge Abed, President of OMDAI SPORT MEXICO. “We did our best to show them how an event should be organised. We undertook that task with great responsibility and tried to make them feel like they were part of our organisation, showing them everything that is needed to fulfil the FIA requirements and standards.  
“This type of exchange between clubs is the best way to grow as a federation, since supporting each other can only benefit motorsport in general. We look forward to continuing these collaborations and to helping other ASNs in the pursuit of a better sport.”