The ABB FIA Formula E Championship continues to break new ground in motor sport, and the upcoming seventh round of the 2017/18 season is no exception. This Saturday (14 April) will see the first ever Rome E-Prix, as the all-electric single-seater series takes to the streets of one of the most historically significant cities in the world for round seven of the current campaign.

Attentions will soon be turning to the on-track action, and it will be a completely new challenge for all of the drivers as they head out onto the streets around EUR District in the south of Rome. The track is one of the longest on the calendar at 2.86km, comprising 21 turns with an exciting mix of tight technical corners and faster sweeping curves.

It is France’s Jean-Eric Vergne who stands at the top of the points table for TECHEETAH following his second win of the season last time out in Punta del Este. The thrilling encounter saw him just manage to fend off reigning champion Lucas di Grassi in his Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler machine.

Sam Bird, who sits third in the standings, took the final podium place in Uruguay for DS Virgin Racing, which was a welcome boost following a non-score in Marrakesh. Mahindra’s Felix Rosenqvist is currently closest to Vergne in the standings but could only manage fifth place in round six, meaning the gap extended to 30 points.

As has been shown many times in Formula E’s four-year history, things can change quickly in the battle for the coveted crown. Season two champion Sebastien Buemi, who came closed to doubling his title tally with Renault e.dams last year, remains fourth in the standings despite a mistake in Punta putting him out of the race. He’s closely followed by the two Panasonic Jaguar Racing drivers Neslon Piquet Jr and Mitch Evans. Piquet has had a consistent first half to the campaign, but like Buemi didn’t score last time out, while Evans put in perhaps the performance of the day to come through from 16th to finish fourth.

Rome has, for countless generations, been synonymous with pioneering innovation, making it the perfect fit for the electric mobility and motor sport revolution. The issues of clean mobility are high on the agenda in the Italian capital, with pollution having a serious impact on public health and also the historical buildings in the city. The messages of clean, electric mobility brought by Formula E alongside the intense racing spectacle will be even more under the spotlight at this event as a result.

The remarkable Rome race week began this morning (11 April), as many of the drivers attended a special blessing from Pope Francis at the Vatican – click here to find out more. Following the positive meeting between the hugely influential religious leader and FIA President Jean Todt last year to discuss the issue of road safety again shows the far-reaching significance and influence of motor sport and its responsibility for road safety and sustainability.

In addition to the excitement of the E-Prix, Rome will also be hosting an FIA Smart Cities Forum on the Friday of the event under the theme ‘Innovation in the Eternal City’. This innovative programme uniquely brings together public and private sectors in the spirit of collaboration and positive progress for the cities visited by the championship.

The FIA Smart Cities Forum in Rome will be an opportunity to discuss how cities facing similar issues can use technology and innovation to accelerate progress towards more efficient, inclusive and environmentally friendly mobility. The fifth Forum of its kind will gather local authorities, international mobility experts, representatives of global industry players, and members of the start‑up community to share knowledge and experience transformations related to urban mobility.

Click here to find out more about FIA Smart Cities.

Championship standings: