ExCeL London Circuit

The ExCeL London Circuit stands as a unique temporary street circuit built inside and around the ExCeL Exhibition Centre at the Royal Victoria Dock in London, United Kingdom. This circuit serves as the home venue for the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship races in Britain's capital. The track holds a distinction no other motorsport venue can claim: it is the world's only indoor-outdoor racing circuit. British architect Simon Gibbons designed the circuit in cooperation with the FIA and Motorsport UK, creating a challenging course that tests driver skill through rapid transitions between contrasting environments.

Track Layout and Characteristics

The circuit combines the exhibition halls with the surrounding outdoor spaces to create a complex racing environment. Drivers face fast straights, tight corners, and elevation changes that include both incline and decline ramps. The starting straight and pit lane sit indoors within the ExCeL building. The circuit measures approximately 2.09 kilometers (1.30 miles) in its 2023 configuration and features 20 corners. The FIA classifies the track as Grade 3E.

The indoor sections feature silky-smooth tarmac that provides high grip levels, while the outdoor sections use more abrasive asphalt. This surface change creates a significant challenge for drivers who must adapt their driving style multiple times per lap. The lighting also shifts dramatically as cars move from the bright exhibition halls to natural daylight and back again. Engineers installed a massive door measuring 15 meters wide to allow cars to pass between sections. This installation required removing structural columns and raising the ceiling by 10 millimeters. The exhibition center's polished concrete floor needed special tarmac overlay to provide sufficient grip for racing cars. Engineers also reinforced 680 cast-iron energy plates into the floor beneath the track to prevent the suction from high-speed electric cars from pulling them loose.

Racing History and Development

Formula E announced plans for the London E-Prix in March 2019, targeting the 2019/20 season finale. The COVID-19 pandemic forced cancellation of this debut when the ExCeL Centre became a temporary NHS Nightingale Hospital. The circuit finally opened in July 2021 with a double-header event.

The track layout has changed several times since its debut. The 2022 season saw modifications to the second sector, where officials replaced a double hairpin near Turn 10 with a bus-stop style chicane after several accidents occurred during the 2021 races. The original double hairpin had created an 'e' shape when viewed from above. Further changes came in 2023, driven partly by building construction work at the venue. These modifications affected the third sector, altering the run from the Turn 16 hairpin and tightening the final corner slightly. These changes reduced the overall circuit length. Formula E has secured the circuit's place on the calendar through at least the end of the 2026 season.

Notable Moments and Records

The circuit hosted the 2022/23 season finale and continues to serve as a championship finale venue. Lucas di Grassi attempted a bold pit lane pass in 2021, though officials later disqualified him. British drivers Jake Dennis and Alex Lynn have both won at the ExCeL. The Season 10 finale drew nearly 50,000 fans across the race weekend, where Pascal Wehrlein secured his first World Championship title.

Sustainability and Venue Features

The entire venue operates on 100% renewable energy during Formula E events, supporting the championship's environmental goals. The ExCeL Centre hosts approximately 400 events each year, ranging from exhibitions to film productions and horse shows. The facility also houses Britain's largest wormery, containing 300,000 worms as part of its sustainability programs.