This year is a special one for the ecoGP series. We will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of the ecoGP. Over the past ten years, the series has undergone many technological changes, the number of electric vehicles has increased tenfold, and the competitions have taken place on the most famous tracks in Europe.
We have held our competitions every year, and even the restrictions during the COVID period did not force us to completely abandon the organization of the competition. We can say with confidence that we have already reached an excellent level of organization and have many supporters and good partners.
Our participants started by taking part in one race and enthusiastically won the season’s cup. They surprised us with their ability to endure, thirst for victory, enthusiasm, emotionality, and skills. Some of them set records for the number of laps in one event or the number of victories. They traveled across Europe in their electric cars to bring home the ecoGP Cup at the end of the season.
Over the past ten years, we have organized almost 30 competitions in different parts of Germany, Spain, France, Czech Republic, Romania. We will hold the 30th event at the end of the 2023 season in Meppen, Germany. It will be not just an ecoGP, but a celebration of electric mobility. We even expect to set a Guinness World Record of most Tesla cars ever driven in a parade.
It is no secret that this year, ecoGP will be the first time at Circuit des Platanes in France. It will be the first event to open the season. And it will take place in a picturesque location near the Pyrenees and Mediterranean Sea.
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TIME TO REMEMBER THE HISTORY: Grands Prix du Roussillon
Just imagine then, racing was revived in very difficult times:
1946, Europe is just beginning to emerge from the bloodiest war in history. France, one of the first countries to be hit by the Wehrmacht, lies in ruins. It is necessary to rebuild everything literally – destroyed homes, bridges, roads, and businesses.
Everything, even the most necessary items, is in short supply. Even bread is sold on ration cards. Sales of gasoline are strictly limited, and spare parts are sold to speculators. Used tires on the black market are treated as antiques.
What about racing in such conditions for the French?
But in Perpignan, they understand that events associated with peaceful life can lift spirits. And they decide to hold a grand Prix, laying the track on the most beautiful streets of the ancient city. The circuit got its name – Circuit des Platanes – in honor of the age-old plane trees, which have become the same landmark of Roussillon as the Fort de Castille and the palace of the kings of Mallorca.
But the main attraction of the circuit was the spectators who, year after year, surrounded the Circuit des Platanes in a lively corridor. Over the next seven years, the city circuit hosted races for both racing and sports cars, as well as motorcycles, invariably drawing tens of thousands of citizens and guests of Perpignan.
ECO GRAND PRIX DU ROUSSILLON in PERPIGNAN
You cannot miss the unique opportunity to drive on the racetrack of 77 years ago. After all, little has changed in the central part of the ancient city since then.
You have many more reasons to come to Perpignan. The challenge will be part of a major mobility festival, “Roue Libre”, led by the Automobile Club du Roussillon (President Jean-Pierre JOFFRE) and the City of Perpignan during which, all drivers will discover the historical Circuit des Platanes.
Roue Libre helps to shed light on a complex passage in the history of the automobile, with the organizers encouraging both pleasure and reflection. This event aims to remember the past and illuminate the future. The holiday will help to recall the colorful, epic, and picturesque past, the past of racing of all kinds, and the past of pleasure! Collector cars will each tell their own story. Vintage car clubs will be present to share their passion.
The festival aims to spark discussions about time, the environment, technological development, modern energy sources, and future travel for all. The organizers want to shed light on the diverse and sometimes contradictory perspectives that lead to the future of mobility. So you will be able to get acquainted with many means of transportation on alternative energy sources, and various electric vehicles.
And we, in turn, will be part of a great progressive celebration. Our participants will be in the middle of the celebration and will demonstrate the capabilities of electric cars in an 8-hour endurance challenge along the historic route.
The ecoGP is set to take place on May 28 and 29, 2023. It will start on Sunday evening (7pm) and continue on Monday morning (6am). This will allow most people to see the competition, and to feel the spirit of electric car racing. And each participant will feel the attention and support of the spectators.
PARTICIPATION CONDITIONS
The challenge is to drive the maximum number of laps having only CEE 16A sockets, like you can find everywhere in the world, proving that no one has to fear that they won’t be able to charge somewhere. The endurance challenge aims to make as many laps as possible in 8 hours (charging included). The focus is not on driving as fast as possible, braking as late as possible before cornering and exiting, but on driving efficiently to go as far as possible using as little energy as possible. The winner is the one who has completed the most laps.
We allow teams with no limited number of drivers to take part in the endurance challenge. During the event, a team with minimum 1 drivers can switch as many times as they want. Team members must be over 18 years old, and have a type B driving license. They can have their own helmet or rent a helmet from ecoGP.
To participate, please follow these requirements and details:
– Drive a purely electric car;
– Minimum 1 drivers in your team;
– Type B driving license;
– One helmet per driver.
To take part in the endurance challenge, you need to register on our website and pay a fee of EUR 350 for this race. You can find the registration form here: https://ecograndprix.com/team-
driver/ Only electric cars are allowed to participate in the endurance challenge. If you don’t have one, you can rent an electric car from us. Please read the rules carefully before participating in the event: https://ecograndprix.com/
season-2023/perpignan/