Tag Heuer,
the official time keeping partner of Formula E is set to revive motorsport in
Switzerland. In collaboration with Formula E organisers, the Swiss watch manufacturer
organised an extraordinary car-stroll downtown in Geneva up to the Mont-Blanc
Bridge with the young Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro behind the wheel.
Since the
1955 Le Mans disaster in France, where 83 spectators and driver
Pierre Levegh were killed and 120 people (including spectators) were injured,
the Swiss government had banned all forms of motor racing on Swiss soil. In
fact, after this tragic event motorsport was banned in France, Spain, Germany
and other nations, until the tracks could be brought to a higher safety
standard. While other countries lifted the ban later, Switzerland continued
with it.
The last
Grand Prix in Switzerland was held at the circuit of Bremgarten, near Bern, in
1954. Now, with a historic decision by the Swiss Parlement and the Federal
Council to adopt a motion by National Councillor Fathi Derder, Switzerland can
now officially welcome again professional motorsport back into the country.
With the new
law passed by the Swiss government recently allowing only electric vehicles to
race in Switzerland and an objective to promote sustainable mobility and
emission-free electric vehicles in the cities, Tag Heuer plans to revive the
sport in the country.
‘'Bringing
motor racing back to Switzerland is an amazing opportunity,” said Jean-Claude
Biver, CEO of TAG Heuer and President of the Watch Division, LVMH Group. “We
will work hard to scout the best location and dates. Ideally, this will happen
sometime during the 2016/2017 season. I will be proud if we can host it in
Switzerland. If it happens, we’ll be throwing a party to remember!”
Alejandro
Agag, CEO of Formula E Holdings said “We are very proud to have TAG Heuer as a
founding partner, and thankful that they are able to assist us in this exciting
challenge.”