Sudirman-Thamrin-GBK Slated to Be Jakarta's Formula E Track

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Jakarta administration has settled on a new location for the capital city’s Formula E street race track. The National Monument (Monas) in Central Jakarta was initially designated as the location of the upcoming racecourse, but the plan was rejected by the central government as Monas is a cultural heritage site.

The Head of the Jakarta Bina Marga, Hari Nugroho, said the alternative location to host the Formula E race would be moved to the city’s notable main roads in the Sudirman and Thamrin areas. “It will be slightly diverted to the Gelora Bung Karno area,” said Hari to Tempo on Friday, February 7.

Hari explained that the chosen streets would adhere to Formula E’s regulation that required "Grade 3" streets, which is looser compared to Formula 1’s requirement for a "Grade A" spec road course. 

“This means that arterial roads or protocol streets already comply with FIA standards to host Formula E,” said Hari. “Those that will be used as a race track will be resurfaced.” 

Furthermore, FIA rules state that a Formula E street track distance should be within 2.9 kilometers up to 3.2 kilometers, which according to Hari makes the Sudirman-Thamrin streets able to fulfill FIA’s requirements on distance and asphalt quality. 

Previously reported, the deputy director of communications of Formula E JakPro, Hilbram Dunar, said the government had set another design that would not direct the street track into the Monas area. 

He assured that the new alternatetive for the Jakarta Formula E track design would not be less iconic than the initial design that included parts of the track entering the Monas area. He said the new track design would incorporate another icon of Jakarta. 

IRSYAN HASYIM | GANGSAR PARIKESIT