Address: National Monument, Gambir, Central Jakarta City, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Circuit type: Temporary street course
Website: https://www.fiaformulae.com/en/championship/19-20-race-calendar/2019-2020/jakarta
New for 2020, the Jakarta E-Prix takes place on a temporary circuit in the heart of Indonesia's capital, circling the famous National Monument. It will be the first FIA-sanctioned race in the country since the A1 GP in 2006 and the first-ever to be administered directly by the world governing body of motorsport.
Details of the circuit have emerged in dribs and drabs, though the latest circuit plan (dated October 2019) reveal that Tilke GmBH, the favoured track designer for Formula One, is in charge of coming up with the new course for the all-electric racers. It will be Tilke's first ground up Formula E circuit design.
Backdrop to the event will be the National Monument itself, a giant obelisk built to commemorate Indonesian independence from the Netherlands. Merdeka Square is the centre of some of the most important government buildings. The north side is dominated by the Merdeka Palace, once the home of the Dutch Governor Generals, which now also houses the office of the President and the Cabinet.
To the South is the office of Indonesia's Vice President, Jakarta's Governor and the provincial parliament building and also the American Embassy, while to the West is the National Museum, the Constitutional Court, the Ministry for Culture and Tourism and the Indosat building.
After an initial setback when local authorities rejected the location for the race, a U-Turn with a revised course around the national monument was approved, with the race set to take place on June 6. However, the outbreak of the global Covid-19 pandemic forced a postponement, with organisers describing it as an 'indefinate delay.' Options to reschedule later in the year remain under review, otherwise it looks likely Jakarta's debut race will be held in 2021.
The Jakarta E-Prix takes place in Merdeka Square in the centre of Jakarta, Indonesia. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport serves the city, offering international flights to many worldwide destinations. It is around 30 minutes' drive to the north west of the city centre.
As with all Formula E events, public transport will be the favoured way of reaching the circuit, though Merdeka Square is not difficult to reach. Numerous bus routes serve the area, while Gambir Station exits onto the eastern side of the square.