Beijing Olympic Green Circuit

The Beijing Olympic Green Circuit is a street circuit located around the Olympic stadium used for the 2008 Summer Olympics. The circuit was used in Formula E for the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 season. In 2014, it hosted the very first Eprix.

The circuit should not be confused with the Beijing International Street Circuit, that hosted a non-championship round of the Superleague Formula, and the Jingkai Street Circuit, which hosted a round of the A1 Grand Prix.

Beijing Olympic Green Circuit
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## General Info

A new street circuit built especially for the Formula E championships, the Beijing ePrix Circuit wound its way around the famous Olympic Park in the Chinese capital. Backdrops included the 'Birds Nest' stadium and the Beijing National Aquatics Centre, complete with its shimmering façade which provided a light show after dark.

Penned by Rodrigo Nunes, the circuit was deliberately stop-start in nature, essentially comprising a series of straights, 90-degree corners and four flip-flop chicanes, designed to suit the nature of the electric cars which form the series. Cars needed to have great stability on the brakes in order to maintain the racing line so they could get a clean exit from the corner, while traction was at a premium out of the slow chicanes, particularly given the high-torque nature of the electric racers.

With unyielding concrete walls and limited run-off, survival was the name of the game. The worth of the Tecpro barriers at the final turn was proved when Nico Prost and Nick Heidfeld clashed on the final lap of the inaugural race, launching the German skyward, fortunately without injury.  Brazil's Lucas di Grassi inherited the victory after picking his way through the carnage.

Fans were able to get up close to the action at a number of points, not least of which at the unusual pit lane, which featured a U-shaped viewing area giving spectators an excellent opportunity to watch the unique pit stops in which drivers changed cars.  The main grandstands were located on the start/finish straight, with additional bleachers at Turn 1 and the Turn 10-11-12-13 chicane.

For the 2015 event the track was modified with the removal of the chicane on the straight after Turn 2, creating a better overtaking opportunity into what was now a new Turn 3.  The next chicane was also slightly tightened.  The changes were welcomed by the drivers, with Jerome D'Ambrosio of Dragon Racing commenting:  "I think the changes are definitely better this year, the left-hander at the end of the back straight is a nicer corner approaching at high speed. The tighter chicane makes it more fair as last year we had a lot of issues with people cutting more or less and gaining a lot of time."

The race was won by Sebastian Buemi but would prove the last event to be held on the course, as Formula E set its sights on new events elsewhere in China.

## Trivia

* The Beijing Olympic Green Circuit remains the longest circuit Formula E has ever raced on.

## See Also

* Formula E
* Beijing International Street Circuit
* Jingkai Street Circuit
* Hong Kong Harbourfront
* Sanya Street Circuit
* Zhuhai Street Circuit