The all-electric Formula E series visited Chile’s capital city for three years from season five. The roads around Parque Forestal in central Santiago de Chile were chosen for the inaugural race which was promoted by the country’s only Formula 1 driver to date, Eliseo Salazar. The 12-turn layout twice crossed the Mapocho River and parkland section that prompted fears about the danger posed by its many stray dogs. Jean-Eric Vergne converted pole position into his second victory in the category. However, the inhabitants complained about the disruption and protests were exacerbated when a statue of Daedalus outside the National Museum of Fine Arts was damaged by a lorry in the breakdown phase after the event. The local authorities moved the 2019 race to a new venue inside Parque O’Higgins.
