An Electrifying Race in the Sunshine State
As Will Smith once famously sang in his song Miami: "can y'al feel that?"
After quite a long pause in the schedule, Formula E returns to racing, and that in an area it hasn’t visited in quite some time. The last outing for Formula E in the Sunshine State Florida, was way back in Season 1, on 14 March 2015, where the all-electric championship raced at the Biscayne Bay Street Circuit.
This year, the race takes place at the Homestead-Miami Speedway – a venue mostly associated with NASCAR, but it has also hosted IMSA and IndyCar events. Formula E will be using the anti-clockwise, 3.551km circuit that winds its way through the infield of the otherwise oval race track. The layout features 15 turns, a good mix of fast straights and technical sections, and several heavy braking zones. ATTACK MODE will be activated at Turn 4, sure to add some tactical spice to the on-track action.
Let’s take a closer look at the track layout, as was provided by Formula E:
While Miami is mostly known for its stunning beaches, turquoise waters, and tropical climate, the race location itself and the surrounding area hold a few fascinating facts.
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The Homestead-Miami Speedway complex is home to a whopping 1,005 palm trees spanning 15 different varieties.
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In Homestead, four man-made lakes were created to source over 2.5 million cubic yards of lime rock fill used to build the Speedway’s iconic banking. Three of these lakes lie within the Speedway grounds, with two nestled in the infield. The largest, covering 18 acres, is stocked with rare Peacock Bass and is deep enough to submerge a six-storey building!
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North of the race location is Wynwood, Miami’s vibrant arts district. Renowned worldwide for its street art, Wynwood is home to the Wynwood Walls, an outdoor gallery showcasing colossal, technicolour murals created by a mix of local artists and international names.
Here, you can stroll past stunning graffiti art, explore independent galleries, and pop into quirky boutiques – all while soaking up the creative energy that makes this district one of Miami’s cultural gems.
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Miami’s culinary scene is just as colourful as its street art. With the highest proportion of foreign-born residents of any U.S. city, it’s a true gastronomic melting pot. And one of the best ways to sample the city’s rich mix of cultures? Food trucks.
Miami is in the midst of a full-blown food truck frenzy, with gourmet meals on wheels serving everything from Venezuelan arepas to Korean barbecue. One of the standout events is Food Truck Invasion, a weekly gathering that turns parking lots into global food festivals.
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And here’s a geographical oddity: Miami is the only city in the United States bordered by two national parks – Everglades National Park to the west and Biscayne National Park to the east.
Lastly, Miami is known as The Magic City. Miami’s nickname, The Magic City, reflects its rapid rise from a quiet coastal outpost to an international hotspot almost overnight. The phrase captures the sense of wonder and transformation that still defines the city today.
It’s a fitting nickname for Formula E, as you may remember me utilising exactly these words to describe the series' season debut (you can find the article here). After all, we saw real magic earlier this season in São Paulo – Mitch Evans storming from last on the grid to victory, rookie Taylor Barnard becoming the youngest-ever podium finisher, and the new four-wheel drive ATTACK MODE making its explosive, mindblowing debut.
Could this be a sign that Miami will deliver yet another unforgettable, maybe even magical race?
With the electric buzz of the championship heating up, this return to Florida promises to be a spectacle. Whether it mirrors the magical brilliance of São Paulo or it writes its very own, brand-new fairytale, one thing’s for certain – we are very excited for the season to continue.
Sources:
https://www.homesteadmiamispeedway.com/track-history/
https://www.americamp.co.uk/blog/fun-facts-about-miami
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