The Formula E Championship is getting closer – the first race is scheduled for September 13 in Beijing. Organizers threw an electrifying launch party in London last week – 500 guests mingled with the motorsports elite, and watched a video of Formula E racers laying some rubber on Westminster Bridge. Also this week, the cars had a more serious outing at the Donington Park race track in Leicestershire.

The London race will be held in Battersea Park in South London in June 2015. “Fast, fun, and no doubt furious, the FIA Formula E Championship race in London is set to provide an awesome addition to the capital’s sporting calendar,” said Mayor Boris Johnson, a well-known EV advocate. “The atmosphere will quite literally be electric, and Battersea, which is already booming with the buzz of regeneration, will be alive with the excitement that this new, world-class event will no doubt spark.”

Croatian EV builder Rimac Automobili will supply Formula E with one of its Concept_One supercars, to be used by the championship’s Race Director during all race events, and also for passenger laps during Formula E events. The Concept_One’s four independent motors crank out total power of 1,088 hp, and it can go just as fast as the Formula E cars.

“Racing has always been the driver of innovation, said Rimac CEO Mate Rimac. “It is the reason for our very existence, as Rimac Automobili was born as the result of my passion for racing and electronics. We believe that the Formula E series will be an incubator for thousands of innovations and technologies that will contribute to the adaptation of electric drivetrain technology in many applications.”

Alejandro Agag, CEO of Formula E, added, “We’re very excited to be working with such an innovative company like Rimac Automobili. The Concept_One is a fantastic piece of modern technology and we’re looking forward to showcasing this to Formula E fans at race events to show them the true potential of electric cars and the possibilities for the future.”

BMW will also be an official vehicle supplier for the series. A fleet of its all-electric BMW i3s and hybrid i8s will be used as course, medical and VIP cars at all race events.

“We have watched with great interest the continued growth of the new FIA Formula E Championship and the potential it has to significantly increase the interest in sustainable mobility,” said Jörg Reimann, Vice President BMW Brand Experience. “BMW regards Formula E as a great platform in which to showcase our range of fully-electric and hybrid vehicles and to align our common goals.”

Sources: Formula E, Rimac Automobili, AutoblogGreen