Formula E: Agag ‘very optimistic’ on New York ePrix

It’s starting to sound like the schedule for fashion week not a motorsport world championship.

Last year it was London, this year it’s been Paris and next year, if Formula E gets its wish, New York will feature on the race calendar for the first time.

The Big Apple has long been eyed as a potential venue for the electric car series, and CEO Alejandro Agag is “very optimistic” about the chances of staging a historic race on its streets.

“We have two or three very exciting surprises for the end of the season,” Agag told CNN’s Supercharged show.

“I’ve just come from New York looking at different venues, different possibilities. It’s far from done yet but we are very optimistic. Our dream would be to have a race in New York.”

Formula E cars could be racing on the streets of New York City in 2017.

The prospect of a new race for next season is a boost after the disappointment of having to cancel next month’s Moscow ePrix in Russia, which was scheduled to host round nine of the 2015-16 championship.

“The Moscow authorities have been extremely cooperative with us but on that date there were so many things going on around the venue we wanted, right next to the Kremlin, that we had to take the decision to postpone the race – but Moscow will happen in the future,” Agag said.

Read: Electric dreams - The future of F1?

This weekend, the drivers will battle on the streets of Berlin, racing along Karl-Marx-Allee and around Strausberger Platz.

With three races remaining, the drivers’ championship is finely poised with ABT Schaeffler’s Lucas di Grassi holding a slender 11-point lead over Renault e.Dams driver Sebastian Buemi.

Read: F1’s ‘Professor’ driven by electric ambition

The Swiss, who spent three seasons in Formula One racing for the Toro Rosso team, has enthusiastically embraced electric car racing.

“It’s amazing although it’s only the second season,” Buemi said. “When you see what they try to do with the podium ceremony, when you see the fan boost, trying to interact with the fans, I think it’s a great thing.”

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Round eight of this year's Formula E world championship is taking place in Berlin this weekend.

Formerly held at the Tempelhof Airport, the action will now take place on a brand new circuit along the Strausberger Platz, in the Mitte district of the German capital.

The 2-kilometre track features 11 turns.

The historic Alexander Platz and the TV tower provide an eye-catching backdrop.

The ABT Schaeffler team prepare their cars for Saturday's race. The German team will be hoping for a good result on home soil in Berlin.

Last season's race was won by Lucas di Grassi (C) on the track, but he was disqualified for a technical infringement, handing victory to Jerome D'Ambrosio (L).

Di Grassi is in fine form this season having won back-to-back races in Long Beach and Paris.

Sebastien Buemi poses on the Berlin ePrix track. The Swiss, who drives for the Renault e.Dams team, trails di Grassi by 11 points in the drivers' championship.

Mahindra Racing's Nick Heidfeld relaxing at the circuit on Friday.

The German, who spent 12 seasons in Formula One, is popular with young fans trackside.

The DS Virgin Racing team doing final preparations in the pit garage. Jean-Eric Vergne will start from pole position in Saturday's race.

His teammate, Sam Bird starts from sixth on the grid.

"I had a look at the circuit this morning -- it's an amazing place which will create an absolutely unique atmosphere, Daniel Abt of ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport told the Formula E official website.

"Racing through the streets of our capital will make a dream come true," Abt continued.

Racing in the heart of Berlin —

"Berlin is great," says Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag. "We are subject to so many circumstances. The refugee crisis had the consequence that the government of Berlin placed all the refugees in Templehoff airport -- where we were racing (in 2015) -- so we had to look for a new location in the city."

Racing in the heart of Berlin —

"Luckily the Berlin city authorities were amazing to us -- we are going to race right in the heart of Berlin in Alexander Platz near Karl Marx Allee," Agag said.

Racing in the heart of Berlin —

The track also takes in Strausberger Platz.

"The fans can expect a fantastic show," Agag says.

A painting of a Trabant car bursting through a wall in post unification Berlin, August 1993. Formula E are hoping Saturday's race will be another breakthrough moment for electric cars.

Formula E: Downtown Berlin embraces electric racing series

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