Prost, Figueres to Co-Chair New Formula E Global Advisory Board

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer

Renault e.dams co-founder and four-time Formula One world champion Alain Prost will join Christiana Figueres, the architect of the Paris climate agreement, to co-chair a new Global Advisory Board (GAB) in an effort to guide the continual growth of FIA Formula E.

“I’m proud to be a part of this expanding movement with Formula E and working together with Christiana on the Global Advisory Board,” Prost said in a series release. “Being with Formula E since the very beginning I’ve seen first-hand how it has grown and developed, not only as a championship but also the impact it’s already having on the road car industry. I look forward to working closely with the other members and maintaining Formula E’s prime position as part of the electric revolution.”

The new board, which also includes Formula E Founder and CEO Alejandro Agag, will be utilized to provide input and advice on various sectors of the sport, including business, media and sustainability.

“Formula E is more than just a race, it’s a platform to inspire change – a change in perception, a change in attitude and behaviour, and a change in the way we live our lives and actively influence the future of our planet,” Agag said. “It’s an honour to have names like Christiana and Alain heading up the new Global Advisory Board, alongside a strong mix of recognisable names in the field of media, marketing, business, sport and sustainability.

“I’d like to express my thanks for their participation and we hope to tap into their expertise when choosing the long-term direction of our sport.”

In addition to Prost, Figueres and Agag, the GAB will also consist of Chairman & CEO of SINA Charles Chao, CMO of Jaguar Land Rover and Chairman of Jaguar Racing Gerd Mauser, CEO of Land Rover BAR America’s Cup team and ex-McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh, Head of Global Sponsoring and Deputy Head of Marketing at Julius BaerMarco Parroni, and reigning Formula E champion and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler driver Lucas di Grassi.

By joining the GAB, Figueres – a former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – hopes to push the objectives of the Paris climate agreement to new avenues in Formula E and motorsports.

“In order to meet the objectives set out by the Paris agreement and prevent global temperatures spiralling out of control, we must have a need for speed and react quickly,” Figueres said. “If we don’t see the emission levels starting to plateau by the year 2020, it’s unlikely we’ll collectively hit the agreed targets.

“This unique forum at Formula E will allow us to bring great minds together with the same common goal, speeding-up the transition and use of electric vehicles in everyday life.”