After races in Hong Kong and Marrakesh opened the 2017/18 Formula E season in style, new ground will be broken this weekend when the all-electric series stops in the Chilean capital of Santiago.

Not only is the Santiago E-Prix the maiden race of its kind in the area, it will also be the first instance of single-seater racing in the city since the 1950 Chilean Grand Prix, when Juan Manuel Fangio took the chequered flag.

The Track

Likened to the circuit layouts used in Montreal and Berlin in previous seasons, the surface used on the Parque Forestal Ciudad De Santiago features smooth but cracked asphalt, as was the case in Buenos Aires and Paris.

At just under 2.5km (1.54miles), the technical-looking, 12-turn circuit takes drivers through the centre of downtown Santiago, starting from Santa Maria Avenue. From the grid, the drivers will cross the Mapocho river, round the Plazza Baquedano, and race through the Forestal Park before reaching the start-finish line again.

Although the unfamiliarity of the track may level the proverbial playing field somewhat during qualifying and the early stages of the 37-lap race, don't be surprised if the Championship pace-setters come to the fore in the latter stages of the contest.

Image courtesy of Formula E

From a political and organizational perspective, the Santiago E-Prix has proved to be something of a logistical nightmare, though - the Chilean government will change soon following December's presidential election in the country, and the circuit runs through three separate municipalities.

Season so far

The new Formula E season started with a double-header in Hong Kong, with British DS Virgin driver Sam Bird holding off Techeetah's Jean-Eric Vergne despite serving a drive-through penalty for an error in the pits.