The return of a British race to the Formula E calendar moved a step closer on Tuesday, with the sport's chief labelling Birmingham a 'firm favourite' to host a round.

The electric racing series has not staged a race in Britain since the London ePrix dropped off the calendar in 2016 following opposition to the event being staged in Battersea Park.

But as he unveiled a new car for the series' fifth season at the International Motor Show in Geneva, Formula E founder Alejandro Agag revealed talks to add England's second city to the schedule — which already includes New York, Paris and Rome — for 2019 are progressing well with council bosses.

The return of a British race to the Formula E calendar moved a step closer on Tuesday

The sport's chief Alejandro Agag labelled Birmingham a 'firm favourite' to host a round

'We need to grow the following a lot more in the UK,' said the Spaniard. 'It takes time and we have to be patient.

'We have got to have a race there. London is tricky. We don't have any kind of opening there so there is no chance of that happening at the moment.

'We are open to other cities and we are talking to Birmingham about doing something. Birmingham is firm favourite.'

Agag also responded to comments made by Bernie Ecclestone last week, when the former F1 supremo said the sport's new owners Liberty Media 'will have to' follow Formula E's example and turn to electric power.

Racing series has not staged a race in Britain since London ePrix dropped off calendar in 2016

'He is totally right,' said Agag. 'Bernie is a visionary and he has made Formula One what it is today.

'If Formula One could they should go electric, but they can't because we have an exclusive deal with the FIA [governing body].

'Formula One is the pinnacle of motor racing, but the car industry is changing from combustion engines to electric so it is going away from Formula One.'