Britain’s Formula E drivers have laid out their plans to lift the title in front of home fans in London as the sixth season of the Championship gets underway this weekend.

The electric racing series returns for its biggest season ever with a double-header in Diriyah on Friday and Saturday.

Iconic motorsport brands Mercedes-Benz and Porsche complete a full 24-car grid, which includes other German big beasts Audi and BMW – the first time the four have competed together in motorsport.

With nine different race winners last season and new faces such as Formula 2 champion Nyck de Vries, the line-up has been called the most competitive in motorsport.

Formula E returns to London for the first time since 2016 for the season finale, with a unique new race location around the Royal Docks in which the track will travel inside and outside the ExCeL London.

Formula E - Best pictures Show all 19 1 /19 Formula E - Best pictures Formula E - Best pictures Hong Kong E-Prix HONG KONG, HONG KONG - MARCH 10: Antonio Felix da Costa (PRT), BMW I Andretti Motorsports, BMW iFE.18 leads Tom Dillmann (FRA), NIO Formula E Team, NIO Sport 004 and Felipe Nasr (BRA), GEOX Dragon Racing, Penske EV-3 on March 10, 2019 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Handout Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Hong Kong E-Prix HONG KONG, HONG KONG - MARCH 10: Edoardo Mortara (CHE) Venturi Formula E makes his way through the crowd towards the podium on March 10, 2019 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Handout Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Hong Kong E-Prix HONG KONG, HONG KONG - MARCH 10: Gary Paffett (GBR), HWA Racelab, VFE-05 leads Oliver Rowland (GBR), Nissan e.Dams, Nissan IMO1 on March 10, 2019 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Handout Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Hong Kong E-Prix HONG KONG, HONG KONG - MARCH 10: FIA Formula E staff celebrate 50 races of the the championship on March 10, 2019 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Handout Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Hong Kong E-Prix HONG KONG, HONG KONG - MARCH 10: Rain hitting the front of Edoardo Mortara's (CHE) Venturi Formula E, Venturi VFE05 on March 10, 2019 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Handout Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Hong Kong E-Prix HONG KONG, HONG KONG - MARCH 10: Oliver Rowland (GBR), Nissan e.Dams, Nissan IMO1, passes Stoffel Vandoorne (BEL), HWA Racelab, VFE-05, at the start of the race on March 10, 2019 in Hong Kong, Hong Kong. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Handout Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Mexico City E-Prix MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 16: Race winner Lucas Di Grassi (BRA), Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler celebrates on the podium at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez on February 16, 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Mexico City E-Prix MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 16: JÃ©rÃ´me d'Ambrosio (BEL), Mahindra Racing, M5 Electro during the 2019 Mexico City E-Prix 2019 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Mexico City E-Prix MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 16: Pascal Wehrlein (DEU), Mahindra Racing, M5 Electro, leads at the start of the race during the 2019 Mexico City E-Prix 2019 at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Mexico City E-Prix MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - FEBRUARY 16: BMW i8 Safety and Medical cars alongside Antonio Felix da Costa's (PRT) BMW I Andretti Motorsports, BMW iFE.18 on the grid at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez during the 2019 Mexico City E-Prix in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by FIA ABB Formula E/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Santiago E-Prix SANTIAGO, CHILE - JANUARY 26: Sam Bird (GBR), Envision Virgin Racing, celebrates with Leon Price, Team and Sporting manager, Envision Virgin Racing during the Santiago E-prix at Parque O'Higgins Circuit on January 26, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Alastair Staley/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Santiago E-Prix SANTIAGO, CHILE - JANUARY 26: Alexander Sims BMW team competes during the 2019 Antofagasta Minerals Santiago E-Prix as part of Formula E 2019 season on January 26, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Marcelo Hernandez/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Santiago E-Prix SANTIAGO, CHILE - JANUARY 26: Sam Bird (GBR), Envision Virgin Racing, celebrates victory during the Santiago E-prix at Parque O'Higgins Circuit on January 26, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Alastair Staley/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Santiago E-Prix SANTIAGO, CHILE - JANUARY 26: Daniel Abt (DEU), Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler, Audi e-tron FE05 during the Santiago E-prix at Parque O'Higgins Circuit on January 26, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Sam Bagnall/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Santiago E-Prix SANTIAGO, CHILE - JANUARY 26: Aerial view of the Santiago circuit during the Santiago E-prix at Parque O'Higgins Circuit on January 26, 2019 in Santiago, Chile. (Photo by Sam Bagnall/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Marrakech E-Prix MARRAKECH, MOROCCO - JANUARY 12: In this handout from FIA Formula E, JÃ©rÃ´me d'Ambrosio (BEL), Mahindra Racing, 1st position, celebrates on the podium during the Marrakesh E-prix, Round 2 of the 2018/19 ABB FIA Formula E Championship at Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan on January 12, 2019 in Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, Morocco. (Photo by Sam Bagnall/Motorsport Images via Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Marrakech E-Prix MARRAKECH, MOROCCO - JANUARY 12: In this handout from FIA Formula E, Alexander Sims (GBR) BMW I Andretti Motorsports, BMW iFE.18, locks up during the Marrakesh E-prix, Round 2 of the 2018/19 ABB FIA Formula E Championship at Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan on January 12, 2019 in Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, Morocco. (Photo by Joe Portlock/Motorsport Images via Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Ad Diriyah E-Prix AD DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 15: Antonio Felix da Costa (PRT), BMW I Andretti Motorsports, BMW iFE.18, Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA), DS TECHEETAH, DS E-Tense FE19 and Jerome d'Ambrosio (BEL), Mahindra Racing, M5 Electro on the podium during the Formula E Championship Ad Diriyah E-Prix on December 15, 2018 in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Sam Bloxham/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images Formula E - Best pictures Ad Diriyah E-Prix AD DIRIYAH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 15: Jose Maria Lopez (ARG), GEOX Dragon Racing, Penske EV-3, leads Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA), DS TECHEETAH, DS E-Tense FE19 during the Formula E Championship Ad Diriyah E-Prix on December 15, 2018 in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Malcom Griffiths/Handout/Getty Images) Getty Images

And with an impossible to predict Championship ahead, Britain’s drivers – led by Formula E veteran Sam Bird, who has competed in every race since the sport’s inception – have insisted the aim is to become the first British champion in front of home fans.

“Last year was the first year I haven’t been in with a shout of winning the title come the last round, I hope to put that right this year,” he said. “It’s great to have London as the double-header to finish, hopefully I can give the fans something to shout about.

“It is always important to get off to a good start. You don’t want to be on zero points after the first race and playing catch-up. We are ready to take on the challenge that is season six.”

Formula E will also have DS Automobiles – who again boast reigning two-time champion Jean-Eric Vergne – Jaguar, Nissan and Indian powerhouses Mahindra all competing as manufacturers this season, alongside customer teams Envision Virgin Racing and Venturi Racing.

And Nissan e.dam’s ‘Rookie of the Year’ Oliver Rowland, who came in as a last-minute replacement for Red Bull’s Alexander Albon last season, insists he is ready to compete for the Championship after a stunning debut campaign where he took the most pole positions.

“I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could compete with everybody,” he said. “I am super excited for London, it will be nice to get all the family and friends down. Obviously we finish there so hopefully I’m still in with a shout of the title.

“Who knows, I think we have a great car and a great team so if everything comes together there is no reason why we shouldn’t be fighting for it.”

Other British drivers set to compete this year include BMW i Andretti Motorsport’s Alex Sims, who scored his first podium in the final race of last season, Cambridge Blue Oliver Turvey, who races for Chinese-backed NIO 333, and rookie James Calado who comes in for the British Panasonic Jaguar Racing team.