McLaren Joins Formula E on Brooklyn Racetrack

By Barbra Murray, Contributing Editor

Malcolm McLaren, President & CEO, McLaren Engineering Group

The Brooklyn Cruise Terminal will be transformed to accommodate the inaugural New York City ePrix with the help of McLaren Engineering Group. McLaren and D’Onofrio General Contractors Corp. have joined forces with the FIA Formula E Championship to create a 1.21-mile professional racetrack in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn.

The New York City Economic Development Corp. and The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are also part of the group behind the project, which will allow the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to take a turn on the global stage as one of the hosts of the FIA Formula E, the world’s first fully electric single-seater racing series, during the two-day NYC ePrix starting July 15, 2017.

“The Formula E race is a unique opportunity to be involved in an event that will bring an international venue to New York City,” Steven L. Grogg, senior vice president with McLaren Engineering Group, told Commercial Property Executive. “McLaren’s experience provided assistance to Formula E in the challenges of navigating the staging of the event at an active facility and the coordination of multiple tenants and agencies.”

The site will be prepared for the event through a series of temporary and permanent enhancements ranging from barriers and security fences to gangways and sidewalks.

“Our site/civil and marine teams are using a tremendous amount of creative energy and technical expertise to transform this industrial maritime complex into a professional race track,” Malcolm McLaren, president & CEO of McLaren Engineering Group, said in a prepared statement.

Removable bollards and signs, as well as traffic control measures will also play a role in the conversion. When all is said and done, the infrastructure will be in place to sustain the ongoing operation of the terminal and adjacent facilities on Pier 11, as well as to cater next year’s race.