On 10 June this year the FIA Formula E Championship will make history- bringing circuit racing back to Switzerland after a 64 year hiatus. In true Swiss style the cars taking to the streets of Zurich are some of the most advanced and efficient racing vehicles in the world, all being fully electric. The Zurich E-Prix is set to be a highlight on the international calendar and guests taking advantage of Hotel Helvetia's new E-Prix package- which includes trackside experiences and a specially curated cocktail and tasting menu- will be able to revel in the milestone event.

Well-known Formula E drivers such as Nelson Piquet, Sébastien Buemi, Edoardo Mortara and Nick Heidfeld will speed through the centre of Zurich in their quiet, lightweight racing cars. The circuit starts at Enge harbor, directly on the beautiful Lake Zurich. After a thrilling right bend, a long straight stretch leads right through the city centre, giving the drivers the chance to hit the gas. Afterwards, the cars will weave their way through the elegant banking district close to Paradeplatz before another right bend brings them to the finish line back on the lake.

Set on the riverside in the heart of the city, Hotel Helvetia offers the perfect location to experience the race weekend. During the three day, two-night package guests will get access to the Formula E Championship Race Village with opportunities to experience the buzz, get a close up look at the electric racing cars, spot the drivers and see how Formula E is driving the electric revolution and promoting sustainable mobility. 

After a day of electrifying wheel-to-wheel action where better to return to than the sleek surrounds of Hotel Helvetia. Interiors showcase an ever-changing display of modern art alongside minimalistic designer furniture to create an informal yet luxurious vibe sure to appeal to race-goers. As part of the E-Prix package guests will be treated with the specially created 'E-Prix Smash' cocktail which combines the sophisticated flavours of Zurich-produced Turicum Gin, lemon juice, sugar, St. Germain and Passionfruit juice. This is then followed by a three-course E-Prix tasting menu served in the chic surrounds of the hotel's famed Restaurant Helvetia, which has been awarded 14 Gault Millau points. Chef Diego von Büren's menu starts with goat's cheese, served with frisee lettuce, acacia honey & crispy bacon, and a sprinkle of truffle oil. The main course is typically Swiss with sliced veal served 'Zurich style' accompanied by rösti; this is followed with Helvetia's selection of desserts which are sure to finish off any day in the cosmopolitan city brilliantly.

The creation of the new two-night E-Prix package reflects the hotel's passion for providing guests with unique experiences in Zurich. Racing had previously been forbidden in Switzerland, with the last event taking place in 1954, however, a law change in 2015 lifted restrictions on fully-electric racing. The Formula E Championship is a trailblazer for the future of mobility, for technologies that enable a more sustainable world and the Hotel Helvetia is proud to celebrate the return of motor-racing to Switzerland with their guests.

The E-Prix Package is available between the 8-12 of June 2018 and starts from £294 (CHF 389) per person in a double room. Package includes: Two nights stay on a B&B basis, access to E-Prix village, City Tax, welcome cocktail “E-Prix smash” and one three-course dinner at restaurant Helvetia. Bookable: “limited e-Prix deal” bookable at info@hotel-helvetia.ch only. Tickets to E-Prix races can be arranged at time of booking [for an additional fee].

Hotel Helvetia, Stauffacherquai 1, 8001 Zurich

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Notes to Editors:

Distributed over five storeys, the Hotel Helvetia is as a glamorous riverside property in one of the finest spots in Zurich's historic centre.    Affectionately known as the 'Helvti', the building has long been notorious as a rendezvous point for musicians, artists, students and journalists. Today, it is a meeting place for a dynamic mix of bohemian and bourgeois, with gourmet diners at its tables and regular patrons at the bar putting the world to rights into the small hours.  The new wing of 21 rooms, Stauffacherquai 3, opened in November 2017, a listed building like its neighbour, has been carefully repurposed in a complete renovation and upgraded to form part of a harmonious ensemble with the existing Art Nouveau (or Jugendstil) building. 

The striking interiors were conceived by owner Leopold Weinberg in collaboration with architect Nele Dechmann. Rooms are designed with a true passion for detail, inspired by the airy geometry you find in works by Swiss artist Camille Graeser combined with bourgeois constraint to offer a lively interaction with the abundant artworks on display. The new lobby doubles as a showcase of contemporary pieces, with ever-changing works from artists such as Imi Knoebel, Camille Graeser and Yves Laloy curated by Basel based gallerist Stefan von Bartha of Galerie von Bartha. It is a space that re-imagines not just ways to display art, but also how to welcome guests, a space that truly represents the spirit of the original house.

For more information or to discuss a press trip please get in touch with Kerry Skinner or Flora Gandolfo  at Bacall Associates.  Tel: 08704 288 401.