Lewis Hamilton and his Formula One peers may soon become a commodity of yesteryear after plans were announced to launch a series for driverless electric cars.
Formula E, the FIA-backed electric series, launched the initiative on Friday and says a race will take place as early as next year.
The global championship is set to be called 'ROBORACE', and will feature on the undercard of Formula E.
Ten teams, with two driverless cars, will compete in one-hour races at circuits used by the electric series.
Although the Formula E schedule is yet to be confirmed for the 2016-2017 campaign, London's Battersea Park will play host to this season's finale in July.
Denis Sverdlov, founder of Kinetik and ROBORACE, said: "We passionately believe that, in the future, all of the world's vehicles will be assisted by AI (Artificial Intelligence) and powered by electricity, thus improving the environment and road safety.
"ROBORACE is a celebration of revolutionary technology and innovation that humanity has achieved in that area so far. It's a global platform to show that robotic technologies and AI can co-exist with us in real life.
"Thus, anyone who is at the edge of this transformation now has a platform to show the advantages of their driverless solutions and this shall push the development of the technology."
An announcement on the teams and technologies to be used in the series will be made next year.
Formula E CEO Alejandro Agag added: "We are very excited to be partnering with Kinetik on what is surely one of the most cutting-edge sporting events in history.
"ROBORACE is an open challenge to the most innovative scientific and technology-focused companies in the world. It is very exciting to create a platform for them to showcase what they are capable of."
Source: PA
