Negotiations are being finalised regarding a deal to potentially bring motor racing to the streets of Birmingham - almost 30 years after the last city Superprix.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street says he is optimistic that Birmingham will be confirmed as a Formula E, electric racing, venue in time for the 2019 season.
Birmingham would join the likes of Paris, Berlin, Mexico City, Hong Kong, Rome and New York and see the roads around the city centre used as a race track for the first time since 1990.
There is no British venue on the current Formula E circuit.
Negotiations are being represented for Birmingham by both the city council and West Midlands Combined Authority, and the Formula E governing body are at an advanced stage - but both sides are optimistic a deal will be done very soon.
The Midlands motor industry and universities are at the forefront of research and development of the cleaner and greener electric vehicles and a race would showcase that work.
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street said: “There’s been comments from Formula E who are the race runners for the electric grand prix series.
"We’ve not commented up to now but the truth is there’s been negotiations going on in the background. Detailed work being done to look at the track, the route we might use and we are now very close in the final negotiations over the financials to see whether we can bring a race here, and it would be for 2019.
“There’s lots of work being done and I’m optimistic we will have an agreement for 2019.
“We are talking about Birmingham City Centre, and the reason for doing this is electric vehicle manufacture is absolutely crucial to the future economy of this region.
“So what a brilliant thing to be able to be part of the world wide series, to actually say Birmingham alongside global leading cities is hosting something to say what electric vehicles are all about.”
The comments echo those of Formula E founder Alejandro Agag who said recently that he wants a UK race and Birmingham is favourite.
He said: “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.”
The possibility arose after a date in Montreal, Canada, was axed following a change of mayor.
It has been previously reported that a Birmingham event would be pencilled in for the end of June, although the schedule has not yet been confirmed.
Bringing back an electric vehicle Superprix was pledged in Mr Street’s mayoral manifesto during his election last year .
The road races during the late 1980s were enabled by an Act of Parliament, but new laws introduced last year allow councils to suspend the Road Traffic Act for one off events like a Grand Prix street race.
