It looks as though an ambitious bid to secure a 2016 Formula E race in Lugano, Switzerland, has failed to come off.

Local media source Ticino News reports that the local promoter was unable to secure sufficient funding before a deadline this week. The intention was to host the race between the Paris and Berlin rounds in 2016 (although the Berlin race, too, looks to be in difficulty); Jarno Trulli was a heavyweight advocate.

Hopes remain strong that the Swiss city may join the calendar for the 2016-17 calendar.

The dream of having a Formula E race in Lugano, after several months of intense negotiations, is gone. This Monday was the deadline to forward the dossier on to the FIA.

The Municipality of Lugano, despite all efforts and belief to the last, has failed to conclude the agreement with the local promoter, who had to ensure 9.7million Francs for the first year and 2.8million for other civils works. City Hall explained that “it is hard to find the money needed for events of this magnitude in such a short space of time”.

The intention of the Town Hall is to try again next year, in order to bring electric racing to Lugano in 2017.

ticinonews.ch