25-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Batman, AI robots and 300,000 worms – Inside the world's most versatile racing circuit
Formula E's season finale takes place at the ExCeL Centre this weekend and it is one of 400 events that are hosted at the venue every year
London's ExCeL Centre might be close to a sellout this weekend - but tens of thousands of motorsport fans will be outnumbered by worms. Britain's biggest wormery, boasting 300,000 of the slimy garden bugs, is one of the lesser-known features of the venue that again hosts Formula E 's season finale on the world 's only half indoor, half outdoor racetrack.
When Oliver Rowland lifts the world championship trophy inside the south hall on Sunday night, he'll be doing so on the same site where movies were filmed, horse shows were danced and multimillion pound yacht deals were brokered. The ExCeL, while not a traditional race circuit, is undoubtedly one of the world's most versatile venues - and also one of the most sustainable.
Those who attend one of the 400 events that take place at the venue every year would have no idea that they are in and amongst a racing circuit that is hiding in plain sight. It's only when fluorescent lights bounce off the specially-made sand-and-resin surface, and the world's fastest-accelerating race cars screech past at breakneck speed, that the transformation becomes clear.
Yet one of the quirkiest and most fascinating features of this extraordinary venue lies beneath the surface: a wormery that has been thriving since 2007. Over the years, millions of worms shipped in from locations such as Norfolk and Belgium have passed through. They spend their days feasting on vegetarian food waste, quietly munching their way to sustainability.
Managed by the ever-dedicated and aptly-nicknamed Wayne the Worm Man, this underground ecosystem is as bizarre as it is brilliant - so much so that if the food fed into them contains too much citrus, they can literally explode… because they can't fart.
It's a small glimpse into the sustainable yet also versatile nature of the arena. Over 2.5km of bright blue bollards which form the circuit are strategically kept on site throughout the year, preventing 600 lorry journeys to get them on site.
This mix of innovation, oddity and ambition sets the tone for what Formula E brings to the venue. The London E-Prix is the only single-seater world championship race in the world that mixes an indoor track with an outdoor street circuit, threading through the halls before diving into the surrounding streets.
Sustainability sits at the heart of the Formula E operation here. The entire venue runs on 100% renewable energy.
And in the building of the track, even the smallest details have been considered. Underneath the track, 680 cast-iron energy plates have been reinforced into the floor to stop the suction from high-speed electric cars pulling them out of place.
But perhaps the most impressive feat comes in the unassuming giant door through which the cars pass through to head outside. Engineers had to install a gigantic 15-metre wide door by knocking out structural columns and jacking the ceiling up by 10mm. It's a venue constantly pushed and reshaped to meet the demands of Formula E's futuristic racing.
A team of 300 full-time staff, not counting contractors, work flat out to keep the venue running, maintaining backup power systems so robust that even if the electricity failed, visitors would barely notice. An AI robot nicknamed Lionel meticulously maps out event floor plans with machine precision, helping prepare the hall for each transformation, whether that's a world-class exhibition, a gaming convention or a Formula E paddock.
Parts of Batman Begins, Now You See Me 2 and even Coldplay's 'Clocks' music video shot inside the venue. That ability to switch identities is a large part of why it is considered one of the most unique venues in Europe, if not the world.
And they live with the mantra of getting involved in the events, not just hosting them, to give back with their partners to the local Newham and Docklands areas with charity partnerships. When Formula E arrives, initiatives like Girls on Track create opportunities for young people to get involved in sport and technology, breaking down barriers in motorsport and beyond.
Formula E is perhaps the perfect event for the ExCeL, as Newham once had some of the worst air quality ratings in the country, so hosting an all-electric racing series isn't just about spectacle - it is a statement about cleaner, smarter cities and a more sustainable future.
The future of Formula E at the ExCeL is in doubt. The cars are getting quicker, more powerful and requirements change every year.
It will be back in 2026, but options elsewhere in London and surrounding areas - both street circuits and purpose-built tracks, alongside the ExCeL - are being considered for the UK leg of the series.
But one thing is clear: the ExCeL is versatile and it can put on an event like no other. Formula E are sustainable and innovative. The ExCeL fits right into its DNA.
