Formula E faces nervous wait as looming heavy showers threaten Tokyo E-Prix

Formula E faces a nervous wait ahead of this weekend's Tokyo E-Prix double-header, with heavy showers and strong winds forecast for Saturday in the Japanese capital. 

Following a hugely successful inaugural race in Tokyo last season – the first motorsport event to take place in the city – a double-header at the Tokyo Big Sight is set for this weekend. 

However, the weather is set to play a significant factor, as it did in Monaco almost a fortnight ago. In the Principality, the opening race day was met with sunny skies, before the heavens opened a day later. 

Based on current forecasts, it is the opening race this weekend which looks most at risk, with heavy rainfall being expected throughout the day. 

Rain is forecast to fall from the early hours on Saturday until late in the evening, whilst the heaviest of it is projected for around the scheduled race start of 15:00 local time (7am BST). 

In addition, gusts of just over 40 mph have been forecast, adding an additional challenge for the series to face should the forecast be accurate. 

It will come as a major concern to the drivers and the teams, who RacingNews365 understands are expecting a lot of rain on Saturday. 

There is a chance of a wet qualifying for the second race on Sunday, although the E-Prix itself looks set to be dry. 

Heavy rainfall presents the series with two significant issues, the first of which being drainage at the circuit. 

The circuit remained wet in places particularly along the start/finish straight over 24 hours after significant rainfall on media day last year, something which could play a role again this weekend. 

Crucially, wet weather will also lead to further pressure on Hankook, who received much criticism following the first wet qualifying session and race of the Gen3 Evo era in Monaco. 

Driving in the wet proved near-impossible when heavy rain fell during the semi-finals last time out, causing all four drivers competing to go off the circuit. 

Following that qualifying session, Mahindra's Nyck de Vries warned that "in these conditions we can't even race", with the rain having been falling heavily when in conversation with FE's official broadcast.

The rain forecast for Tokyo is heavier than experienced in Monaco, with the real hope being that the picture changes over the next 24 hours ahead of second practice on Saturday morning.