7.5.2019. Eight races, eight winners, and still not the smallest preliminary decision in the title fight: formula E in its fifth season, pure drama. The next race is on Saturday (11. May) the famous city course in Monaco, where Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi, ABT 40 podium places for Team Audi Sport Schaeffler is trying to crack. The ARD is showing the race live in the First.
“I’m always amazed at how closely the formula E this season is how hard it is to stand on the Podium, and how many Teams and riders for wins and the title fight”, says team Manager Allan McNish, who lives exactly as Lucas di Grassi in the Principality, and the construction of the temporary track every day hearing. “It is nice to see how the tension in the city rises. Even local schools get involved, and bring the next Generation of formula E in contact.“ From a sporting point of view, especially the Qualifying session counts for McNish. “Overtaking is particularly here in Monaco is difficult, we therefore want to establish a good starting position. Daniel, Lucas and the whole Team are looking forward to Saturday.“
The race in Monaco alternates with the historic Grand Prix and heard every two years to the calendar. As in the first and third season, formula E uses a short version of the formula 1 circuit, which omits both the arc around the Casino and the Tunnel. Instead, the course runs behind the first corner, Sainte devote corner down to the Harbor and with a hairpin turn, back on the familiar route along the luxury yachts. With 1,765 miles of the course is the shortest on the formula E calendar.
In two previous races, Lucas di Grassi as the Second on the Podium – or better: in the Royal box. Perhaps this is due to the home advantage: From the front door of the Brazilian, who lives with his wife Bianca and son Leonardo in the Principality, until his race car in the Box, there are just 350 metres away. “Not only Monaco for me has a very special Flair,” says Lucas di Grassi. “The new pit area right on the Harbor, along the route of many places that for me, daily life, and a lot of friends to make this race unique.” Sporty the Brazilian has clear objectives: “The championship is completely open. With my fourth place in Paris I’ve bought myself in a good position to attack. We have the Team and the car, to win in Monaco.“
Team-mate Daniel Abt, celebrated in France’s capital for the second Time on the Podium and remains in striking distance of the table top. “This Momentum from Paris, I would like to take with us to Monaco and there, a clean the day of the race catch. The goal is clearly to win the race,“ says Daniel Abt, who drove before his formula E career, with the GP2 and GP3 series in Monaco and on the Podium. “Monaco is for me one of the highlights in the calendar. I like the track and the special atmosphere.“
Audi e-tron FE05 #66 (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler), Daniel Abt (photo: Audi Communications Motorsport / Michael Kunkel)
In addition to the factory team Audi Sport Schaeffler ABT the customer team Envision Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird and Robin Frijns, with the Audi and technology partner Schaeffler have developed e-tron FE05. The British team lies in the team standings on the second place, Frijns leads the way to his first victory in Paris in the drivers ‘ standings.
The ninth season round of the formula E starts in Paris on Saturday at 16:30 local time and as usual about 45 minutes plus a lap. For the first Time this season, the ARD shows the races live: The Transmission from the Principality in the First launch, just in time for the race start at 16:30. As always, Eurosport will broadcast the race live. All of the international channels including broadcast times are available online at www.fiaformulae.com .
