20.5.2019. The formula E is coming to Germany: On Saturday (25. May) start, Daniel Abt, Lucas di Grassi & co. on the former airport Tempelhof in Berlin. With the support of the home Fans, the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler on the Podium celebrating and in a good Position for the final spurt in the title fight bring.
“Berlin is from my perspective exactly the right time. After the setback in Monaco, where we have taken, in spite of a good race by Daniel and Lucas, no points, is the home turf of the team is the perfect place for a reparation,“ says Allan McNish.
A glance at the statistics support the statement of the team leaders: the First of five race weekends in the previous formula E Team Audi Sport went Schaeffler ABBOT’s completely empty – and always stand in the following race, at least one of the two pilots on the Podium.
Allan McNish: “The good news is: everything is in the championship open. With a strong result in Berlin, we want to make the title fight in front of the remaining three races as last year, really exciting.“
The venue for the tenth season run of 2,377 kilometres long course in the 2008 disused Tempelhof airport in the South of the city. Tempelhof what was in 1948 and 1949, the Start – and landing point of the international air bridge that the allies supplied the enclosed West Berlin with food and goods.
In the previous year, the Fans experienced a dream weekend of the German team: Daniel Abt clinched the first Pole Position, then won the race ahead of Lucas di Grassi and took the fastest lap of the race. The maximum yield of a driver pairing in formula E-the story is unique. Since the inception of the series in 2014, formula E launched up to now, five times in Berlin, four of them in Tempelhof and one at Alexanderplatz. In Daniel and Lucas di Grassi, a total of five podium places took Abt.
“For me Berlin is like a Cup game during the League season: The race has a very special significance and its own set of laws. I just feel comfortable in the city and in Tempelhof, the support of the many Fans gives me a Boost before we go for the first Time on the track,“ says Daniel Abt. “All the positive thoughts from the past season are still present. Of course, we start again on Friday all at zero, but still: We know how to get in Berlin trophies and wins.“
A particular challenge in Berlin, the unusual schedule this year is: Because the race starts on Saturday at 13 o’clock, the meetings, the two free practice on Friday hero, and the day of the race begins early in the Morning directly to the time training. Due to the dirty track without any prior training, or framework programmes, this could mean an additional disadvantage for the first Qualifying session-groups, in which Lucas di Grassi (group 1) and Daniel Abt (group 2) start.
“The Top Five of the championship in the Qualifying round, you must always first on the track, of course, is hard, but for a mixed starting line-up and for exciting races,” says Lucas di Grassi. In the previous nine races this season, there have been eight different winners. “Berlin is for all of us, one of the highlights of the year: We have great memories of the double-victory last year, and look forward to the support of many friends and partners. Sporty, I am confident that We have the Performance to win races. A good Qualifying, a clean race and we are at the front.“
Prior to the tenth of a total of 13 races di Grassi is a place with 17 points behind fifth in the table, team-mate Daniel Abt on the following eleven points behind in ninth place. 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 is on the way. The British team lies in the team standings on the second place.
The tenth season round of the formula E starts in Berlin on Saturday, exceptionally, already at 13 o’clock local time and as usual about 45 minutes plus a lap. As in Monaco, where nearly a Million Fans were in front of the TV, and shows the ARD is also the home of Audi sporting Schaeffler ABBOT live: The Transfer from the capital in the First launch, just in time for the race start at 13 o’clock. As always, Eurosport will broadcast the race live. All of the international channels including broadcast times are available online at www.fiaformulae.com to.
Audi e-tron FE05 #66 (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler), Daniel Abt (photo: Audi Communications Motorsport / Michael Kunkel)
