2019-06-19 | Herzogenaurach

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  First Formula E round in Switzerland’s capital Bern
  


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  Closest title race in the fully electric racing series continues
  


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  Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler still has all title chances after Berlin victory
  

The third from last Formula E race in Bern on Saturday (June 22) will be a thriller for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in three respects: First, the fully electric racing series is making its premier visit to the Swiss capital. Second, the eleventh in 13 rounds of the 2018/2019 season will see the continuation of the closest title race ever in Formula E. Third, the team is currently ranked in second position of both the drivers’ and teams’ standings, off the top spots by six and 25 points, respectively. Consequently, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler still has every chance of winning the title in either classification. 25 points are awarded for a victory in Formula E.

“We have a very efficient car and are in the thick of the title race,” says Lucas di Grassi. The Brazilian most recently won Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s home round in Berlin in commanding style. “The so far fiercest competition in Formula E has been challenging us as a team on all levels more than ever before,” di Grassi emphasizes. He has enormous experience in the traditionally close battles being fought in the last stage of the Formula E Championship: in 2016/2017, the 34-year-old South American won the drivers’ title, and in 2017/2018, together with his teammate, Daniel Abt, the teams’ classification – both times at the final event.

The ten rounds held this season to date have seen eight different winners from seven different teams. Bern is the 22nd city to have hosted Formula E ever since its inaugural race in Beijing in 2014. In the Swiss capital, the race will take place on a new, nearly 2.8 kilometer long city circuit around the “Rosengarten” park and along the “B?rengraben” (Bear Pit). The fully electric series made its Swiss debut in 2018, in Zurich. The event was won by Lucas di Grassi and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler. After Bern, Formula E is going to visit New York City in July for a double-header event.

This is Formula E

Formula E is an FIA-sanctioned motor racing series for fully electric cars. In 2018/2019, Formula E season five, eleven teams and 22 drivers are on the grid. Formula E races worldwide on temporary circuits in the hearts of metropolises such as Hong Kong, Berlin and New York City. From December 15, 2018, until July 14, 2019, the ABB FIA Formula E Championship is holding 13 rounds at twelve venues. Each race lasts 45 minutes, plus one lap.

Schaeffler in Formula E

Schaeffler is one of the co-founders and one of the most notable and successful players in Formula E, which was established in 2014. The company has been contributing its know-how to the development of the powertrain of Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler’s race cars since 2015. In doing so, the company demonstrates its expertise in forward-thinking technologies and presents ideas for sustainable mobility for tomorrow in the innovative electric racing series as well.

The new Formula E technology

In season five, Formula E is entering its second era. The most conspicuous innovation for 2018/2019 going forward: Every driver has only one race car anymore. The reason is that the second-generation cars mark the end of the mid-race car swaps previously required at each Formula E event because the battery capacity is now sufficient for the entire race distance. New as well starting this season is the cars’ futuristic design without a rear wing, plus the Halo protection system above the cockpit.

The Audi e-tron FE05 was meticulously developed by Audi Sport and Schaeffler with the new technical and strategic challenges in mind. The motor-generator unit named Audi Schaeffler MGU03, the centerpiece of the Audi e-tron FE05, was jointly developed by the two technology partners. 95 percent of all powertrain components are new, having resulted in weight savings of ten percent. Two Audi e-tron FE05 cars are fielded by the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler factory team for Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt.