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Formula E: ABT Sportsline electrifies Berlin

The race in Tempelhof is the home event for the ABT Sportsline team.

Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport Team Abt

Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport Team Abt

James Holland

Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport Team Abt
Podium: Lucas di Grassi and Sébastien Buemi and Nelson Piquet Jr.
Sébastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi
Daniel Abt, Audi Sport Team Abt
Daniel Abt, Audi Sport Team Abt
Daniel Abt, Audi Sport Team Abt
Daniel Abt, Audi Sport Team Abt
Lucas di Grassi
Daniel Abt, Audi Sport Team Abt
Lucas di Grassi
Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport Team Abt

Germany’s capital city transforms into the epicenter for elite motorsport: one week before the DFB Trophy (football cup final) and two weeks before the Champions League final, the city hosts the electric racing series Formula E this Saturday (23 May). The race in Tempelhof is the home event for the only German team ABT Sportsline fielding Daniel Abt and championship leader Lucas di Grassi.

After races in Asia, North and South America as well as Monaco, Formula E now finally arrives in Germany where the series and team ABT Sportsline have many fans. At the same time, the crucial stage of the championship begins on the former airport Tempelhof: only four more races before the first Formula E Champion in history is crowned.

I’m convinced that Berlin will be yet another highlight this season,

Hans-Jürgen Abt

Lucas di Grassi is still on course to immortalize his name in the motorsport history books. The Brazilian driving for ABT Sportsline comes to the capital with a four-point advantage over his archrival Nelson Piquet Jr. “I’m really looking forward to my team’s home race. Many partners, fans and friends will support us, which will give us an extra motivation boost,” says di Grassi, who has mounted the podium five times in the previous seven races. “It’s clear that things are heating up in the title battle, but my team and I will stay cool and try to take the maximum every time.”

The race in Berlin is one of the highlights of the season for Daniel Abt. In addition to Nick Heidfeld, the youngster is the only German and at 22 years of age the youngest driver in the international field. “I can really feel how the interest in Formula E continues to grow, and I look forward to being a part of this family,” says Abt. “Our team and I will of course get great attention - which is certainly not a burden, but in fact merely gives us greater momentum.” Daniel Abt has scored points five times this season, claimed pole position once and finished on the podium once. “And it is exactly here where I aim to stand again on Saturday!”

The DHL Berlin ePrix is held on the airport in Tempelhof. The tight and twisty circuit comprises 17 corners over a length of 2.469 kilometers. “Even so, the track is very fluid to drive and has many exciting sections,” says Abt, who prepared for the race day in the simulator as did team mate Lucas di Grassi. With its compact track layout, former hangars and the grandstands, the facility has almost stadium character. The simulated lap time in qualifying, where the drivers can drive with maximum power, is around 1m 24s. The cars reach top speeds of almost 200 km/h in the process.

“Formula E celebrated a magnificent European debut recently with the race in Monaco. I’m convinced that Berlin will be yet another highlight this season,” says Team Boss Hans-Jürgen Abt. He has clearly defined his sporting plans: “We want to score two-digit points with both of our drivers. In the title battle a strong team performance counts more than ever before.” While Lucas di Grassi leads the drivers’ championship, ABT Sportsline is second in the team classification behind the Renault factory team.

ABT Sportsline

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