On Sunday, October 9. The electric race cars of Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport will compete in the Chinese metropolis of Hong Kong, under the banner of the Four Rings for the first time.
On the road to a fully factory-backed commitment, Audi is using the 2016/2017 season to learn more about the world’s first fully electric racing series and to prepare for the 2017/2018 season. The former Formula 1 driver and Le Mans winner Allan McNish has provisionally assumed responsibility for coordinating the Formula E project at Audi Sport in Neuburg, and will be on site at the season opener alongside the Deputy Head of Audi Motorsport, Dieter Gass.
Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport has prepared intensively for the new Formula E season, and has thoroughly tested the ABT Schaeffler FE02 electric race car. After the completion of the official tests at Donington Park on September 7, above all dyno tests were on the agenda. Both the team’s drivers, Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi, practiced on the near three-kilometer-long track in the Hong Kong harbor in the simulator and delivered valuable information for setting up the car and the software to the team’s engineers.
“Similar to the DTM, the Formula E race cars are homologated and cannot be altered during the season,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “At the same time, the software, which is so crucial to energy management in Formula E, can be constantly worked on. In this field, we have lots of experience from the FIA World Endurance Championship which we can use to support the team.”
On Saturday, October 8, from 15:00 to 15:30, a brief shakedown session on the track is scheduled. On Sunday October 9, there will be two free practice sessions, as well as qualifying which is split between four groups, followed by a “Super Pole” – individual time trials by the quickest five. The first race of the new Formula E season begins at 16:00 (10:00 CEST). The opener of the third Formula E season will be broadcast on television worldwide in 120 countries, and hundreds of media representatives have been accredited.
At fanboost.fiaformulae.com, motorsport fans can help Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi in the race with their votes on the so-called “FanBoost.”. Through voting, three drivers each receive extra power for a short time, up to 200 kW (270 hp). In normal race conditions, the power output of the ABT Schaeffler FE02 is 170 kW (231 hp).