Formula E

The series

EXPERIENCE ELECTROMOBILITY EMOTIONALLY

From a pioneer to a two-time champion – the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team has so far made an impact upon the six seasons of the electric racing series ABB FIA Formula E Championship. The ABT Sportsline team together with Schaeffler not only forms the only German team in the 2014/15 debut season, but also starts the season with a bang: Lucas di Grassi wins the first race in Beijing.

In the third year, came the masterstroke: After an exciting duel between defending champion Sébastien Buemi and Lucas di Grassi, the ABT pilot raced to catch up and was crowned with the championship victory in the final.

In 2017/18, Audi became the first German automobile manufacturer to enter Formula E. The brand with the four rings takes over pole position from ABT Sportsline. However, the racing team from Bavaria continues to be the team for the e-tron racing cars. In Mexico, Daniel Abt is the first German to win Formula E, while the Bavarian continued his hard work in the home game in Berlin. There, the racing team is the first to win a double victory, the pole position, the fastest race lap and the maximum score on a race weekend.

After the start of the sixth season, the Covid-19 pandemic slams the brakes on the racing business – after a long period of uncertainty as to whether and how the season can continue, a sigh of relief can be breathed. Berlin’s Tempelhof is to be the venue for all remaining races. For the teams, this means working in the German capital under the highest hygiene protection measures and completing six races without any public spectators and within a period of two weeks.

Season 7 will see a lot changes – the FIA Formula E Championship will be held for the first time with the status of a World Championship. In addition, René Rast will be the new regular driver for the Bavarians alongside Lucas Di Grassi. He will start with the number 33.

The homologation of the racing car remains the same until season 8 inclusive: Top speed of 240 km/h on road courses and an enormous acceleration of 0-100 km/h. This is possible thanks to a maximum output of 250 kW (340 HP). The engine specification has been newly modified. The maximum speed of the electric motor is now limited to 100,000 revolutions per minute.

The introduction of a minimum weight for drivers is also interesting: In future, between 40.5 and 42.5 percent of the overall mass, including the driver, must be on the front axle. A driver dummy weighing 80 kilograms is used for checking homologation.

Following the recent postponement of the Santiago E-Prix, the season is expected to start on 26 and 27 February, 2021 with a "double header" in Diriyya, Saudi Arabia.

The car

driver

Lucas Di Grassi

After four years, Lucas di Grassi is the most successful driver in the history of Formula E: No other driver had more podiums (27) or points (611). But the Brazilian driver is certainly not resting on his laurels. Di Grassi is a founding member of Formula E: Long before he sat in the electric race car for the first time, he was working with CEO Alejandro Agag behind the scenes to structure the fundamentals and procedures of the series and provided important input based on his experience. On the track, the 2016/17 champion is one of the protagonists and favorites for wins and the title on every race weekend. Off track, Lucas di Grassi is very popular in the paddock – with the media, because he is an authentic interview partner who does not mince his words, and with his fans, because he is virtually always ready to give autographs or pose for pictures. And last but not least, he is highly respected by the engineers in his team, because he not only delivers strong results in the races, but also drives the development of the car with his experience and precise statements. Lucas di Grassi lives in Monaco with his wife Bianca. The successful driver became a father in July 2018 and has since been kept very busy by his son Leonardo.

Sporting career

1997-2001 Kart, Panamerican Kart Champion (2000)

2002 2nd place Brazilian Formula Renault Championship

2003 2nd place South American Formula 3 Championship

2004 British Formula 3 Championship, 3rd place Macau GP, Formula 3 Masters

2005 1st place Macau GP, 3rd place Formula 3 Euro Series, 3rd place Formula 3 Masters, Formula 1 test

2006 GP2 Series, Formula 1 test

2007 2nd place GP2 Series, Formula 1 test driver

2008 3rd place GP2 Series, Formula 1 reserve driver

2009 3rd place GP2 Series, Formula 1 reserve driver

2010 Formula 1

2011 Formula 1 tire test driver, ILMC tests

2012 Formula 1 tire test driver, 24 Hours Nürburgring, 3rd place WEC São Paulo (Audi R18 ultra)

2013 3rd place 24 Hours Le Mans (Audi R18 e-tron quattro)

2014 2nd place 24 Hours Le Mans (Audi R18 e-tron quattro), 4th place FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro)

2015 3rd place FIA Formula E, 1 win, 4th place FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18 e-tron quattro)

2016 2nd place FIA Formula E, 3 wins, FIA World Endurance Championship WEC (Audi R18) 1 win, 3rd place 24 Hours Le Mans (Audi R18)

2017 1st place FIA Formula E, 2 wins

2018 2nd place ABB Formula E (Audi e-tron FE04), 2 wins

2019 3rd ABB FIA Formula E (Audi e-tron FE05), 2 wins

2020 6th ABB FIA Formula E (Audi e-tron FE06)

2021 ABB FIA Formula E (Audi e-tron FE07)

René Rast

Following another title win in the DTM 2020 and his successful Formula E debut for Audi in Berlin last season, Rast is now contesting his first full season in the fully electric racing series. For the first time since 2004, he will be on the grid again in a single-seater race car. In the final rounds of the 2019/2020 Formula E season, he demonstrated that he should not be underestimated here either. Rast instantly impressed with his first appearance in the Super Pole, his first points and his first podium finish. René Rast’s unusual career took him from the Polo Cup all the way to Le Mans and now, via the DTM, into Formula E. As many as three times he won the Porsche Supercup held as part of the Formula One supporting program. At the wheel of the Audi R8 LMS GT3 sports car, he is regarded as the benchmark and a guarantee for success, which includes the ADAC GT Masters title win. Rast’s aspiration for his first year as a regular driver in the electric world championship is clear: “My goal is to build on the performances I delivered in the rounds in Berlin and to achieve further podium finishes. Naturally, I’ve also firmly set my sights on my first victory.” Off the race track René Rast is a family person. Time with his loved ones helps the German recharge his batteries between races. With his partner, Diana, and their son, Liam, he lives in Bregenz on the Austrian side of Lake Constance.

Sporting Career

1996–2002 Kart

2002 1st German ICA Junior Kart Cup

2003 Formula BMW ADAC

2004 Formula BMW ADAC

2005 1st ADAC Volkswagen Polo Cup

2006 2nd Seat León Supercopa

2007 10th Porsche Carrera Cup, 8th 24 Hours Nürburgring

2008 1st Porsche Carrera Cup, 6th Porsche Supercup

2009 2nd Porsche Supercup, VLN (Audi R8 LMS)

2010 1st Porsche Supercup, ADAC GT Masters

2011 1st Porsche Supercup, 5th Porsche Carrera Cup, ADAC GT Masters (Audi R8 LMS)

2012 1st Porsche Supercup, 1st Porsche Carrera Cup, 1st 24h Spa (Audi R8 LMS ultra), 1st GT Class 24h Daytona, ADAC GT Masters (Audi R8 LMS ultra)

2013 2nd GT class 24 Hours Daytona (Audi R8 GRAND-AM), 6th FIA GT Series, 6th ADAC GT Masters, Blancpain Endurance Series (each Audi R8 LMS ultra)

2014 1st ADAC GT Masters, 1st 24 Hours Nürburgring, 1st 24 Hours Spa, 6th Blancpain GT Series (each Audi R8 LMS ultra)

2015 2nd FIA GT World Cup Macau (Audi R8 LMS)

2016 1st GTD class 24 Hours Daytona (Audi R8 LMS), 5th LMP2 class FIA Endurance World Championship WEC, 3rd 24 Hours Spa (Audi R8 LMS), 23rd DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM)

2017 1st DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 3 wins, 3rd 24 Hours Daytona

2018 2nd DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 7 wins, 1st Nations Cup Race of Champions

2019 1st DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 7 wins

2020 1st DTM (Audi RS 5 DTM), 15th ABB FIA Formula E (Audi e-tron FE06)

2021 ABB FIA Formula E (Audi e-tron FE07)

Dates

Formel-E-racing calendar 2021/2022

26.02.2021 Diriyah (KSA)
27.02.2021 Diriyah (KSA)
10.04.2021 Rome (I)
10.04.2021 Rome (I)
24.04.2021 Valencia (E)
25.04.2021 Valencia (E)
08.05.2021 Monaco (MC)
19.06.2021 Puebla (MEX)
20.06.2021 Puebla (MEX)
10.07.2021 New York City (USA)
11.07.2021 New York City (USA)
24.07.2021 London (GB)
25.07.2021 London (GB)
14.08.2021 Berlin (D)
15.08.2021 Berlin (D)