It is one of the highlights in the Formula E calendar: this weekend (15/16 July), the electro racing series will take place in New York for the first time and will hold two races in front of the Manhattan skyline. Lucas di Grassi and the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport team come to the USA as hot pursuers.

'We are only concentrating on ourselves, not on points or the competition,' says Lucas di Grassi. 'Our aim is to win each of the coming races – and if that's not possible, then we want to score as many points as we can.' The Brazilian had to undergo an operation on his calf bone in his home county in mid-June, but he has convalesced in time for the US race. 'The recovery has gone according to plan and I'm one hundred percent fit for New York.' And he's tough too: He took both his podiums in Berlin with a double fracture of the fibula.

The 1.953-kilometre-long circuit in the Red Hook quarter of Brooklyn borough of New York sits right on the shores of the Upper New York Bay, which separates Manhattan and Brooklyn. Its layout bodes well for two exciting races, with a mix of fast straights and tight, 180-degree turns. The drivers will complete 43 laps on Saturday and 49 laps on Sunday. As always, a pit stop with the switching of cars is mandatory.

'A small dream has come true with the races in New York,' says Daniel Abt, who like many members of the team travels a day earlier to explore the city – and then focus fully on the racing: 'In the first two seasons, I finished on the podium in both of the races in the USA. This is a tradition that I definitely want to continue. Last time out in Berlin, I only just missed out on a trophy – but I know what's possible when all the little things fall into place.'

The races in New York signal the home stretch of the third Formula E season. The 30th race of the still young electro racing series will be held on Saturday. Up until this point, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport with Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi have taken 23 podiums – more than any other team in the international field. 'The series has experienced great development from the first race simulations in rainy Donington in the summer of 2014 to the premiere in the heart of Brooklyn,' says Team Principal Hans-Jürgen Abt. 'We're really proud to be one of the 'founding members' of Formula E. But right now we're not concentrating on statistics, but on how we can win our next trophy.'

TEAM ABT SCHAEFFLER AUDI SPORT AND ITS PARTNERS

ABT Sportsline: Worldwide leaders in car tuning for the Volkswagen Group, and one of Europe's most successful motorsport teams

Schaeffler: Globally active automotive and industrial supplier, exclusive technology partner of the team since the second season and partly responsible for the development of the powertrain, including the ABT Schaeffler MGU01+ motor

Audi: German automotive manufacturer in the premium sector. Will encompass Formula E into a fully factory backed programme from the 2017/2018 season

Deutsche Post DHL Group: The world's biggest mail and logistics company

HYLA: Market leader for air and room cleaning systems

Würth Elektronik: One of the leading manufacturers of electronic and electromechanical components in Europe

LGT Gruppe: World's largest family owned Private Banking and Asset Management Group

ITK Engineering: International technology company with customers from the automotive, aerospace and medical industries

TITANflex: Eschenbach Optik is the market leader for spectacle frames in Germany, and one of the leading suppliers in Europe

KUKA: KUKA is a world-leading automation company with offices in more than 30 countries and approximately 13,000 employees

Photo credit: Audi Motorsport
posted on conceptcarz.com

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