Formula E: Audi Readies For 2019 Season Title Race In New York July 13 And 14

by Audi | July 12, 2019

•Championship weekend of the electric racing series returns to Brooklyn on July 13 and 14

•Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in pursuit of team title, Lucas di Grassi battling to close a 32-point gap in drivers' standings

•Audi hosts all-electric e-tron consumer driving experience for New York Formula E fans

HERNDON, Va., July 11, 2019 – Similar to the previous four seasons, the title race in Formula E will again be decided on the final weekend. Leading into the double-header in Brooklyn on July 13-14, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler and Lucas di Grassi are in second place in the teams' and drivers' championships, both racing in Audi e-tron FE05 cars.

Formula E fans can look forward to a thrilling final weekend- in absolute terms, eight drivers have title chances – more than ever before in the history of the electric racing series. New York City is the only venue to host two races this season. At the doubleheader, 58 points will be up for grabs, including the additional points for the pole positions and fastest racelaps. Lucas di Grassi is traveling to the U.S. with 32 points separating him from title defender Jean-Éric Vergne.

'As long as we have a chance in absolute terms, we're going to give it our all. In the past, we proved more than once that the role of the hunter suits us well,' said Lucas di Grassi. The Brazilian's fightback on the last race weekend of the 2016/2017 season, when he arrived at Montreal with a ten-point deficit and became driver's champion with a 24-point advantage, is not forgotten. Last year, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler made up a gap of 33 points in the two final races and won the team's championship.

'We started the season with the goal of winning races and fighting for all titles up until the end – and we have managed to do that,' said Team Principal Allan McNish. 'Looking at the standings, we're obviously facing a difficult task. But Daniel, Lucas and the whole team showed what's possible with an incredible team performance last year. We have nothing to lose, but a lot to gain.' In 2018, the German-Brazilian duo scored a victory, two second places and a third place in the two New York races, and brought home 78 out of 94 possible points.

Daniel Abt is excitedly traveling to the finale with great anticipation for the Brooklyn weekend. 'New York is a mega city with a circuit that I really enjoy,' said Daniel, who stood on the podium in front of Manhattan's skyline twice last year. Abt has finished nine of eleven races in the points this season – a record among all of the 22 drivers. 'A victory is still missing in my collection. That would be a perfect conclusion in the finale.'

For the third year, Formula E will be racing on the 1.44-mile circuit in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighborhood. It runs directly along the waterfront of the Upper New York Bay, which separates Manhattan and Brooklyn. The track is nearly identical to last year's, aside from the pit lane now being located alongside the start-finish straight, for a greater spectator experience.

Coming into the championship weekend and the 12th and 13th race of the season, di Grassi is second place in the drivers' championship with 98 points. His teammate, Daniel Abt, is in eighth and just 23 points behind di Grassi. Twenty-five points are awarded for victory, three for pole position and one for the fastest race lap driven among the top ten finishers. Besides the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler factory team, the Envision Virgin Racing customer team with Sam Bird and Robin Frijns also races with the e-tron FE05 that has been jointly developed by Audi and technology partner Schaeffler. The British team is currently in third position of the teams' classification.

The races in New York will start on Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m. EDT and will last for 45 minutes, plus one lap. Eurosport will be airing live coverage. All international channels, including broadcast schedules, can be found online at www.fiaformulae.com.

2019 Audi e-tron SUV experience– Audi has gone electric

Reinforcing the brand's commitment to electrification, Formula E fans will have a chance to experience the fully electric 2019 Audi e-tron SUV on the road throughout the e-racing weekend. Audi will be hosting customer ride and drives on Saturday and Sunday, July 13-14 from 9a.m. to 4p.m. The drive experience will take place adjacent to the track in Red Hook, located on the corner of Sullivan and Ferris St. To secure a spot in the driver's seat of the brand's first fully electric vehicle, drivers can sign up at www.asebrooklyn.com/etrontestdrive/, or reserve a time slot onsite (pending availability).

Photo credit: Audi
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