Thrilling overtaking moves, fantastic comeback drives and two parties on the podium with thousands of fans looking on: the ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport squad produced a fantastic show for the spectators at its home Formula E race in Berlin. Lucas di Grassi clinched two trophies during the weekend, Daniel Abt narrowly missed the podium on Sunday after finishing fourth.
Sunday’s Formula E race on the former airport in Tempelhof was just what the fans ordered: they enjoyed a thrilling 46-lap battle between the drivers for the podium positions. The German team’s two drivers were protagonists who fought their way towards the front from seventh to third and from eighth to fourth and, in doing so, thrilled the spectators filling the grandstands.
“That was a fantastic weekend with a fantastic backdrop. Thanks to all the fans who supported us. I think that together with Mexico the atmosphere in Germany is the best,” said Lucas di Grassi. The Brazilian had already claimed pole position to start and then second place on Saturday. “Two trophies on one weekend is a great result. It shouldn’t however obscure the fact that we must still work enormously hard to reduce the deficit we have in the standings.”
Daniel Abt celebrated his best result of the season so far with fourth place on Sunday and only narrowly missed the party on the podium. The local matador followed his team mate for almost the entire race distance, but chose not to risk a potentially risky overtaking move. “Of course I was eager to mount the podium as I had done last year here in Berlin. Even so, I had a lot of fun in the race, a few tough battles and now I’m delighted about two good races and a great haul of points.” Abt finished sixth on Saturday.
After a short break, Formula E turns onto its home straight with two further so-called double headers, during which two races are held on a single weekend: On 15–16 July the electric racing series races in the shadow of Manhattan in New York, before the new Champion is crowned in Montreal on 29–30 July. Lucas di Grassi is 32 points behind Sébastien Buemi after eight of twelve races. In the teams’ classification, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport is also second.
“I think that the spectators Berlin enjoyed two fantastic days in Berlin. Congratulations to the organizer and Formula E,” said team boss Hans-Jürgen Abt. “My thanks go to my team, which fought its way to the front after some difficult opening practice sessions and was never fazed by the pressure of a home race. Two trophies, four times in the points and a pole position is a great result, which certainly also pleased our partners that supported us here so fantastically.”