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FIA Formula E Championship set to make history on the streets of New York City

11.07.17

Rounds 9 and 10 of the 2016/17 FIA Formula E Championship season to be contested in front of the iconic Manhattan skyline

This weekend (15-16 July), the two FIA Formula E Championship races around Red Hook, Brooklyn, will mark the first time an FIA-sanction motor sport event has taken place in the global metropolis of New York City. The event undoubtedly marks one of the high-points in what has already been a hugely successful third season for the all-electric series.

Bringing Formula E to the streets of arguably the world’s ultimate urban centre achieves all of the goals that were set out by FIA President Jean Todt when the concept was first created. For the first time ever, millions of New Yorkers will see a top-level motor sport event happening right on their doorstep, bringing the passion and excitement of racing to a huge group of potential new fans.

As well as seeing the first motor sport event in the Big Apple, Formula E also brings with it a number of key messages of environmental sustainability and electric mobility which are rapidly becoming the most important talking points of the automotive world. With Formula E at the cutting edge of technological development in this area, consumers, businesses and policy-makers in New York will all have first-hand experience of the future after this weekend.

The challenging 1.95 kilometre circuit, which features 10 turns, passes along the waterfront neighbourhood of Red Hook, setting rounds 9 and 10 of the season against the stunning backdrop of the Manhattan skyline and the Statue of Liberty. With a number of key overtaking opportunities, as well as some tight, tricky chicanes, the inaugural New York City ePrix is certain to provide some unpredictable and exciting racing.

This weekend the timetable will be different to normal. While Saturday’s activities will happen according to the normal schedule, Sunday’s action will begin earlier to allow for the race to be broadcast live in the USA.

The event also marks a crucial and intriguing moment in the 2016/17 championship battle. Championship leader Sebastien Buemi is absent from the contest, leaving his main rival Lucas di Grassi with a golden opportunity to close the points deficit which currently stands at 32 points. The double-header of races offers up a potential 58 points, meaning that a successful weekend for Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport’s di Grassi will almost certainly see the title fight go down to the wire at the final event in Montreal.

Substituting for Buemi at Renault e.dams will be Frenchman Pierre Gasly, who alongside teammate Nicolas Prost will be aiming for the podium at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal to grab as many points as possible. DS Virgin Racing’s Jose Maria Lopez will also be absent from this event, meaning that the team’s development driver Alex Lynn will get the opportunity to show what he can do behind the wheel of the race car for the first time.

After a breakthrough event last time out in Berlin which saw Mahindra take its first FIA Formula E Championship race win with Felix Rosenqvist, the team will be looking to carry its momentum forward on the streets of New York City. Had it not been for a mix-up in the pit stop phase it would likely have been a double win for the Swedish driver, and a repeat performance this weekend could put him right in contention for the title deciding finale.

While there are no American drivers in this year’s Formula E driver line-up, two of the teams have the New York event as a home race.

MS Amlin Andretti’s pairing Antonio Felix da Costa and Robin Frijns will be aiming to break back into the top ten in front of their home fans, while Faraday Future Dragon Racing will be hoping to reverse their fortunes having had a tough time in recent events, with Jerome D’Ambrosio and Loic Duval targeting a points haul that will lift Jay Penske’s squad from the bottom of the teams’ standings.

The unprecedented opportunity of racing in this global city will see Formula E and its teams undertaking a number of exciting pre-event activities, so New Yorkers are encouraged to keep an eye out for the stars and cars of Formula E all week long.

Event Timetable

SATURDAY, July 15

08:00 - 08:45: PRACTICE 1

10:00: Qualifying group lotteryPodium / Allianz eVillage

10:30 - 11:00: PRACTICE 2

12:00 - 12:06: QUALIFYING GROUP 1
12:10 - 12:16: QUALIFYING GROUP 2
12:20 - 12:26: QUALIFYING GROUP 3
12:30 - 12:36: QUALIFYING GROUP 4
12:45 - 13:00: SUPER POLE

13:45 - 14:00: eRaceGaming Zone / Allianz eVillage

14:00 - 14:30: Autograph sessionGaming Zone / Allianz eVillage

15:00 - 15:10: Driver parade

16:00: Berlin ePRIX (44 laps)

17:05: Podium ceremonyPodium

18:10: Qualifying group lotteryPodium / Allianz eVillage

SUNDAY, July 16

07:00 - 07:45: PRACTICE 1

09:00 - 09:06: QUALIFYING GROUP 1
09:10 - 09:16: QUALIFYING GROUP 2
09:20 - 09:26: QUALIFYING GROUP 3
09:30 - 09:36: QUALIFYING GROUP 4
09:45 - 10:00: SUPER POLE

10:45 - 11:00: eRaceGaming Zone / Allianz eVillage

11:00 - 11:30: Autograph sessionGaming Zone / Allianz eVillage

12:00 - 12:10: Driver parade

13:00: Berlin ePRIX (46 laps)

14:05: Podium ceremonyPodium

 

Championship standings

 

Drivers’ Championship

Teams’ Championship

Driver

Points

Team

Points

1

Sebastien Buemi

157

Renault e.dams

229

2

Lucas di Grassi

125

ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport

171

3

Felix Rosenqvist

86

Mahindra Racing

149

4

Nicolas Prost

72

DS Virgin Racing

97

5

Nick Heidfeld

63

Techeetah

57

6

Jean-Eric Vergne

52

NEXTEV NIO

51

7

Jose Maria Lopez

50

Andretti Formula E

26

8

Sam Bird

47

Venturi Formula E

21

9

Daniel Abt

46

Panasonic Jaguar Racing

20

10

Nelson Piquet Jr.

33

Faraday Future Dragon Racing

19

 

Entry List

 

TEAM

CAR

DRIVER

TLA

2

DS Virgin Racing (GBR)

DS Virgin DSV-02

Sam Bird (GBR)

BIR

3

NEXTEV NIO (GBR)

NextEV TCR Formula 002

Nelson Piquet Jr. (BRA)

PIQ

4

Venturi Formula E Team (MCO)

Venturi VM200-FE-02

Tom Dillmann (FRA)

DIL

5

Venturi Formula E Team (MCO)

Venturi VM200-FE-02

Maro Engel (GER)

ENG

6

Faraday Future Dragon Racing (USA)

Penske 701-EV

Loïc Duval (FRA)

DUV

7

Faraday Future Dragon Racing (USA)

Penske 701-EV

Jérôme d'Ambrosio (BEL)

DAM

8

Renault e.dams (FRA)

Renault Z.E. 16

Nicolas Prost (FRA)

PRO

9

Renault e.dams (FRA)

Renault Z.E. 16

Pierre Gasly (FRA)

GAS

11

ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport (DEU)

ABT Schaeffler FE02

Lucas di Grassi (BRA)

DIG

19

Mahindra Racing (IND)

Mahindra M3Electro

Felix Rosenqvist (SWE)

FRO

20

Panasonic Jaguar Racing (GBR)

Jaguar I-Type 1

Mitch Evans (NZL)

EVA

23

Mahindra Racing (IND)

Mahindra M3Electro

Nick Heidfeld (DEU)

HEI

25

TECHEETAH (CHN)

Renault Z.E. 16

Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA)

VER

27

Andretti Formula E (USA)

Andretti ATEC-02

Robin Frijns (NED)

FRI

28

Andretti Formula E (USA)

Andretti ATEC-02

Antonio Felix da Costa (PRT)

DAC

33

TECHEETAH (CHN)

Renault Z.E. 16

Stéphane Sarrazin (FRA)

SAR

37

DS Virgin Racing (GBR)

DS Virgin DSV-02

Alex Lynn (GBR)

LYN

47

Panasonic Jaguar Racing (GBR)

Jaguar I-Type 1

Adam Carroll (GBR)

CAR

66

ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport (DEU)

ABT Schaeffler FE02

Daniel Abt (DEU)

ABT

88

NEXTEV NIO (GBR)

NextEV TCR Formula 002

Oliver Turvey (GBR)

TUR