Daniel Abt and Lucas Di Grassi test new Formula E racing cars in Valencia

Before the start of the 2018/2019 Formula E season, the final test phase for the teams and their drivers was scheduled in Valencia. The reigning team world champion 'Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler' with the two drivers Daniel Abt and Lucas Di Grassi drew a consistently positive conclusion from the three test days. 'The top priority for us was to collect data and experience with the new car', says ABT team manager Roger Köhler. 'That was a first assessment of the situation and I'm satisfied', Daniel Abt also summed up after he and his team mate completed a total of 413 laps and 1275 kilometres together. The cars will now be completely checked again in Kempten and prepared for the season opener on 15 December in Riyadh.

 

For the teams and their drivers, the 2018/2019 Formula E season will bring with it a number of innovations to prepare for in Valencia. In contrast to last year's season, the drivers will start the race this year with only one car, so that the obligatory change of car is no longer necessary. ABT Team Manager Köhler explains to us what the new race mode looks like with only one car: 'We drive 45 minutes plus one lap and thus complete the entire racing distance with one car.' In order to adapt to the new mode, an unofficial race simulation was carried out during the tests in Valencia, which shows the 'Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler' promisingly towards the season opener. Di Grassi secured victory in the final lap and Daniel Abt finished third after a turbulent initial phase.  The 'fan boost' from the past, which enabled the fans to generate more power for their favourite, is supplemented this year by the 'attack fashion'. This provides the driver with 25 kW more power for a certain period of time. 

'Audi Sport Team ABT Schaeffler' is one of the few teams to enter its fifth Formula E season and has thus been involved from the start of the series. But that's not all. Daniel Abt and Lucas Di Grassi are the only driver duo in the field to have contested all 45 Formula E races side by side and won more trophies than any other. In addition to the drivers, the partners and sponsors from last season will also remain on board, including technology partner Schaeffler, who together with Audi is responsible for the development of the Audi Schaeffler MGU03 engine generator unit.