On the road to a fully factory-backed commitment, Audi is using the 2016/2017 season to learn more about the world's first fully electric racing series and to prepare for the 2017/2018 season.
Former Formula One driver and Le Mans winner Allan McNish has provisionally assumed responsibility for coordinating the Formula E project at Audi Sport in Neuburg, and will be on-site at the season opener alongside the Deputy Head of Audi Motorsport, Dieter Gass.
Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport has prepared intensively for the new Formula E season, and has thoroughly tested the ABT Schaeffler FE02 electric race car. After the completion of the official tests at Donington Park on 7th September, above all dyno tests were on the agenda.
Both the team's drivers, Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi, practised on the approximately 2km long track in the Hong Kong harbour in the simulator and delivered valuable information for setting up the car and the software to the team's engineers.
In mid-September, the Formula E organisation loaded the team's four race cars onto a plane and shipped them to Hong Kong. They were delivered to the circuit and handed back. In total, the team has sent about eight tonnes of material on the Formula E world tour.
The first step now is to set up the temporary pits in the paddock of the race track, which is located near the famous Star Ferry terminal in the Hong Kong harbour. Subsequently, the team will start working on the race cars and present them to the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile for technical scrutineering, including the sealing of the motors, inverters, transmissions, and other components.
On Saturday, 8th October, from 3:00pm to 3:30pm, a brief shakedown session on the track is scheduled. On Sunday 9th October, there will be two free practice sessions, as well as qualifying, which is split between four groups; followed by a 'Super Pole' - individual time trials by the quickest five. The first race of the new Formula E season begins at 4:00pm. The opener of the third Formula E season will be broadcast on television worldwide in 120 countries, and hundreds of media representatives have been accredited.
