Audi ready for Formula E six-pack in Berlin

Nine days, six races, three track layouts, a new driver in the team - the restart of the Formula E season is full of challenges for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler. The German squad has big aims for its six-pack home round in the capital city and is determined to battle for trophies and the championship titles.

After a break of more than five months, Formula E is returning to the race track. A lot will be different when the 24 drivers from around the world meet in Berlin for the showdown of the sixth season, such as the adherence to a a strict hygiene concept, significantly reduced number of team members, no fans nor sponsors allowed on the runway of the former Tempelhof airport in the south of the German capital, press conferences to be held virtually and the podium ceremony reduced to a minimum.

The nine days in Berlin pack a punch in terms of racing. A maximum of 180 points that can be scored by any of the 24 drivers. With just 38 points separating the front runner from the tenth-placed driver, it is clear that the championship is still completely open.

As an additional challenge, Formula E will stage its three double-headers in Berlin on three different track layouts. The familiar circuit from recent years will only be used on 8 and 9 August. For the opening rounds on 5 and 6 August, this layout will be driven in the opposite direction, and for the final races on 12 and 13 August, the circuit will be completely redesigned.

As usual in Formula E, the teams only received their data two weeks before so that there will not be a lot of time to intensively prepare for the three track variants. Berlin has always been a good venue for the most successful Formula E driver with 31 podiums under his belt. Lucas di Grassi has stood on the podium in Germany's capital city five times so far - more often than any other driver - and scored victory last year.

While Lucas di Grassi is traveling to Berlin with the experience of 63 races, the tally of his new teammate, Rene Rast, reflects just one in 2016 as a guest entrant for a different team and on a completely different track in downtown Berlin.

Consequently, the past few weeks were extremely busy for the two-time DTM champion. Alongside Formula E, Rene Rast is racing in the DTM, where he is defending his title with Audi.

This means that between 1 and 23 August, the German will be competing in 12 races in two completely different cars - in the fully-electric Audi e-tron FE06 single-seater and in the Audi RS5 DTM touring car with a 572bhp four-cylinder.

The races in Berlin will be held as three double-header events on 6 and 7, 9 and 10, 13 and 14 of August, each starting at 1:00am SGT. As usual, each race will last for 45 minutes plus one lap. All international channels including the broadcast schedule can be found online here.