Background 2016 Berlin ePrix

strausberger platz, part of race held.

the berlin eprix confirmed part of formula e s 2015-16 series schedule in october 2015 fia world motor sport council. eighth of ten scheduled single seater electric car races of 2015-16 season, second running of event, , held on 21 may 2016 @ berlin street circuit in berlin, germany. eleven-turn track 2.030 kilometres (1.261 mi) long, pit lane on karl-marx-allee , goes around strausberger platz , alexanderplatz. race contested 9 teams 2 drivers each. teams nextev, e.dams-renault, audi sport abt, dragon, virgin, andretti, aguri, mahindra , venturi.

before race, audi sport abt driver lucas di grassi led drivers championship 126 points, eleven ahead of nearest rival sébastien buemi in second, in turn, further 33 points in front of third-placed sam bird. jérôme d ambrosio fourth on 64 points , stéphane sarrazin sixth points behind in battle position. e.dams-renault leading teams championship 165 points, 7 in front of audi sport abt in closely fought battle championship. dragon , virgin (on 112 , 106 points) contended third place , mahindra rounded out top 5 on 65 points. e.dams-renault , audi sport abt had dominated season, bird winning buenos aires eprix , d ambrosio securing victory in mexico city. jean-Éric vergne , bird had each finished in second once, , nick heidfeld, robin frijns , daniel abt had secured third-place results.

in november 2015, reported berlin tempelhof airport highly unlikely hold race because facility being used shelter refugees. after series received official confirmation not use tempelhof s facilities, formula e s chief operating officer alejandro agag sought hold event @ norisring street circuit in nuremberg alternatives munich , berlin. negotiations norisring s management ended when decision had not been made 15 january deadline. announced 1 month later german race held in downtown berlin pended approval city authorities , motorsport s governing body, fédération internationale de l automobile. race came under disapproval mayors of friedrichshain , berlin-mitte districts monika herrmann , christian hanke both stated did not want hold event in city centre. although motor racing forbidden in germany s public roads, senate of berlin granted dispensation formula e hold race on berlin s streets in march. construction of track started on 9 may, twelve days prior race.

after finishing in third in preceding paris eprix, buemi confident chances berlin race, saying plan qualify in higher starting position , attempt race @ front of field: know can in paris car super-quick; started far behind able better. abt said while not interested in drivers standings, wanted finish home event on podium. wished celebrate achievement german spectators, , best method in helping teammate di grassi in championship battle. after winning season s previous 2 races, di grassi stated team s objective win title , aimed continue recent momentum berlin: our car winner, our team keeps cool , stays focused when pressure on – in way can win home race.”

there 1 driver change heading race. having been in 1 of aguri cars since first round of season in beijing, antónio félix da costa missed eprix because of deutsche tourenwagen masters commitment @ red bull ring , replaced endurance racing driver rené rast. deal confirmed in week before race , slated world endurance championship driver adam carroll agreement fell apart. marked rast s first participation in single-seater machinery since formula bmw adac in 2004 , practised on team s simulator familiarise himself car. oliver turvey set replaced formula renault 3.5 driver ben hanley because of super gt commitment @ autopolis circuit, race postponed because of kumamoto earthquakes, , formula e seat reinstated.