New York ePrix: Presentation and Stakes
Fans of Formula E, history is being written once again before your eyes. The first New York ePrix is coming up, with not one but two races on the schedule!
Who will bite the Big Apple?
A major e-Prix, in the streets of the most unique of American cities. The two races taking place this weekend could prove decisive in the outcome of the 2016-2017 championship. And for good reason, the reigning champion and championship leader Sébastien Buemi will not be present to defend his chances! The rumor has become reality as the Swiss is indeed held by Toyota in Endurance to compete in the 6 Hours of Nürburgring.
Renault e-Dams has therefore found a replacement in the person of Pierre Gasly, 2016 GP2 champion, who is competing this year in the Japanese Super Formula. Since the Frenchman has no experience in the discipline, it is difficult to know what his level of performance will be.
Consequently, Buemi’s runner-up in the standings is likely to make up his deficit. Trailing by 32 points, Lucas di Grassi can take the lead in the championship before competing in the two finals in Montreal, scheduled in two weeks. In this regard, let’s remember that 58 points are up for grabs in Brooklyn.
Within the DS Virgin team, there will also be changes. Also registered with Toyota, José María López will fulfill his commitments in the WEC. The Argentine will be replaced for the occasion by Alex Lynn, who is also the reserve driver for the team.
In his misfortune, Sébastien Buemi will therefore hope for a performance from the usual outsiders of the championship. In the ranks, the main threat will probably be Felix Rosenqvist, winner and then second in the last meeting in Berlin. The teammate of the absentee, Nicolas Prost, as well as Nick Heidfeld and Jean-Éric Vergne will also be legitimate contenders for big points. In any case, this first e-Prix in the American megapolis will not only be exceptional for its sporting aspect.
The circuit: Brooklyn as theater, Manhattan as backdrop
In its long history, an official car race has never been organized in the streets of New York!
The unprecedented route taken by the electric single-seaters measures 1.95 kilometers. Located in the heart of the Brooklyn borough, it will face the Hudson River, near the Red Hook neighborhood. The view will be absolutely breathtaking with the Manhattan skyscrapers!
Trackside, the first section of the circuit consists of two long straights, interrupted by a hairpin to the right as the first corner. At the end of the second straight, drivers will have to navigate a left-right chicane forming turns 2 and 3. Once through, drivers will enter a full-throttle zone with a slight right at turn 4, taken flat out. The pit entry will be on the drivers’ left, before taking turn 5, which is a 90-degree left-hand turn.
The continuation of the layout consists of a new right hairpin (turn 6), a 90-degree right turn (turn 7), followed by a right-left chicane (turns 8 and 9). Finally, the lap ends with a long left turn, the tenth and final turn.
Audi now 100% involved in Formula E:
While Audi has withdrawn from the World Endurance Championship, the Volkswagen Group brand has decided to focus its sports program on Formula E. The final step to enable the creation of a factory team was taken with the acquisition of the ABT Schaeffler team, which has been involved since the beginning of the discipline.
Audi will continue its partnership with Schaeffler around batteries and powertrains. The replacement for the famous Dr. Ullrich, who has been leading the sports program of the brand with the rings for decades, will be Dieter Gass.
Regarding the drivers, Lucas di Grassi reportedly has a contract for the next two years. For the son of the current team director, the situation is more unclear. Even though Daniel Abt remains in a good position to be retained for the next season.
Welcome to #FormulaE, @AudiSport! #ProgressFeelsElectric! ⚡️ pic.twitter.com/4CWgLoQDkq— FIA Formula E (@FIAformulaE) 7 juillet 2017
Mercedes has until October to decide on its arrival for season 5:
The star company had signed an agreement with the championship to secure a spot for the 2018-2019 season. However, a final decision must be made before October of this year, due to the deadlines imposed for registering a team.
If there were to be an engagement, it would be without a Mercedes powertrain. The list of manufacturers already registered for the 2018-2019 Formula E season includes BMW, DS, Audi, Mahindra, Renault, Jaguar, NextEV, Penske Autosport, Venturi. The project would therefore be aimed at an entry through its HWA sports branch for the same season with a powertrain supplied by another manufacturer. The German brand’s preferred choices lean towards partnering with manufacturers Venturi, Mahindra, NextEV, or Penske, which are not historical brands in the automotive world.
BMW will finally acquire the Andretti team for its full entry into Formula E:
BMW is among the list of manufacturers announced for the season 5 of Formula E. Its full entry into the discipline will be made through the acquisition of the current Andretti structure. Let’s recall that the Bavarian brand has already been in a technical partnership with the American team since season 2. Despite only a single podium in 2016, BMW has indeed decided to turn to the Andretti empire’s structure. If the arrival of Mercedes is confirmed and now that Audi has a true factory team, the 2018-2019 season will thus see three of the main German brands competing in the electric discipline.
A new pinnacle of BMW Motorsport. Today, BMW confirms its entry into the @FIAformulaE Championship as a manufacturer for season 5 (2018/19). pic.twitter.com/MNTP9ok8bt
— BMW (@BMW) July 11, 2017
The TV program
Rights holder, the Canal+ group will offer you the chance to experience this New York double ePrix. The first race will be broadcast live on Canal+ Sport on Saturday, July 15 at 10 p.m.
For the second race on Sunday, the schedule will be earlier, with the race taking place sooner, live at 6 PM, still on Canal+ Sport.
