The FIA Formula E Championship goes stateside this weekend for the iconic New York E-Prix and a shot at double points for teams as the championship heads for its dramatic conclusion. The Big Apple has been kind to Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in the past, with the team with three previous podiums including a 1-2 victory. New York was also the venue for the race that saw Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler clinch the Teams’ title in 2018.

Heading into the weekend’s double header, René Rast sits in fourth place on the driver standings after the strong finish in Mexico at the last outing. 

“A look at the standings shows how close everything is. After nine races, everyone is pretty much still in the game,” says Team Principal Allan McNish. For him, it’s all the more important to establish the team in the top group and put them in the best possible position for the season’s final phase. “Literally every point counts this season and it’s precisely with this mindset of fighting for every single point that we’re going into the two races in New York.” 

The venue for the two races is in the Red Hook neighbourhood in New York’s Brooklyn borough, which overlooks the skyline of Manhattan. The track runs right along the shore of Upper New York Bay, which separates Manhattan and Brooklyn. The 2.32 kilometre circuit places mixed demands on the cars and drivers, with long fast straights leading into very slow chicanes and hairpins. That means braking, manoeuvrability and straight-line speed all come into play, which in turn makes race strategy a vital part of the race.

The weather too will play a role:

“We’re expecting hot temperatures, very high humidity and, on top of that, we’ll be starting on a track that doesn’t forgive the slightest mistake,” says Allan McNish. 

A strong result is crucial this weekend, with only two further double headers – in London and Berlin – remaining to decide the current season.

This weekend’s racing will get underway at 6:30 Sunday morning (AEST) and for those keen to see the second race, an early start Monday morning at 3:30 (AEST). All international broadcasters, including broadcast times, can be found at the official FIA Formula E website.