With this being the only chance to test the machinery before the 2018-19 ABB FIA Formula E Championship gets underway in mid-December, the Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler Formula E Team are hopeful of a strong test at Circuit Ricardo Tormo this week. The Formula E championship faces major regulation changes ahead of Season Five which Audi will be hoping to get on top of as soon as possible.
Daniel Abt and Lucas Di Grassi will form the only driver pairing in the series to have contested all previous Formula E events, with all partners and sponsors remaining on-board during the off-season as well. The duo have kept their car numbers for the season ahead with the 25-year old German, Abt racing with number #66 and Di Grassi reverting to number #11 after racing with number #1 last season after claiming the championship title the campaign previously.
After a strong opening day of testing, pre-season testing will continue on Wednesday and Friday, providing the final opportunity for the team to fine-tune the car ahead of the first race of the season at Ad Diriyah in Riyadh on 15 December. This will see the race feature a new format with the mid-race car swap being scrapped. This is in place of a new format which will see the drivers armed with a new ‘attack mode’ when the driver passes through the so-called activation zone, resulting in the output of the car receiving a short-term boost. So using the boost in the right way at the right part of the race will be crucial.
“Following the private tests in recent months, the pre-season test in Valencia now mark both the conclusion and pinnacle of our preparations on the track,” says Team Principal Allan McNish. “It is the first and only direct comparison with the competition and therefore an important assessment for every team of where it stands.”
