Formula E
Lucas di Grassi reports from the ePrix in Punta del Este
Wednesday, 16/12/15
Greatly looking forward to ‘home race’
With the race calendar not yet including Brazil, Punta del Este is the closest thing to a home race for me, so obviously my sense of anticipation is all the greater. The enthusiasm of the fans in South America is massive, so taken together with the unique location, it’s definitely a highlight on the calendar. The organisers are to be complimented on having managed to make Formula E into a top motorsport event within a single season.
Wednesday, 16/12/15
Flashback: Punta del Este in 2014
I have fond memories of the first ePrix in Uruguay a year ago: three races resulting in three podium appearances, which was a great start to the campaign and a nice way of rounding off the main motorsport season of 2014. I go into every race weekend with the intention of winning, but on the narrow street circuits and against such strong opposition, it’s sometimes more a matter of keeping your cool, avoiding mistakes and consistently scoring points. Last year, I implemented that strategy and it earned me third place. Hopefully, I can do it again this time.
Thursday, 17/12/15
More FanBoost, please!
A unique feature of Formula E is the way that fans are allowed to get involved. Like last year, you can give extra power in the race by means of the FanBoost button. Voting is open until the race goes into its sixth minute, which is why the FanBoost can only be used in the second car, i.e. after the pit stop. 100 kilojoules of additional energy then becomes available and can be used either all at once or for a lesser thrust over a longer period. A post on Instagram or Twitter with the hashtags #FanBoost and #LucasdiGrassi is all that is required and is automatically counted as a vote for me. But you can also vote for me on the website at www.fanboost.fiaformulae.com. Thanks for your support!
Thursday, 17/12/15
Perfect teamwork and optimum strategy
My victory in the Putrajaya ePrix took me to the top of the championship table. This race was a prime example of why Formula E is not just about pure speed but also about perfect teamwork and the best strategy in terms of energy and temperature But even though we did everything right in Malaysia, we haven’t been resting on our laurels in the meantime. We are going in the right direction, but we want to be even better so that we remain competitive at the top.
Friday, 18/12/15
Aiming for race wins and the title
As is the case every race weekend, we drivers have a lot of media events to fit in. And of course, one of the most frequent questions concerned my target for this weekend – after all, I’ve come here as championship leader. My answer was the same every time: we want to win races and challenge for the title. This will only materialise if we are perfectly prepared and one hundred percent focused on race day.
Friday, 18/12/15
The Monaco of South America
As I wrote on Wednesday, the ePrix in Uruguay is a kind of home race for me as a Brazilian. And the venue is truly spectacular. The 2.78km long circuit winds its way directly along the promenade of this seaside resort. Sand blowing in from the beach makes for constantly changing conditions. We are expecting temperatures of around 30 degrees and a lot of spectators, because this town on the Atlantic coast is very popular with holidaymakers. In fact, it’s often referred to as the ‘Monaco of South America’. So for me, that’s another reason to regard the ePrix in Punta del Este as a home race – after all, I actually live in Monaco!
Friday, 18/12/15
Busy time ahead of ‘home race’
On Wednesday, Daniel and I spent a pleasant evening in the company of our crew in the run-up to the race weekend. But that wasn’t all: in one of the city’s most popular restaurants, we were given a crash course in the high art of preparing the steak grill. We ended up staying longer than expected – the tender loin pieces were just too good!
Friday, 18/12/15
Invitation to the press
Ahead of my (almost) home race, I invited the Brazilian media this week to a Formula E press conference. At the Audi Lounge in São Paulo, I told more than 40 journalists about the sheer fascination of the electric racing series. At the same time, I looked back over the past season in the FIA World Endurance Championship and revealed the first photos of the new Audi sports car. Because in addition to my involvement in Formula E, I also compete as an Audi works driver in the WEC and in the famous 24 Hours of Le Mans.
Saturday 19th December 2015
A perfect job in the box
Today’s race was tough and packed with action. Renault and Sébastien Buemi are the favourites and are therefore the ones to beat. But we’ll keep breathing down their necks, ready to pounce the moment they make a slight error. The pit stop was decisive, and the crew did an absolutely perfect job in the paddock under severe pressure. I can always rely one hundred percent on the guys in the box. Today’s trophy will take a place of honour in the workshop at Kempten. It’s the same in Formula E as in any other race series: Great is in the Detail.
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