Envision Virgin Racing Set To Continue Title Bid In Berlin - Speedway Digest

Front-running Formula E team Envision Virgin Racing are set to continue their title bid next weekend as the all-electric race series heads to Berlin for round 10.

The team, who were the first to score repeat victories this season, have remained title contenders throughout the action-packed season and currently lie in second place in the constructors’ championship, with just four rounds remaining.

Held at the former Tempelhof Airport on Saturday, 25^th May, the race will be the fifth time the event has been staged in the German capital making it the only city to have featured on the calendar in every Formula E season.

Known for its high energy use and tyre wear, drivers will once again tackle a 10-turn, 2.375km purpose-built circuit, although new for this year will be the Attack Mode, located on the outside of Turn 6.

Both Envision Virgin Racing drivers – Robin Frijns and Sam Bird – will be aiming for strong results as they too continue their tight fights in the drivers’ championship, with Frijns a mere six points off top spot in third place and Bird in 10^th.

Dutchman Frijns, 27, said: “The championship is really getting close now as we head into the final races, so it’s even more important to come away with a good result in Berlin. Qualifying is going to be crucial for me, but it is a track you can overtake on with long, slow corners. The Attack Mode activation zone, on the outside of Turn 6, is also going to be interesting as it looks like you come a long way off the racing line, so the time lost there could be significant. I know the whole team though has been preparing hard and I’m just looking forward to getting out on track.”

Meanwhile, British team-mate Bird, 32, said: “After the disappointment of Monaco last time out, I’m really looking forward to the Berlin event and getting a strong result. As we’ve seen in previous years, tyre wear is high due to the abrasive concrete surface, as well as energy management which is one of the highest of any track we visit. We know we have a good car though that can handle this, as well as good one-lap pace, so hopefully we can hook everything up and score well for the team.”

Supporting the drivers on race day will also be Lei Zhang, CEO of Envision Group, the team’s majority owners, as well as Chairman of the Board of Envision Virgin Racing Franz Jung. Lei Zhang said: “I’m looking forward to joining the team once again. We’ve enjoyed a fantastic season to date with two wins and five podiums already, so I know everyone is working hard to ensure a good result in Berlin as the championship nears its thrilling climax.”

Sylvain Filippi, Managing Director at Envision Virgin Racing, added: “It’s been a great season for us so far but there’s still a lot of work to be done and a lot of points still up for grabs ahead of the season finale in New York. We endured a frustrating result at the last race in Monaco, but I know everyone has put that behind them and is fully focused on Berlin and continuing our title bid.”

For this event, drivers will also have to contend with a different race start time with Saturday’s event getting underway three hours earlier at 13:00 (local time), shifting the practice sessions to Friday. UK fans can follow all the action through the BBC’s live events platform – via the BBC Sport website, BBC iPlayer and BBC red button – as well as BT Sport, together with the team’s social channels and website.

The Berlin Formula E race takes place on Saturday, 25^th May. For more information on Envision Virgin Racing, including access to the team’s media site, visit www.envisionvirginracing.com

Author
Recent Posts

Adam Sinclair

NHRA, IHRA, Motocross and other forms of motorsports Staff writer
About Me: Adam has been a race fan since the first time he went through the tunnel under the Daytona International Speedway almost 30 years ago. He has had the privilege of travelling to races all across the state of Florida (as well as one race in Ohio), watching nearly everything with a motor compete for fame and glory, as well as participating in various racing schools to get the feel of what racecar drivers go through every week. Adam has spent the last three years covering motorsports for Examiner.com., where he had the opportunity to see the racing world from behind the scenes as well as the grandstands. He invites everyone to follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Google Plus, and looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm for all things racing with the readers of SpeedwayDigest.com.Be sure to tune in for his weekly sports talk program, Thursday Night Thunder, where he discusses the latest in motorsports news with drivers, crew members, and fans. The show takes place every Thursday at 8:00 pm EST on the Speedway Digest Radio Network.