The FIA Formula E Championship has revealed the three different layouts for the Berlin event which will re-start and end the 2019/20 season.
As Formula E confirmed last month, the 2019/20 season will re-start and end at the same venue in Berlin, with the Tempelhof circuit being used for all of the six races to be held. Each weekend will see two rounds clubbed together.
To mix things up, the first weekly round on August 5-6 will be held at the known layout but in reverse, while the August 8-9 weekend will see the original layout being used – which featured in last year’s Formula E calendar as well.
The final set of races on August 12-13 – again weekdays – will have a brand new and more technical layout, which will be feature a tighter, twistier middle and final sector. “It is a huge undertaking in terms of production to set up three different configurations for this event, with fewer people on-site to be able to carry out those changes,” said Frederic Espinos, Formula E Sporting Director.
“We’re doing something that has never been seen before in world-class motorsport and it’s an example of how reactive and innovative Formula E is – it’s in our DNA. Racing in both directions has a lot of implications. It is not just turning all braking markers and the grid boxes around. Other international series wanted to make this happen but their proposals were rejected by the governing body.
“We had to make sure all the broadcast technology, overlays, branding, safety measures, barriers, kerbs and run-off worked and plan accordingly for this – whilst also making the changes viable in just 24 hours, with reduced resources.
“The third track will be more technical, so totally different again in terms of energy management and what the teams might be used to or expecting. All along, we aimed to make their lives as tricky as possible in Berlin, limiting the effectiveness of their simulation work and throwing strategies up in the air.
“Car setups will all need to change, energy management and regen will be completely different and teams will have to think on their feet. There will be a lot for drivers and engineers to get on top of before we go green and I feel the Formula E spectacle fans are familiar with will be pushed a step further still with this additional bundle of unknowns.”
Formula E revealed that the idea of using a reverse layout was already in plans and the pandemic only made it to happen far quicker. “The FIA and the German motor racing authorities have supported us constructively all the way, allowing our experienced team of track engineers to make this happen and we are grateful for their support and co-operation,” said Espinos.
“NILREB was in progress before the current situation. Our idea was to do one day clockwise, one day anticlockwise. We started to work on it at the turn of the year and set up a working group end of February.
“We were juggling some super good and cost-effective ideas. We were working on this idea prior to the current circumstances as we are always trying our hardest to surprise people and do something new and groundbreaking.”
Elaborating more on the safety side, Formula E has a robust plan for the races. As known, fans won’t be allowed while only limited personnel can travel for the event, where the German government guidelines has asked for a maximum of 1000.
It includes the local suppliers and medical crew. Screenings and face mask is must along with social distancing and limited movement within the workspaces, where teams will have a defined zones. It is not clear if they will have F1-like COVID-19 tests.
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Here’s details of 2020/21 calendar
Here’s Formula E divulging details of 2019/20 calendar