Stuttgart. The ABB Formula E “Race at Home Challenge” has drawn to a close with a thrilling final on the virtual circuit in Berlin (DE). André Lotterer (DE), from the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, finished tenth adding more points to his total in the final race. Collisions just after the start created chaotic conditions and prevented Lotterer’s team-mate Neel Jani (CH) from recording a good result and had to settle for 23rd place. In the “Challenge Grid” race for sim racers and influencers, Joshua Rogers (AU) followed up four consecutive podium finishes with a spot in the top five.
Jani completed the ABB Formula E “Race at Home Challenge” 2020 as the best-placed Porsche driver, in eighth place with 35 points. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team also secured eighth place in the team standings, with 50 points.
The main race
Neel Jani started the race from seventh place, but the chaotic scenes just after the start pushed him all the way to the back of the field. André Lotterer was able to move up two positions from twelfth on the grid and maintained a good pace as the race progressed. Four laps from the end, the German driver was overtaken by two other cars, however he reclaimed tenth place after retrospective penalties were imposed on two other drivers. The result saw Lotterer score two points, as double points were on offer for the top ten positions in the final race.
Neel Jani (Porsche 99X Electric, #18) – 23rd place
André Lotterer (Porsche 99X Electric, #36) – 10th place
Quotes on the race:
Marco Ujhasi (Manager Esports at Porsche Motorsport): “That was a fantastic finale to the ‘Race at Home Challenge’ in Berlin. Congratulations to Stoffel Vandoorne on his victory in the drivers’ championship. Over the last eight weeks we have enjoyed some thrilling sim racing that has allowed us to provide virtual proof of just how fascinating Formula E is, even during the Coronavirus pandemic. It was particularly nice to be able to collect donations for UNICEF as well – a great campaign for a good cause. The season in the virtual motorsport world will continue for us now. I hope that Formula E and the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team will soon be back in competition, thrilling fans on the real racetrack.”
Neel Jani (Porsche 99X Electric, #18): “Those were some intensive weeks in the ‘Race at Home Challenge’. I had never spent so much time on the simulator at home before. It was definitely worth it, as we supported UNICEF and helped children all around the world. From a sporting point of view, it took me a while to get used to the virtual Formula E, but I got more into the swing of it with each race – on the circuit itself as well as with regard to the technical requirements, streaming and many other things. Now I am looking forward to hopefully being able to return to real motorsport in the near future.”
André Lotterer (Porsche 99X Electric, #36): “This race marked the end of the ‘Race at Home Challenge’. All in all, it was an excellent idea to get this series going to benefit UNICEF. It was also great fun to compete against the Formula E guys over the last few weeks. We trained a lot to improve from race to race. That was anything but easy. Now I hope that we can step on the gas on a real circuit sometime soon.”
About the “Race at Home Challenge”
Since the end of April, virtual races of the ABB Formula E “Race at Home Challenge” were held every Saturday as a replacement for the standard races in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship 2019/2020, which have been postponed due to the current crisis. The series saw all drivers in the regular championship do battle for virtual points in racing simulators. The races were held on the realistic rFactor2 simulation platform. Sim racers and influencers also went head to head in separate races to the Formula E drivers. With the “Race at Home Challenge”, the ABB FIA Formula E Championship has supported the child welfare organisation UNICEF, which will be receiving donations raised during the race events.
