Neel and his TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E team are set to resume racing in August at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, where the ABB Formula E series returns to complete six races in nine days to decide who will win the 2019/20 ABB FIA Formula E Championship.
The historic German airfield has been chosen to close out the current season, hosting three double-headers in quick succession on August 5/6, 8/9 and 12/13.
Each pair of races will use a different track configuration, presenting opportunities for distinct strategies and the conditions for Formula E’s unpredictable and exciting racing.
The Porsche Formula E team had already completed five races before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus outbreak. Neel and his team will be looking to improve on performances earlier in the season in their time in Berlin.
The trip to northern Germany will round out Formula E’s revised season six calendar, taking the total number of rounds to 11.
Jamie Reigle, Chief Executive Officer of Formula E, said: “Since taking action to suspend our season in March, we have emphasised a revised calendar which places the health and safety of our community first, represents Formula E’s distinct brand of city centre racing and offers an exciting conclusion to the compelling season of racing we had seen so far.
“We’re heading to Berlin Tempelhof, a venue that our teams, drivers and fans love, to stage a nine-day festival of racing with three back-to-back double-headers.
“The festival will feature three track layouts, presenting a new challenge and creating the conditions for an unpredictable and drama-filled climax to our season.
“The team at Formula E has been working incredibly hard over the past weeks to enable us to go racing again in Berlin. I’d like to thank the FIA, our manufacturers, teams and partners for their continued support, the city of Berlin for their cooperation and flexibility and our fans for their patience.”
Formula E and the FIA have been working in close consultation with teams and local authorities to define a robust plan to conclude the championship in a safe manner. To mitigate risk, Formula E is implementing strict safety measures including racing behind closed doors with only essential staff and competitors traveling to the event.
As per German government guidelines, there will be a maximum number of 1,000 people on site at any given time, including local suppliers and medical crews with each Formula E team bringing 20 staff. All other operations will be carried out remotely.
Key health and safety protocol include mandatory coronavirus testing prior to the races, as well as on-site screening every day upon arrival at the track. Formula E will also actively enforce the use of face masks, social distancing and limit movement across workspaces with clearly defined zones for different event populations.
Track configurations, race start times and other information can be found at www.fiaformulae.com
