Runner-up world champion in e-mobility motor racing

Waldenburg (Germany), 24 August 2016 – Würth Elektronik eiSos, sponsor and technology partner of ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport from the beginning, congratulates the team of runner-up world champion Lucas Di Grassi and the best German racing driver on the circuit, Daniel Abt. The Formula E championship reached fever pitch at the season’s final weekend in London with the last race, in which Daniel Abt came in second, culminating in an epic duel. Following a collision after which they were forced to switch to their replacement cars, Sébastien Buemi (Renault e.dams) and Lucas Di Grassi battled for the final points of the world championship title. Sébastien Buemi completed the decisive lap faster, beating Di Grassi to the championship by a mere 4.83 tenths of a second.

“When we entered into this technology partnership with the ABT team we had no idea of just how thrilling and exciting this visionary motor sport would be – nor that our team would be so extraordinarily successful,” says Oliver Konz, CEO at Würth Elektronik eiSos. Thomas Schrott, also CEO at Würth Elektronik eiSos, adds: “We are delighted! Second in the team standings and second overall for Lucas Di Grassi – that’s one position better each than last season. And we are extremely pleased that our partnership will continue in the same constellation next season, which starts on October 9th in Hong Kong.”

A strong team

Whereas Formula E’s first season had all the drivers in identical racing cars, since this (recently finished) second season the racing teams have been able to shine with their own developments. As such, and as planned by Würth Elektronik eiSos, the technology partnership to promote e-mobility is becoming increasingly established, with an added positive effect for our customers who can benefit from the resulting product improvements. Oliver Opitz, Division Manager Strategic Product Development at Würth Elektronik eiSos and responsible for the technical aspect of the company’s involvement in Formula E racing says: “The power trains now contain more Würth Elektronik eiSos components than initially intended (particularly chokes). For us, it’s about storage and filter inductors as well as high-performance connectors. Our components are on board because they were selected for their reliability for the power trains. Würth Elektronik eiSos stands for standard components that can be used for all kinds of applications – primarily in industry, but also increasingly in the automotive sector.”

Tests already ongoing

The team has been busy testing the cars’ latest developments in Italy and is now preparing for the open tests in Donington Park (UK) in August. Further improvements are being made to the racing car design and a new front wing will then be presented.

Here are the dates for the Formula E 2016/2017 season:

9 October: Hong Kong
12 November: Marrakesh
18 February: Buenos Aires
1 April: Mexico City
22 April: tbd
13 May: Monaco
20 May: Paris
10 June: Berlin
24 June: tbd
1 July: Brussels
15/16 July: Montreal
29/30 July: New York