Envision Virgin Racing are ‘more prepared than ever’ ahead of the start of Formula E’s season six final showdown in Berlin, in which teams will complete a gruelling six races in nine days, following a 158-day hiatus since the last race.
Returning to the Berlin Tempelhof circuit, Formula E will race across three track configurations across six races, in what is being billed as the most intense motorsport finale in motorsport history. The event also marks the first time that a track from an international racing championship will be run in reverse, whilst the German capital itself remains the only one to have featured in every Formula E season to date.
Meanwhile, off-track, the team will be hosting another of its live Race Against Climate Change sustainability forums, free to all. Featuring panellists such as US actor Aidan Gallagher, footballer Héctor Bellerín and Professor Michael E. Mann, the first panel centres around the importance of the next generation of climate advocates, before two further discussions on the transition to electric vehicles and the green recovery in a post-pandemic landscape.
Sylvain Filippi, Envision Virgin Racing’s Managing Director, said: “The entire team has been incredibly busy over the past five months and I think we’re more prepared than ever heading into the six-race showdown.
Of course, it’s going to be hugely challenging, both physically and mentally, but we’ve done all the preparation possible and we feel really positive heading into the last rounds of the season.
– Sylvain Filippi
“Formula E, the FIA and the local authorities have done an incredible job setting up this event in such a short timeframe and I’m very impressed and reassured with all the safety measures they have put in place. We’ve also got an exciting programme of off-track events planned, with our next Race Against Climate Change Live forum and the team’s virtual hospitality, so it’s going to be an intense nine days.”
Driver Sam Bird, who remains the only driver to have won in every season, said: “I’ve had quite a mixed season so far but winning in Diriyah proved we’ve got the capabilities to fight at the top and I’m looking forward to getting back out in the car again. I’ve continued to work hard on my fitness in the break and have spent a lot of time working with the team on the simulator and learning the new configurations. I think the final track could pose some different challenges, as it looks to be a more technical, so I think they could be very interesting races to watch!”
Team-mate Robin Frijns added: “For sure, it’s definitely going to be challenging but I’m really excited to see what happens in Berlin.
There are 180 points up for grabs across the six races, and we’ve seen time and time again that anyone can win in Formula E, so I think we’re going to see some really exciting racing!
– Robin Frijns
“Competing behind closed doors will definitely add another element to the event but as a team we’re doing all we can to continue to interact with our loyal fans at home.”
In order to show its appreciation and thanks to key workers during the global pandemic, the team will run with additional ‘Thank you NHS’ branding across its cars during this period, as well as show support for Formula E’s new #PositivelyCharged anti-discrimination campaign.
The first race of the season six finale in Berlin, on the reverse Tempelhof Circuit, takes place at 19:00 local time (18:00 UK time) on 5 August.