• Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi try out traditional Mexican sport
  • Audi driving experience on the race track in Mexico City
Formula E, Mexico City E-Prix 2019
Daniel Abt, Lucas di Grassi

By giving the traditional Mexican sport of the charreada a try, the two Audi drivers, Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi, got in the mood for the E-Prix in Mexico City (start on Saturday at 4 PM local time/11 PM CET, live on Eurosport and ZDF live streaming).

On Thursday, the winners of the last two E-Prix events at Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez were initiated by a local charro into the art of the popular competition with horses that is similar to rodeo. Wearing typical Mexican sombreros, the two drivers of the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team also had the chance to try their skills at lasso throwing.

After the hottest race in Formula E history, another hot race awaits the drivers in Mexico City. However, compared to the 37 degrees centigrade in Santiago three weeks ago, the forecast temperatures of 29 degrees in the shade are almost moderate. Due to the many right-hand turns and load reversals on the race track in Mexico City, the left rear tire is particularly stressed. With a length of 612 meters the circuit has the longest straight of the season to date, at the end of which the Audi e-tron FE05 will reach a top speed of 232 km/h, according to simulations.

During a visit to the Ibero-American University in Mexico City on Thursday, Audi driver Lucas di Grassi explained the special characteristics of the electric racing series and the progress made in electric mobility to some 200 students. In the meantime, his teammate and last year’s winner, Daniel Abt, visited the local logistics center of Audi’s partner DHL where he received an enthusiastic welcome by the DHL employees.

Several hundred Audi customers from all over Mexico will be keeping their fingers crossed for Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi on Saturday. At an Audi driving experience on Friday, they got a taste of the latest Audi Sport models on the race track.

For the first time this season, Prof. Peter Gutzmer, Executive Board Member of Audi’s technology partner Schaeffler, will be watching a Formula E race live at the venue.