Double Podium in California – Di Grassi and Abt Triumph at Formula E in Long Beach
The first Saturday in April was a really good day for the Warsteiner-sponsored Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport team. With the emotional let-down of Mexico City still on their mind, Lucas di Grassi and his team came to California on a mission - to reclaim the podium in the sixth round of the FIA Formula E Championship. After the Warsteiner Electric Thursday party kicked off the weekend with a red hot evening of fun, the focus shifted to the race on Saturday.
Starting from the second grid, di Grassi wasted no time overtaking the front runner, the British driver Sam Bird. In the second half of the race, a spectacular crash by Nelson Piquet brought the safety car onto the track, which wiped out di Grassi’s time cushion. But the Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport driver quickly regained his advantage with a brilliantly executed restart. Powered by the fan boost, di Grassi clinched the victory in front of Stephane Sarrazin, in spectacular fashion!
But if this wasn’t enough of a triumph for the Abt Schaeffler Audi Sport team, our Warsteiner brand ambassador, Daniel Abt, scored a phenomenal third place which catapulted the young German onto the podium, where he joined his Brazilian teammate for some well-deserved Champagne spraying! So, the day ended with a first ever double podium for the Abt Schaeffler team and enough championship points to put di Grassi on top in the driver standing ahead of his rival Sébastien Buemi – while Abt Schaeffler team is now well positioned in second place in the team standing, just six points behind Renault. That’s what we call “Doing It Right!”
After the race, Team Chef Hans-Jürgen Abt complemented his team’s effort: “Congratulations to our drivers, our engineers and mechanics. I am so proud of this squad. There was lot of pressure on us, but everyone performed exceptionally well!”
Now the Formula E circuit is coming to Europe, and Lucas di Grassi and Daniel Abt are looking forward to keeping their momentum going …all the way to the championship! So tune in and join us at the Formula E races in Paris on April 23, Berlin on May 21, Moscow on June 4, and London on July 2 and 3!
