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Berlin circuits revealed ahead of sextuple-header

The track layouts for the upcoming Formula E sextuple-header at Templehof in Berlin have been announced.

The first race will be held on a reverse variant of the current 2.375 km circuit with the current circuit and a new variant also hosting races next month.

The current circuit will be playing host to the second double-header before the new circuit gets introduced.

The new circuit variant, which is unknown in length, retains the final two corners as well as the first four corners and Turn 7. Turn 5 becomes a 90-degree corner before a sweeping left-hander and the back straight.

This is followed by a new left-right-left complex at Turns 7, 8 and 9 before a kink at Turn 10.

After this is another left-hander before a short straight to a tight, 90, degree right-hander and a sweeping chicane at turns 13 and 14.

Formula E Sporting Director Frederic Espinos was looking forward to the challenges of running the three circuits in less than two weeks. He said: “It is a huge undertaking in terms of production to set up three different configurations for this event, with fewer people on-site to be able to carry out those changes.

“We’re doing something that has never been seen before in world-class motorsport and it’s an example of how reactive and innovative Formula E is – it’s in our DNA. Racing in both directions has a lot of implications.

“It is not just turning all braking markers and the grid boxes around. Other international series wanted to make this happen but their proposals were rejected by the governing body.”

“We had to make sure all the broadcast technology, overlays, branding, safety measures, barriers, kerbs and run-off worked and plan accordingly for this – whilst also making the changes viable in just 24 hours, with reduced resources.

“The third track will be more technical, so totally different again in terms of energy management and what the teams might be used to or expecting. All along, we aimed to make their lives as tricky as possible in Berlin, limiting the effectiveness of their simulation work and throwing strategies up in the air.

“Car setups will all need to change, energy management and regen will be completely different and teams will have to think on their feet. There will be a lot for drivers and engineers to get on top of before we go green and I feel the Formula E spectacle fans are familiar with will be pushed a step further still with this additional bundle of unknowns.”

Espinos also explained the ‘NILREB’ project to reverse the track layout at Tempelhof, which was in the pipeline before the coronavirus pandemic.

He added: “The FIA and the German motor racing authorities have supported us constructively all the way, allowing our experienced team of track engineers to make this happen and we are grateful for their support and co-operation. NILREB was in progress before the current situation. Our idea was to do one day clockwise, one day anticlockwise.

“We started to work on it at the turn of the year and set up a working group end of February. We were juggling some super good and cost-effective ideas. We were working on this idea prior to the current circumstances as we are always trying our hardest to surprise people and do something new and groundbreaking.”

Rob Lomas

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