Circuit
Thrilling races and an abundance of grip on the Hankook iON Race – the Berlin E-Prix delights fans
- Nick Cassidy leads the championship, ahead of Pascal Wehrlien and Oliver Rowland
- Despite many bumps and different concrete slabs of the new layout of the circuit in Berlin E-Prix, Hankook iON Race supported the driver with a high grip level and great consistency
- Hankook brings fans close to the action with Girls on Track and the Formula E Fan Village
Seoul, Korea, May 13, 2024 – The Formula E World Championship could not have wished for a better advertisement. Races nine and ten of the fully electric racing series created an exuberant atmosphere in the crowded grandstands in the German capital. In springlike temperatures, the 22 drivers thrilled spectators at the disused Tempelhof Airport with a feast of wheel-to-wheel racing, dramatic battles, and changes of position. The Hankook iON Race provided the drivers with its customary strong performance and high level of reliability.
After a commanding performance and perfect energy management, it was Nick Cassidy from the Jaguar TCS Racing team who won the Saturday race. Starting from ninth place, the 29-year-old gradually worked his way to the front of the field and went on to claim his second victory of the season. The eventual winner took full advantage of the Hankook iON Race during his pursuit of the lead. “The tire was really very consistent, right through to the end of the race,” said the New Zealander. Cassidy was followed home in second and third place by Frenchman Jean-Éric Vergne (DS Penske) and Britain’s Oliver Rowland (Nissan Formula E Team).
On Sunday, the spectators cheered home Portuguese driver António Félix da Costa (TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) in first place. The 32-year-old impressed under clear skies on the 2.343-kilometer circuit and took the chequered flag in his Porsche 99X Electric. This was the first win of the season for da Costa and the ninth of his Formula E career. Second place went to Cassidy, ahead of Rowland.
Manfred Sandbichler, Hankook Motorsport Director: “Berlin was once again a perfect stage for Formula E. The race weekend at the disused Tempelhof Airport has a very unique atmosphere and is always rather special. Furthermore, the new layout made for even more excitement and action on the track. Despite the many bumps and different concrete slabs, our Hankook iON Race still performed excellently. Once again, the tires supported the drivers with their high grip level and great consistency.”
Ten races into the current season, Cassidy leads the championship with 140 points, ahead of Pascal Wehrlein (D/TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team) with 124 points and third-placed Rowland (118 points). Next up for the Formula E World Championship is the Chinese metropolis of Shanghai on May 25 and 26.
Hankook, the official technical partner and tire supplier of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship invited 42 guests from Germany, Romania, Spain, and the Czech Republic to the Berlin E-Prix, where they experienced an exciting weekend with two thrilling races and an exclusive insight behind the scenes of the fully electric racing series.
Filip Pawelka, Hankook Director Marketing Communications Europe: “Our guests enjoyed a really fascinating weekend of Formula E. They experienced the strong performance of the Hankook iON Race up close and personal in every track session. Special highlights were the exclusive garage tour with the ABT Cupra Formula E Team, including a meet and greet session with Daniel Abt, and the grid walk shortly before the race.”
Meet the Hankook Team, Hankook’s popular media session held ahead of each E-Prix, again attracted many journalists in Berlin. Roughly 20 media representatives were provided with the latest news regarding the Hankook iON Race. Background information on the sensor technology implemented in Formula E by Hankook’s partner the Texys Group attracted a great deal of interest. As well as Filip Pawelka, Hankook Director Marketing Communications Europe, Hankook race engineer Thomas Baltes, and Armin Joerß from the Texys Group were also on hand to provide fascinating facts.
Formula E presented a new charity program at the Berlin E-Prix. The “Better Futures Fund“ supports charity organizations and local projects in cities hosting Formula E races. The money will primarily be made available to long-term initiatives with ecological and social impacts. For the rest of the current season, a fund of 100,000 dollars will be divided between the four cities Berlin, Shanghai, Portland, and London. In Season 11, the fund will help separate charity organizations at all race venues all over the world. Hankook took the same approach last year when it supported local and non-profit organizations under the motto “A pretty good thing”.
The two activation tools ‘Girls on Track’ and the Hankook presentation stand in the Formula E Fan Village allowed the exclusive tire supplier to present the series up close and personal. Interactive elements, displays, and information boards provided extensive information on Hankook products and the company itself for young women checking out the ‘Girls on Track’ feature and the many visitors in the Fan Village. Around 150 young women took part in Girls on Track in Berlin and over 2000 spectators visited the Hankook stand in the Fan Mile.