The situation for Porsche at the Formula E round in Berlin looks promising: the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team heads to the doubleheader event at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit on 22 and 23 April as the leader of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship’s team classification. Pascal Wehrlein currently ranks first in the drivers’ standings. Four Porsche 99X Electric will tackle the Berlin E-Prix.

Berlin has always been a popular destination for Formula E: it is the only city that has hosted the innovative electric racing series every year since its 2014 premiere season. The fascinating metropolis once again offers Formula E and Porsche a stage to showcase thrilling motor racing and future-oriented mobility solutions. In this way, Formula E gives visitors the chance to experience the many facets of electromobility in an entertaining way. The event includes an exhibition of technical innovations and a diverse entertainment programme for the whole family.

The new Porsche 99X Electric celebrates its German debut in Berlin. At the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit, the high-speed course on the apron of the historic airport, motor racing fans get the chance to experience four of the third-generation (Gen3) electric racing cars developed in Weissach. Two are fielded by the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team with drivers Pascal Wehrlein and António Félix da Costa, with the other two campaigned by Porsche’s customer team Avalanche Andretti with Jake Dennis (GBR) and André Lotterer (GER). So far this season, the Porsche 99X Electric has won four of six races: Pascal Wehrlein won both night races in Diriyah, Antònio Félix da Costa clinched victory in Cape Town and Jake Dennis dominated in Mexico City.

Porsche heads to its home event – races 7 and 8 – in Berlin with Pascal Wehrlein leading the drivers’ standings with 86 points ahead of Jake Dennis (62). With 58 points to his credit, António Félix da Costa ranks fifth. André Lotterer occupies P13 with 18 points. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team sits at the top of the team classification with 144 points followed by Envision Racing (103). Avalanche Andretti (80) is fifth.

The day after the Berlin E-Prix, the official Formula E rookie test will be held at the Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit. For the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, the test and reserve driver David Beckmann (GER) and the Porsche Motorsport Asia Pacific selected driver Yifei Ye (CHN) will take part with the Porsche 99X Electric.

Q&A on the Berlin E-Prix

Florian Modlinger, Director Factory Motorsport Formula E
You’re heading to your home races in Berlin as the world championship leaders. How does that feel and are these races particularly special for Porsche?
“Of course, it’s nice to travel to our home races as the leaders in both world championship categories. We are particularly looking forward to it because some of our families, friends and colleagues from the Weissach Development Centre will be in the grandstands supporting us. We tackle these races like all the others. We prepare meticulously. However, a home race is something special, of course, especially set against the unique backdrop of the historic Tempelhof Airfield.”

What can you do in Berlin to make Formula E even more popular in Germany?
“First and foremost, we’re a racing team. Our job is to win races. After our three victories this season, we’ll continue to work hard to fight for top positions. Aside from that, with our wins and the spectacular racing with the new Gen 3 cars, we’re already well on the way to making Formula E even more popular in Germany. The broadcasting of all races on free TV also contributes greatly to this.”

How do you rate the Formula E situation as the first half of the season comes to an end?
“We had a sensational start. Three wins from six races is a fantastic record to begin with. Ever since Porsche started in Formula E, no other team has earned as many points after six races as we have. For us, it’s now about taking the next step on our evolution path and also delivering strong performances in the future.”

António Félix da Costa, Porsche works driver (#13)
You have good memories of Berlin. You won two races there in 2020. How excited are you to return there with Porsche?
“That was crazy. Because of the pandemic, we contested six races in a row in Berlin at the end of the season, without spectators unfortunately. I won two of them and now I hope to build on this achievement with the Porsche 99X Electric. Driving for Porsche in Berlin means a lot to me. The city is fantastic and the circuit on the old airfield is unique. It’s very short and the lap times will be close, so you can’t afford to make the slightest mistake. It’d be great if we could thank the German fans for their support with a home win for Porsche.”

In Cape Town you celebrated your first victory with Porsche. In São Paulo you narrowly missed out on a podium result. What do you expect in Berlin?
“Our team made a really great start to the new season. We’ve demonstrated that we are fast and can win races on very different racetracks. There is no reason why we shouldn’t continue our strong form in Berlin and fight for victory. Especially given that we didn’t put our feet up during the break since São Paulo but have worked hard to keep improving.”

Pascal Wehrlein, Porsche works driver (#94)
Two races in Berlin. How special is it for you and your team to be the world championship leaders and what are you expecting in the capital?
“Contesting races in Germany is always something special. It’s a terrific feeling to turn up for our fans as the most successful team so far this season. I’m looking forward to Berlin, to the city and the people. But it won’t be easy for us or any of the other teams. The asphalt on the old airfield in Tempelhof is totally different from the surface on other Formula E circuits. It requires a completely different setup for the cars and the tyres. We need to work this out in the shortest possible time during the practice sessions and then implement it as perfectly as possible in qualifying and the race. If we manage this, we can also be competitive in Berlin. I’m optimistic we can do this.”

The first half of the season comes to an end with the races in Berlin. Do you think you’ll start the second half of the season as the world championship leaders?
“I’m very confident that we can be at the top until the end of the season. We started the new season better than ever before and we deserve to be at the top. Of course, you mustn’t forget that there are still ten races to go including Berlin. But I’m convinced that we’ll continue to impress with strong performances.”

The circuit
The 2.355-kilometre Tempelhof Airport Street Course with its ten turns is not a typical Formula E city circuit. The old concrete surface on the apron section of the historic airfield throws big challenges at the drivers and teams, particularly when it comes to tyre wear and energy management. On the other hand, the fast circuit offers many opportunities to overtake – which promises two thrilling, action-packed races. This year, both races will be driven in an anti-clockwise direction.

Live TV and Internet coverage
The worldwide broadcasting schedule of the Formula E event in Berlin is available at: https://www.fiaformulae.com/watch/ways-to-watch.

The Media Service
The first photos from Berlin will be available on the Porsche press database on 21 April. The race reports follow on 22 April (race 7) and 23 April (race 8). Further information about the TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team will be posted live on the Twitter channel @PorscheFormulaE. All relevant information about the team, the drivers and the racing series can be found in the Porsche Formula E Media Guide at https://media.porsche.com/formula-e. The content will be regularly updated throughout the season and expanded with additional interactive material.

The Porsche 99X Electric
Porsche contests season 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the Porsche 99X Electric. The new electric racing car featuring the Porsche E-Performance Powertrain – which underwent modifications in Weissach for the third generation vehicle in the innovative electric racing series – also serves as a development platform for the sports car manufacturer’s fully-electric production models. Energy management and efficiency are important factors for success in Formula E and Porsche’s all-electric production cars. The maximum output of the Porsche 99X Electric is 350 kW (476 PS), which is 100 kW more than the predecessor generation (Gen2). At least 40 percent of the energy used is recuperated via regenerative braking. The new Gen3 cars are the fastest, lightest, most powerful and most efficient electric vehicles ever built.

Porsche Taycan Turbo S safety car
Porsche is committed to Formula E safety: With the all-electric Taycan Turbo S, Porsche again supplies the official safety car this season – thus underlining the importance of Formula E for Porsche Motorsport. Thanks to its driveability and safety as well as an output of up to 560 kW (761 PS), the top model in the Taycan range is the ideal choice as a safety car in the world’s first electric racing series. The striking paintwork incorporates the colours of all eleven competing teams as well as those of the FIA and Formula E. The design symbolises the joint commitment to the future of all-electric motor racing as well as social values such as diversity and community.

Formula E
Formula E is the world’s first fully-electric racing series bringing thrilling motorsport to people living in major cities since 2014. As an accelerator for innovative and sustainable mobility technologies, it promotes the worldwide acceptance of electric vehicles. Eleven teams tackle the 2022/2023 season with 22 drivers. This guarantees interesting and fiercely competitive races. The TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team contests its fourth season of the innovative electric racing series with the Porsche 99X Electric Gen3.