Formula E driver Pascal Wehrlein talks tracks and routines before big Red Hook race

Driver Pascal Wehrlein from Germany will be one of 22 drivers fighting to clear the finish line the fastest and claim a podium spot at the 2019 New York City ePrix this weekend. The ABB FIA Formula E Championship and New York City ePrix returns to Red Hook once again for rounds 12 and 13 – the final two races of the season and the only championship set on U.S. shores this year.

Wehrlein, 24, followed racing on television at the age of five and knew the motorsport was for him when he attended a race in person with his parents. After starting his racing career in 2003 through karting, he made his debut in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters [DTM] world a decade later and became the youngest DTM race winner at 19 in 2014.

Wehrlein recently joined Formula E at the beginning of this year, during which he partnered with Jerome d’Ambrosio for Mahindra Racing’s 2018/19 campaign. He said the transition from the DTM series to Formula E was difficult at first, especially with getting used to the electric motor’s high-pitched whine.

“All my life [I was] racing in normal petrol cars and karts; now it’s full electric and obviously the first impression is the sound,” he told us at the circuit site, which was still under construction on July 9. “The sound is the thing everyone recognizes.”

CARS & RED HOOK TRACK

Wehrlein and d‘Ambrosio will continue to drive Mahindra’s Gen2 M5 Electro car this weekend, which has the maximum power of 250 kW (nearly 340 hp) and can reach a maximum 174 mph. He noted that the Formula E cars have changed significantly between seasons, as far as looks and power go.

“We don’t have to change the cars in the race anymore, like last year and the years before,” Wehrlein explained. “Because the battery was not strong enough, you had to change the car in the race to be able to finish the race. This year we can finish the race with one car, without stopping.”

While the Red Hook circuit has a reputation for its difficult 14 turns and not having too much runoff area, weather will most likely add to the difficulty level for the participating drivers. Temperatures are expected to be in the high 80s this weekend, as of weather reports mid-day July 11.

“It will be hot for the drivers for sure because in the car it’s even hotter than what we have here with the helmet and everything,” Wehrlein said while pointing to the short-sleeved Mahindra jersey he was wearing. “But for the car it’s also quite hot for the tires and the engine anyway. I’m quite sure we will see some cars have to stop or they will DNF [do not finish] because of too much heat.”

PREPARATION & ROUTINES

For those who wonder what it’s like to be in a race car driver’s shoes – especially right up to the moment all five green lights go on and put the pedal to the metal – it’s really no different from any other athlete’s routine. Wehrlein, like his fellow teammate and competitors, does a lot of cardio and strength training to stay fit and perform well on the tracks while experiencing high g-force for an extended amount of time. Personally, he gets in the zone before every race by listening to German rap and hip hop and mentally going through the racing procedures, and impending laps and corners.

“It’s all about concentration. This track is new to me, and the beginning will be very important to learn the track as fast as possible [and] get into the rhythm. We are professionals, we know what to do,” Wehrlein said with a slight laugh.

Since the New York City ePrix concludes the racing season, Wehrlein noted that this year was a big learning experience for him professionally.

“It was more about learning and getting used to everything and getting up to speed. It’s been quite a good season so far … I [made] the podium on my second race and a pole position, nearly a win in my third race. But it’s also about getting better for next year when we’re going back to the same tracks again,” he explained, reflecting on his past 10 races in the last six months. “The target for this race weekend, obviously, are some more trophies I can take home.”

With this being Wehrlein’s first time in the Big Apple, he’s looking forward to sightseeing and seeing what the circuit setup will be.

“You always have a different imagination before you get there and then what it is in reality. On the track, it’s always exciting in the first few laps,” he said.

Wehrlein is currently in 13^th of 22 places with 52 points to his name. His teammate d’Ambrosio is in 10^th place with 65 points. Jean-Eric Vergne and Techeetah have a significant lead for the drivers’ and teams’ championships, with 130 and 216 points respectively.

The season finale double-header will take place near the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal again on Saturday and Sunday, July 13 and 14. To purchase last-minute tickets or to get more information, visit fiaformulae.com/en/championship/race-calendar/2018-2019/new-york-1-20180212. Attendees can travel to/from the circuit by ferry, bus, subway, shuttle or Citi Bike.

Photo by DeGregorio