Formula E Berlin: D'Ambrosio wins after di Grassi exclusion

With Formula 1 giving Germany - one of the motorsport hubs and important car markets in the world - a miss this year; the Berlin ePrix was the most high profile single seat championship race to be held in the country this year as the FIA Formula E Championship came to town.

A temporary circuit made at the abandoned Templehoff circuit served as the venue for the eighth round of the all-electric series' inaugural season.

The race was won on the road by Lucas di Grassi after former F1 veteran Jarno Trulli took a surprise pole position.

However, di Grassi was excluded from the Berlin ePrix's final classification after his Audi Sport ABT car was found to have been running with a modified front wing.

The exclusion meant that Dragon Racing's Jerome d'Ambrosio won his first race of the season and became the seventh different Formula E race winner.

QUIET RACE FOR MAHINDRA
Following Bruno Senna's crash in Monaco and battery issues for Karun Chandhok in the previous round at Monaco, India's Mahindra Racing would have been hoping for an improved performance in Berlin.

However, the temporary circuit, with an extremely abraisive surface that proved to be a challenge for drivers and teams was not kind to the Indian outfit as Chandhok finished in 15th place with Senna in 18th.

While not a particularly ideal scenario the team can take heart in that it is a new outfit in circuit racing that is competing against teams with experience in motor racing disciplines like Indycar and the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) among others.

POST-RACE DRAMA
The Audi Sport Abt car of di Grassi failed post-race scrutineering where it was discovered that the front wing fairings had been modified to include internal metal reinforcing rods. In addition the Formula E stewards found that; six of the eight holes in the front wing had been sealed. The remaining two holes were found to have had helicoil inserts and chamfers made and that the front flap and gurney LH 220 has a filler layer added and chamfer made.

It was deemed that these changes were drastic enough to pass as modifications to the front wing that would have helped aerodynamic performance.

The team argued that these changes were made as a result of repairs and that they offered no competitive advantage, however, they were deemed to be in breach of Article 3.1 of 2014/2015 FIA Formula E Technical Regulations and the exclusion was made.

Audi Sport ABT has decided not to appeal the decision. The decision means that D’Ambrosio is now the winner of the race and Nelson Piquet Jr is now in the lead of the championship, 10 points ahead of di Grassi.