World championships still on the line during Formula E’s season finale weekend in Berlin

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The last race weekend of Formula E’s inaugural FIA World Championship season takes place in Berlin starting on Saturday. (Andy Hone/LAT Images)
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The last race weekend of Formula E’s inaugural FIA World Championship season takes place in Berlin starting on Saturday. (Andy Hone/LAT Images)
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The last race weekend of Formula E’s inaugural FIA World Championship season takes place in Berlin starting on Saturday. (Andy Hone/LAT Images)
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Updated 11 August 2021
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World championships still on the line during Formula E’s season finale weekend in Berlin

  • Berlin E-Prix has been present on Formula E calendar since 2015, hosted finale in 2020
  • First race on Saturday will use the circuit’s traditional anti-clockwise layout, but on Sunday will run in reverse

LONDON: There is still everything to play for going into the last race weekend of Formula E’s inaugural FIA World Championship season, with only 23 points separating drivers’ championship leader Nyck de Vries and René Rast in 10th place.

With Berlin hosting the final races of the season once again, having hosted one of the most exciting finales in motorsport in 2020, there are also only 86 points covering the top 10 teams with 96 points still available over the weekend.

The Berlin E-Prix has been present on the Formula E calendar since 2015, and this weekend Tempelhof Airport will once again host a thrilling finish to another closely-fought season, which started at Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah street circuit in February.

The first race on Saturday will use the circuit’s traditional anti-clockwise layout, but on Sunday will run in reverse, offering up a challenge for both the drivers and the teams.

“We’re heading into a weekend season finale where just about anything is possible, said ROKiT Venturi Racing Team Principal Susie Wolff. “We have a car starting in Group 2 and a car starting in Group 4 in qualifying which should hopefully work to our advantage and we’ve seen how quickly things can change over the course of a double header race weekend,” she added.

“It’s been an incredibly close, tight season and as we discovered in Puebla, one good weekend can change everything.

“We know we have the pace but we also know what we’re up against and only when the chequered flag waves on Sunday will we see if we’ve really achieved our ambitions for this season.”

ROKiT’s Swiss driver Edoardo Mortara, who currently sits 9th in the drivers’ championship standings on 74 points and 21 behind leader de Vries, is quietly confident of his chances in the two races.

“Racing on two different circuits on one weekend is a new challenge for everyone in Formula E but I’m feeling quite optimistic for Berlin,” he said.

“I’m excited to get back into the car and being a part of Group 2 qualifying should benefit us because we’ll avoid the usual difficulties that come from Group 1.

“I think if we can qualify well, we should be able to score a big haul of points in both races and consistency is my main aim for the weekend.

“If we can establish a strong performance baseline, we should be able to perform well and given the pace we have shown at points this season, I think we have the potential to challenge for podiums,” he added.


Dubai Basketball marks Ramadan opener with win and 3,055 eels donated to UAE Food Bank

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Dubai Basketball marks Ramadan opener with win and 3,055 eels donated to UAE Food Bank

  • The ‘Basket for Basket’ initiative took place during the team’s 96-85 EuroLeague victory over LDLC ASVEL

DUBAI: Dubai Basketball won their EuroLeague round 29  game against LDLC ASVEL here on Thursday and celebrated by pledging 3,055 meals to families in need across the UAE.

The 96-85 win marked the club’s first game of Ramadan. Through the “Basket for Basket” initiative, every point scored by Dubai Basketball counted as a meal donated, with every ticket purchased adding to the total.

By the final buzzer, 3,055 meals had been secured in partnership with the UAE Food Bank to be distributed throughout the month of Ramadan.

Dubai Basketball Head Coach Jurica Golemac said after the game: “Thank you to the fans. It wasn’t an easy game to play, but we approached it with the right level of seriousness.

“We stayed disciplined, extended our lead step by step, defended well, and maintained our focus. I’m also very happy to say that during the holy month of Ramadan, we were able to donate more than 3,000 meals tonight.”

Co-CEO Dejan Kamenjasevic said: “To open this month with a win is special, but to do it while supporting thousands of families across the UAE is what truly matters.

“Basketball brought everyone together tonight, our players, our fans, our partners, together we created something meaningful.

“This is exactly what Dubai Basketball stands for: competing at the highest level, proudly representing this city while never losing sight of our responsibility to the community.”

The team delivered a strong collective performance at home. Mfiondu Kabengele set the tone early with a dominant scoring display, while Dwayne Bacon and McKinley Wright provided balance and control to secure the result.