The Drive Goes Behind the Scenes at Formula E Long Beach

Pulling back the curtain on the electric car racing series.
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If you’re a follower of Formula E, you probably know the results of the 2016 Formula E Long Beach ePrix on April 2 already: ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport’s Lucas di Grassi took first place, his teammate Daniel Abt claimed third, and Venturi’s Stéphane Sarrazin split the difference, crossing the finish line less than a second behind di Grassi. But you might not have seen all the madness and magic happening off the race track. The drivers interacting with fans big and small. The electricity being pumped into the cars’ batteries while dry ice cools the vehicles down. The anxious moments before the race, and the triumphant moments that come after it.

So to give you a chance to peek inside this world, The Drive sent photographer Tomas Muscionico down to Long Beach to capture what it’s like behind the scenes of the world’s preeminent electric car racing series. Click on through the gallery and check it out.

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Daniel Abt of Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler prepares for the race., Tomas Muscionico
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A close-up of Jerome D'Ambrosio of Team Dragon Racing., Tomas Muscionico
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Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro of Team Andretti takes a quick break., Tomas Muscionico
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Nicolas Prost of Team Renault e.dams signs autographs for fans., Tomas Muscionico
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Nelson Piquet of Team NEXTEV TCR poses with a pint-sized fan., Tomas Muscionico
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The Formula E steering wheel may not be as busy as an F1 car's, but it's still complex., Tomas Muscionico
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Nick Heidfeld of Team Mahindra, tucked in and ready to roll., Tomas Muscionico
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Nick Heidfeld's car cops a charge while cooling down with some dry ice during qualifying., Tomas Muscionico
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Lucas di Grassi of Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler has it made in the shade moments before the race., Tomas Muscionico
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Nicolas Prost's car chills out, thanks to a ventilator and a little solid carbon dioxide., Tomas Muscionico
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Nelson Piquet preps for qualifying., Tomas Muscionico
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Swiss driver Simona de Silvestro suits up., Tomas Muscionico
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Simona de Silvestro's car is pushed from the paddock to the pits ahead of qualifying., Tomas Muscionico
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The cars of Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler., Tomas Muscionico
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Tomas Muscionico
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Lucas di Grassi and Robin Frijns crash into one another during the fifth lap., Tomas Muscionico
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Two cars rip around the final curve., Tomas Muscionico
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A triumphant Lucas di Grassi plants a victory smooch on girlfriend Bianca Caloi., Tomas Muscionico
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Tomas Muscionico
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The assembled crew of Team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler., Tomas Muscionico