Shortly after Formula E left Tempelhof Airport, Roadgrip Motorsport returned to the site to begin the process of removing the temporary race circuit markings and lines to restore the historic airport back to its original condition.
In the lead up to the Berlin E-Prix, vast sections of the former airport are transformed into a fully operational race circuit complete with sporting lines, sponsor branding, pit lane markings and run-off graphics. Post-race, all of that must be quickly and thoroughly removed.
Due to the heritage status of Tempelhof, the removal phase is just as important as the installation.
Unlike permanent motorsport venues, every marking applied for the event must be removed cleanly without damaging the underlying surface or leaving visible remnants behind.
Our European motorsport team used ultra high pressure (UHP) water jetting equipment to carry out the paint and line removal works across the circuit. This process uses highly pressurised water to break the bond between the paint and the concrete surface, allowing temporary markings to be removed accurately while preserving the integrity and texture of the substrate underneath.
The method is particularly well suited to temporary street circuits and preserved sites like Tempelhof because it avoids the aggressive abrasion associated with some mechanical removal techniques.
This level of control is critical on a project like Berlin. The temporary circuit includes large-scale sponsor branding, directional markings, pit lane graphics and FIA sporting lines spread across huge sections of the airport.
The process also plays an important safety role. Once the event has ended, the airport space reopens for public access and events. Leaving race markings or temporary branding in place could create confusion, visual clutter or inconsistent surface conditions across pedestrian areas.
Within days, the circuit disappears completely. The walls are cleaned, the branding removed and the track markings erased.
It’s precision work in reverse, delivered with the same level of care as the installation itself.
Learn more about our work for racing events worldwide at Roadgrip Motorsport.
