Jean-Eric Vergne ha aumentato il vantaggio nel FIA Formula E Championship, dopo aver vinto per un soffio su Lucas di Grassi in un finale combattutissimo nell’ePrix di Punta del Este, in Uruguay. Il francese ha resistito alla costante pressione del campione in carica del team Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler e ha conquistato la vittoria proprio dove aveva disputato la sua prima gara in Formula E, con Andretti nel 2014.
Questa è la sua terza vittoria nela Serie e la seconda della stagione, che dà al pilota della TECHEETAH un vantaggio in classifica di 30 punti sul rivale più prossimo, Felix Rosenqvist. Sul terzo gradino del podio, il pilota della DS Virgin Racing Sam Bird, sempre in gara e che ha fatto il possibile per non perdere contatto dal duo di testa: per lui si tratta del primo podio dall’ePrix di Marrakesh a gennaio, che ha dedicato al giornalista britannico Henry Hope-Frost, tragicamente scomparso in settimana.
La Formula E ritorna il 14 aprile per il primo ePrix a Roma, settimo round del FIA Formula E Championship.
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LE DICHIARAZIONI DEI PRIMI TRE
Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH: “I’m obviously very happy. I’m not focussing on the championship, but I’m focussing on each race. Obviously winning the race today in those conditions is to me one of the best drives. Racing against Lucas, who is the current title holder, was really tough. I don’t think I’ve won that many races but it was one of the ones I’m most happy with in terms of my driving. Today winning races proves that hard work pays off. We’re the only private team and for us to beat the other guys, we have to work twice as hard as them.”
Lucas di Grassi, Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler: “First of all, congratulations to Jean-Eric and Sam. For Jean-Eric on the win, but for Sam to come from ninth on the grid. It was a really tough race for me, and to be honest JEV didn’t make many mistakes, I tried very hard – and I had the fastest car today. Starting second, on the dirty side, I tried very hard at the end to overtake him. I’m very satisfied with the car that I have but today we could’ve got 20 points and we only got 18. We know that in Formula E, when you get the chance you have to grab it. JEV defended very well so there was very little margin for me to attack, I think he did a small mistake coming into the last sector – we en
ded up touching a little bit and got super close. I tried my best, the car was super competitive – that won’t be the last time the team will fight for victories.”
Sam Bird, DS Virgin Racing: “We were a little bit fortunate with Buemi having an issue, getting damage. I don’t know what happened to Daniel in the second stint, but that was again another position gifted to me. The pace was good today to be fair, I just wanted these two to fight a little bit more. I ran out of laps but a very strong race, it was nice to get another podium and we needed it from where we started. It was damage limitation in the championship as JEV is streaking away as he did an amazing job, and it’s great to see Lucas back on it too. One thing I would like to say is last week, Britain lost an amazing journalist – a great man who brought so much energy and fever to others. It’s not a win, it’s the best I could do, but I would like to dedicate this to Henry Hope-Frost.”
Redazione MotoriNoLimits
