With the season in full swing, there was no break for the DS Techeetah crew whose technical team and drivers went straight back to the simulator to prepare the first race of the European leg and the seventh round of the 2018/2019 ABB FIA Formula E championship – the Rome E-Prix.
“We’ve been back at base in Versailles to prepare and there is a really nice atmosphere in the team which is good. It’s never easy merging two successful teams like we have this year but we’re feeling the growing pains ease off and we’re coming together as a team more and more each week. We’re a really strong combination and the alliance between performance and avant-garde is starting to shine through”, explained Team Principal Mark Preston.
The 21-turn, anti-clockwise 2,870m long circuit is located in the EUR district of Rome and sees one of the steepest elevations of the Formula E calendar. “As a driver you always want to improve and there’s only one way to improve our Rome race last year and that’s to come home with the winner’s trophy.
The track is super fun and there’s a fun spot coming out of Turn 6 and up the hill after the Attack Mode zone, where the cars take off the ground as the elevation pans out and we hit the straight. With the close racing we’ve seen this year so far, this could be an interesting spot to watch”, said André Lotterer.
Jean-Éric Vergne is also looking forward to push back: “Racing isn’t just a physical game but it’s a mental one too and it is really hard work to keep the same mentality when you’re not getting the results you aim for. I’m lucky to have such a strong team around me as its when you don’t have the results that it’s more important than ever to stick together and move forward as a team, and that’s what we’ve done, so bring on Rome.”
“The Rome E-Prix is the mid-point of the Formula-E season and the beginning of the European races. We are firmly in the hunt for the driver and team titles, and just like previous seasons, you have to fight for every single point to win in this championship, proving what an exceptionally high level we must perform at to be competitive. At this event, we will celebrate the 50th race of DS Automobiles E-TENSE Brand ambassador, Jean-Éric Vergne”, added DS Performance Director Xavier Mestelan Pinon.
