15.4.2019. With a hard-fought seventh place finish Audi driver Lucas di Grassi at the E-Prix in Rome has collected six valuable points in the title fight for the formula E. Team-mate Daniel Abt came for the first time this season in the points.
Lucas di Grassi what to see in Rome, the best of the drivers who had to go in the first Qualifying group on the track placed. This was on the city course in the Italian capital, this Time a particularly large disadvantage. In the spectacular race that had to be stopped due to a pileup just after the Start for almost an hour, came the Brazilian out of the Team Audi Sport Schaeffler start ABT space 13 is still at rank seven after the front.
“After an extremely difficult Qualifying session, it was a good race for me,” said di Grassi. “To win the championship, we need to collect regular points, even if we can’t even fight for the victory. That is exactly what we have done today.“ After seven of 13 races of the Audi driver in the FIG-FIA-formula-E-championship, only seven points behind the top of the table.
For the first time without points in the current season Daniel Abt. The German had to give up after a technical Problem in Qualifying with starting position 17 is satisfied. In the race he lost all chances on a good result, as he had to start his Audi e-tron FE05. “From the feeling I did a good Job today, but unfortunately I had a technical problem. Therefore, for me it was a day to Forget.“
“A tough day for Daniel, but important points, with a view to the championship for Lucas,” said team boss Allan McNish. “After he was stopped for a moment, had run the race for Daniel phone. Lucas has brought out of its starting position, the Maximum of what was possible today.“
The best-placed driver of an Audi e-tron FE05 customer team Envision Virgin Racing what to see in Rome, Robin Frijns from the Audi. The Dutchman missed out on Fourth, result just another podium. His team-mate Sam Bird had to go, as di Grassi in the first Qualifying group on the track and what is involved in the race in the pile-up shortly after the Start. After a successful repair of his badly damaged car, the Briton finished the race in eleventh place.
“The Qualifying Format in formula E this year is a big challenge for those riders who are in the championship,” said head of Audi Motorsport boss Dieter Gass. “We saw that again today very clearly. This makes it difficult for us, but of course it adds extra voltage. Seven different winners in seven races speak for themselves.“
Further, in the formula E on 27. April with the E-Prix in the French capital, Paris.
Audi e-tron FE05 #66 (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler), Daniel Abt
Audi e-tron FE05 #11 (Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler), Lucas di Grassi (photo: Audi Communications Motorsport / Michael Kunkel)
