Are Maruti Suzuki’s Strong Hybrid Powertrains The Best Engine...
- Apr 25, 2024
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With more than 10,000 fans filling the grand stand, the stage was set for a fantastic Round 3 of the Formula E championship at Punta del Este in Uruguay. Jean-Eric Vergne put in a fantastic 1:15.408 minute lap to secure pole position, while Nelson Piquet Jr. took the front row of the grid alongside him. Winner of the first ever Formula E race, Lucas di Grassi could only manage a sixth place on the grid while winner of the Putraja eGrand Prix, Sam Bird was at the back of the grid in 18th.
As the lights went out, Piquet Jr was off to a brilliant start off the line and remained in the lead for the first 12 laps of the race. Buemi who started fourth was quick to jump up one place passing DAMS driver Nico Prost.
Meanwhile, Verne was right at his tail throughout having lost the lead after starting with a wheel spin but Sam Bird’s crash on the exit of the first chicane on lap 3 brought out the safety car. Sadly though, as soon as the race resumed, the safety car was once again brought out on track as António Félix da Costa Amlin Aguri stopped on track. Verne continued to haunt Piquet and finally made his move stick into the hairpin on lap 13.
Unfortunately, in the process of tailing and passing Piquet, Verne lost too much power forcing him to pit a lap earlier than the rest of the pack. During this time, Nick Heidfeld briefly took the lead before he was given a drive through penalty for taking more than the allotted time for the car swap. This brought Beumi to take the lead ahead of Vergne, while Piquet was running third ahead of Prost. The Frenchman was then given a drive through penalty since his car had been detected over its power limit; this allowed di Grassi to jump up to fourth.
In the interim, Matthew Brabham who had a fantastic run starting from 19th to gradually make his way up to sixth, crashed out calling for the Safety car for the third time in the race. As the safety car made its way back into the pits, Buemi started pushing hard in an attempt to lose Vergne. The Swiss racing driver locked up and cut the chicane and just when it seemed that Verne would make most of this opportunity his front suspension gave way forcing him to retire. Buemi then cruised to victory with Piquet in second and di Grassi in third.
Despite not being rewarded with a victory, the limelight was entirely stolen by Verne for whom it was the first weekend behind the wheel of a Formula E Car. Mahindra Racing drivers Bruno Senna and Karun Chandhok finished sixth and 13th respectively. This was di Grassi’s third consecutive podium and he currently leads the championship board with 58 points, followed in second and third by Buemi and Bird. The constructors’ championship table currently stands a little tighter with e.dams-Renault leading with 64 points and Audi Sport ABT in second with 62 points. Round 4 of the Formula E Championship will take place on 10 January in Argentina.
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