PODIUM TARGET FOR MAHINDRA RACING IN MAIDEN MARRAKESH EPRIX
8 November 2016, Donington: Mahindra Racing heads to Morocco this Saturday for the inaugural Marrakesh ePrix, the second round of the 2016-17 FIA Formula E Championship.
On the cards could be a repeat or even improvement of the performance that saw the team collect a fantastic podium and fastest lap at the season opener in Hong Kong last month.
Marrakesh will mark Formula E’s first foray into the African continent and take place during the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (COP22). The second of five brand new venues in the 12-race, 10-country calendar, the event aims to further highlight vehicle technology development in the world’s first fully electric global racing series.
A semi-permanent 2.971km street circuit just south of the city, the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, will play host to the condensed race programme on 12 November which includes two practice sessions, qualifying and the race all on one day. Since the World Touring Car Championship has used the circuit in the past, it provides the teams with more simulation data and video analysis homework than any other new location.
After his podium in Hong Kong, Mahindra Racing’s German driver Nick Heidfeld is looking to complete another faultless performance in the M3Electro. Swedish series rookie Felix Rosenqvist, who celebrated his 25th birthday this week, will also be one to watch after setting the fastest lap during his Formula E debut – a time faster than that set in qualifying and a new lap record. That pace may help him on the Marrakesh street circuit’s four straights with top speeds expected to reach around 190-195kph.