Closed Circuit: DS Virgin Racing in Hong Kong

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Third and fourth on the grid after qualifying left DS Virgin Racing hoping for a strong opening race. But neither driver could turn that qualifying pace into results, for differing reasons, as the squad left Hong Kong without any points.

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It seemed to be a stunning start to season three for DS Virgin Racing, both their drivers qualifying in the top four ahead of the first ePrix of the season. José María López impressed with his qualifying debut, putting his car in third, behind the two NextEV’s.

However in the race, hopes of a win or even a podium crumbled. Bird started better than his Argentine team mate, overtaking him to clinch third place in the lead up to the first corner. It was here López became caught in a tangle and suffered damage to his car. The shunt left him with handling issues for the remainder of his first stint and saw him quickly fall down the field.

López would later stop on track and cause the then race leader Nelson Piquet Jr to swerve off track to avoid hitting the damaged DS Virgin. This move lost Piquet his lead and let Bird through to take his turn as the ePrix leader. However soon the British driver needed to pit and change into his second car. It was here Bird’s hope of winning the first race of season three would end.

Trouble with starting Bird’s second car meant he lost a lot of time and ended up a lap down from the race leaders. Although he tried to fight his way up the field after an unfortunate stop, he finished the race in 13th position.

With one DNF for the team and another car out of the top ten, DS Virgin Racing didn’t take home any championship points during their time in Hong Kong – disappointing result.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b5727b2c-239c”][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%224%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jos%C3%A9%20Mar%C3%ADa%20L%C3%B3pez%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%223%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%23f7be68%22%7D%5D” title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: race” tab_id=”1461512175763-831c2584-42cf5043-b5727b2c-239c”][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2213%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jos%C3%A9%20Mar%C3%ADa%20L%C3%B3pez%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2219%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%2C%22custom_color%22%3A%22%23f7be68%22%7D%5D” title=”Team mate comparison: race”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The team says: “…“” tab_id=”1461512258191-0360a250-a68c5043-b5727b2c-239c”][vc_column_text][perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Alex Tai, Team Principal: “We proved [in Hong Kong] all the effort that has gone into designing and developing our Season three car with DS Performance over the last six months has been worth it.
“We clearly have a fast car, and but for some awful luck today would have finished on the podium and perhaps even have won the race. We’re all highly passionate individuals in the team and I know how much a day like this will hurt each and every one of us, but there are huge positives to come out of the weekend in terms of the underlying pace of the car, and I’m sure we’ll bounce back strongly in Marrakech and demonstrate to everyone exactly what we’re capable of.”[/perfectpullquote][/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461512214611-352b21f1-c5375043-b5727b2c-239c”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22DS%20Virgin%20Racing%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”Sam Bird” color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”outline” color=”green” c_icon=”chevron” active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Sam Bird’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512310664-cbeb96df-4af05043-b5727b2c-239c”][vc_column_text]

Qualifying in fourth was a fantastic result for the British driver. Bird, who is a three-time Formula E race winner, started the first race of season three strongly. Showing the potential of the DSV-02, he climbed up to second place during the race and later became the race leader after Nelson Piquet Jr was forced off the track.

However a difficult car changeover during the mid-point of the race left Bird losing his title of race leader and falling down to the back of the field for the second half of the race. With a possible win or even podium finish out of his grasp, Bird tried the best he could to claim some points for the team. Unfortunately he struggled and finished the race in 13th place.

As the team themselves stated, it was a “race to forget”.

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Best time in FP1: 1:03.577 (P6)

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Best time in FP2: 1:02.724 (P3)

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Best time in qualifying: 1:03.258 (P4)

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Best time in the race: 1:03.372 (lap 41)

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 1:29.2s (47.2s above minimum time)

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We ran into technical difficulties during changeover. Whilst it’s obviously gutting given the lead I’d opened, it’s better we diagnose and iron out the problems now at race one, rather than later in the season.”[/perfectpullquote]

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López amazed us all when he placed his car into third place on the grid ahead of his first ePrix, one of five Formula E rookies being welcomed into the series this year.

However the start of the race didn’t play into the hands of “Pechito”, his team mate quick to overtake the WTCC star into the first corner, where López would enter in fourth and become caught in an incident which would damage his car and eventually result in his retirement. Talking to e-racing.net after the race, the Argentine said: “I had a contact on the first corner and then I touched a wall. The cars either side of me tried to come through and I didn’t have the space.”

He talked about his race being over as soon as it began, but his race did come to a genuine stop when the suspension on his DSV-02 failed completely and cause López to come to a complete stop on track on lap 15 – an instant retirement for the fan favourite.

One positive López took away from Hong Kong was the fact he won one of three FanBoost votes.

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Best time in FP1: 1:03.955 (P12)

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Best time in FP2: 1:05.056 (P20)

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Best time in qualifying: 1:03.251 (P3)

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Best time in the race: 1:05.344 (lap 11)

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”José María López says: “…“” tab_id=”1461513386630-de10c68d-06ab5043-b5727b2c-239c”][vc_column_text][perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“I’m satisfied by my qualifying. I think it was a very good quali, but the race was difficult.
“I had a contact on the first corner and then I touched a wall. The cars either side of me tried to come through and I didn’t have the space. Unfortunately I broke the suspension there and my race was over. We were only trying to do enough laps to come to the pits and have a go with the other car and finish the race. But, around lap 20, the suspension broke for real. I went straight at the chicane, I couldn’t turn and that’s it.”[/perfectpullquote]

For more words from López following the Hong Kong ePrix, click here.

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Katy Fairman | e-racing.net

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Title image courtesy of FIA Formula E Media

Other images courtesy of Rajan Jangda

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