Closed Circuit: DS Virgin Racing in Marrakesh

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It was a day of ups and downs for the DS Virgin Racing team, ultimately coming good as Sam Bird took his and the team’s first podium of the season, taking fourth in the championship with it. On the other side of the garage, Jose Maria Lopez took his first ever point in Formula E.

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Both Bird and Lopez had trips into the barrier throughout practice, with Bird coming out worse as he completely destroyed his #2 car at turn eight, while Lopez broke a suspension as he brushed the wall at the same place.

It became an uphill climb for the team to have all four cars ready for the race, but the hard work paid off as Bird took third on the grid before being promoted to a front row start following Sebastien Buemi’s penalty and ending the race in the same position.

Despite Lopez’s earlier scrape with the barriers, the Argentinian had a strong race to claim his first point in Formula E with a tenth place finish.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%224%3B%203%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jose%20Maria%20Lopez%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%223%3B%2013%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-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2213%3B%202%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jose%20Maria%20Lopez%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2219%3B%2010%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-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_column_text]

Alex Tai, Team Principal:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“An excellent result. I’m delighted Pechito is now scoring points, and through Sam we’ve seen the true capability of the car. We now look onwards to race three. Watch this space.”[/perfectpullquote]

Xavier Mestelan Pinon, Director of DS Performance:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“The car’s performance shone through with the podium result. Marrakech was a more consistent day for us. We’re beginning to see the true performance potential of our team.”[/perfectpullquote]

Leon Price, Team & Sporting Manager:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Really pleased to get off the mark for the season following the upset in Hong Kong. The guys were extremely busy all day in the garage but were rewarded with a great result.”[/perfectpullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461512214611-352b21f1-c5375043-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22DS%20Virgin%20Racing%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B%2019%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=”Bird’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512310664-cbeb96df-4af05043-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_column_text]

It looked to be curtains early on for Sam Bird as the Englishman planted his DS Virgin Racing car into the barriers at turn eight during practice, but this didn’t faze him as excellent speed in his second car gave him third in qualifying.

Bird was soon promoted up to second on the grid following a post-qualifying penalty for Sebastien Buemi and despite falling back to third in the race he managed his energy well and overhauled Felix Rosenqvist to take back second and claim his first podium of the season and sixth in his Formula E career.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512310716-c8bf2e2d-dbb95043-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Starting position; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%222%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%203%3B%202%3B%202%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%203%3B%203%3B%203%3B%203%3B%203%3B%203%3B%203%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Bird: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1467842123264-705ed4a7-f66a273d-5b00″][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:23.302s (P11)

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Best time in FP2: 1:21.913s (P11)

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Best time in qualifying: 1:21.392s (P3, promoted to P2 after penalties)

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Best time in the race: 1:24.173s (lap 21)

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 51.616s (difference: 1.616s)

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“It’s great to get points on the board. There’s still work to do, but getting a podium is a win in itself. Up next is tackling Sébastien Buemi. He’s on his own level right now. Today there were 19 guys battling for 2nd place. But…I have some ideas as to how we can move that up in Buenos Aires.”[/perfectpullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513704972-abbca216-e1a55043-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B%2018%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”JOSE MARIA LOPEZ” color=”green”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_tta_accordion style=”outline” color=”green” active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”Lopez’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512547855-b3644413-70595043-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_column_text]

Much of expected of Lopez coming to Marrakesh, being only one of two drivers to have previously visited the African track along with Techeetah driver Ma Qing Hua.

However, it was a tricky day for the Argentinian with a handful of lock ups and a trip to the barrier in practice not doing his chances any good.

The race proved to be more positive as Lopez scrapped in the midfield, coming away with a tenth place finish and his first point in Formula E.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512548457-fc72c98b-1a615043-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Starting position; 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10; 11; 12; 13; 14; 15; 16; 17; 18; 19; 20; 21; 22; 23; 24; 25; 26; 27; 28; 29; 30; 31; 32; 33″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jose%20Maria%20Lopez%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2213%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2013%3B%2012%3B%207%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%5D” title=”Lopez: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1467842414339-37b9f6e1-0720273d-5b00″][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:23.451s (P14)

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Best time in FP1: 1:22.654s (P15)

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Best time in qualifying: 1:22.133s (P13)

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Best time in the race: 1:24.690s (lap 20)

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 51.738s (difference: 1.738s)

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“My target was to finish and gain more experience, and I finished my second race with a point, so that’s a positive. I’m now confident for our next race in Buenos Aires.”[/perfectpullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513723518-ee223709-f56c5043-b572853b-7c50273d-5b00″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jose%20Maria%20Lopez%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B%201%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_column_text]

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Images courtesy of FIA Formula E Media

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