Closed Circuit: Mahindra Racing in Marrakesh

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Mahindra Racing took their second consecutive podium in Marrakesh as Felix Rosenqvist crossed the line third after starting the race from pole position. Despite leading for the majority of the race, battery management proved a problem for Rosenqvist, who fell backwards towards the end of the race.

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Rosenqvist started off the competitive day with a pole position in qualifying – the team’s first pole position in Formula E. Teammate Nick Heidfeld had a more disappointing qualifying session, which placed him eleventh on the grid.

In the first stint, Rosenqvist was able to run away at the lead of the pack, building up a good gap to the chasers behind him, but also using more energy. Heidfeld had a difficult opening stint, making contact in the middle of the pack as he tried to gain places, which threw the car off balance. Both cars were amongst the first to pits, meaning a long second stint in a race where battery management would be crucial.

Battery management meant progress was going to be difficult. Despite emerging from the pits with the lead still intact, Rosenqvist eventually fell back behind Sebastien Buemi and Sam Bird as he tried to prolong the life of his M3Electro. Heidfeld managed to remain competitive, though, overtaking Stephane Sarrazin in the second stint before crossing the line ninth.

The team is now joint second in the championship, behind Renault e.dams and alongside ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b572ae94-a493″][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh;” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nick%20Heidfeld%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2211%3B%2011%3B%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Felix%20Rosenqvist%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%226%3B%201%3B%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-b572ae94-a493″][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh;” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nick%20Heidfeld%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%223%3B%209%3B%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Felix%20Rosenqvist%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2215%3B%203%3B%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-b572ae94-a493″][vc_column_text]

Dilbagh Gill, Team Principal:

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“It has been a great day for Mahindra Racing and it’s very satisfying to be able to check off another first for the team. Felix’s pole lap was really impressive at only his second event and also really shows how much work we have put into the new M3Electro. For Nick, it was unlucky that he was caught up in the initial mêlée but he still put in a strong drive to collect points for the team. This is the strongest start we have had in Formula E and we can’t wait to go to Argentina.”[/perfectpullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461512214611-352b21f1-c5375043-b572ae94-a493″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh;” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Mahindra%20Racing%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2216%3B%2036%3B%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=”Nick Heidfeld” 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=”Heidfeld’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512310664-cbeb96df-4af05043-b572ae94-a493″][vc_column_text]

It was another disappointing qualifying for Heidfeld, who lined up eleventh on the grid for a second race in a row. He wouldn’t be able to put in the recovery drive he had done back in Hong Kong, though. As the mid-pack drivers battled for position on the opening lap, Heidfeld collided with another car, which appeared to cause damage to his Mahindra. With the balance of the car off, according to Heidfeld, the German struggled to move forward, but Heidfeld had managed to get up into the top ten before he pitted.

It was a relatively early pit stop for Heidfeld, meaning a long second stint. The German would have to save battery life in the second stint, but found himself racing against others who had pitted early. Heidfeld found his way past Stephane Sarrazin, before becoming stuck behind Oliver Turvey. There would be no way past the young Brit, and Heidfeld eventually crossed the line in ninth after a quiet second stint.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512310716-c8bf2e2d-dbb95043-b572ae94-a493″][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%22Nick%20Heidfeld%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2211%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2012%3B%2014%3B%2016%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%5D” title=”Heidfeld: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1461512375203-dc62694e-d0395043-b572ae94-a493″][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:23.546.

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Best time in FP2: 1:21.825.

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Best time in qualifying: 1:22.074.

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Best time in the race: 1:24.861.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 51.965s (difference: 1.965s).

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“It was a very difficult race for me, especially in the first stint. There was quite a bit of contact from the start that cost me time and maybe caused some damage, I am not quite sure but the balance of the first car was quite poor. One of the drivers apologised to me after which I really appreciate. I completed a reasonably long second stint compared to the others and while that made it very difficult to gain many positions, the pace including regen was still competitive. I was able to get some points here in Marrakesh but what is really promising is that Mahindra Racing has achieved two podiums in two races. With Felix’s first pole position we are joint second in the championship which is obviously fantastic, but we always want to be even better.”[/perfectpullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513704972-abbca216-e1a55043-b572ae94-a493″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh;” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nick%20Heidfeld%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2215%3B%2017%3B%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=”Felix Rosenqvist” 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=”Rosenqvist’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512547855-b3644413-70595043-b572ae94-a493″][vc_column_text]

Rosenqvist stopped hearts in qualifying as he almost violently swung his car around the long Marrakesh circuit. The Mahindra driver seemed to have completely found the limit of his car on the track, and eventually took pole position in the super pole shoot out, the team’s first in the series.

At the start of the race, Rosenqvist immedietly set about putting as much distance between himself and the rest of the pack as possible, but it put strain on his battery life. With Marrakesh being the longest Formula E race to date, it was expected battery life would be on the limit, meaning the hard use in the first stint would probably come back to bite him later on in the race.

Rosenqvist was forced to pit before most of his challengers, but was still at the front of the pack once everybody had pitted. It wouldn’t last long, though, with those behind him having a lap in hand of battery life. Still, on battery saving mode, Rosenqvist was able to stay at the front of the field until lap 27 of 33, when Buemi made a move for the lead. Knowing he wouldn’t be able to stay ahead, Rosenqvist didn’t waste battery battling against the reigning champion. Waiting to attack was Sam Bird. The Brit made his way past Rosenqvist a few laps later. The rookie wouldn’t lose any more places before the end of the race, e.dams’ Nico Prost too far back to attack so late in the race.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512548457-fc72c98b-1a615043-b572ae94-a493″][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%22Felix%20Rosenqvist%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%221%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%2011%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%201%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%203%3B%203%3B%203%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Rosenqvist: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1461512549057-0abe4d02-33bc5043-b572ae94-a493″][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:22.945.

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Best time in FP2: 1:20.834.

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Best time in qualifying: 1:21.175.

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Best time in the race: 1:24.579.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 50.717s (difference: 0.717s).

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Looking back at how the day went in Marrakesh, taking pole position was something really unexpected. We knew we had really good pace and the guys have been putting a good package together for qualifying especially. However, I’m still a bit shocked that we were able to get pole in just my second weekend in Formula E. Starting the race from pole, if you had told me before the race that I would finish third, I would have signed up for it immediately! There was great communication with Andres [Castillo – race engineer] on the radio; the team was there all the time supporting me and I think we nailed the race as well as we could have done. The first stint was fantastic, and in the second stint there were a combination of small things that meant we weren’t quite as competitive. That was maybe the sad part, but in the end we have to be proud. Nick took a podium in Hong Kong and we now we have the pole, podium and fastest lap in our bag. Going back to street circuits next year I am feeling confident.”[/perfectpullquote]

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Image courtesy of FIA Formula E Media

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