Newcomer Maro Engel: “Too early to worry about pace”

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Venturi’s Maro Engel is a newcomer to the series. Nonetheless, the German driver knows where the team is currently placed, and how the journey to Hong Kong will shape up.

After being announced by the team earlier this month, Engel was officially presented this morning alongside French team-mate Stéphane Sarrazin, as the Monegasque squad unveiled their new livery and a partnership with ZF Group.

After a day of running in which he only managed 20 laps, Maro is now looking forward to the following days of testing where he will hope to get in more track time.

Venturi didn’t start off on the right foot in the session. “We have a few electronic issues that we have to sort out before getting in proper running”. Engel is expectant of what’s to come and how the course of events will go, although he stressed: “It’s too early to worry about pace. We just need to make sure we’re the best prepared as we could be.”.

When it comes to the team, the German knows there is a long way to go until Hong Kong. “Things need to be set, especially with certain changes Formula E has made”, he explained. He feels Sarrazin’s experience will be a great help for him, with the Frenchman returning for his third season in Formula E – all with Venturi. “It’s great to have him and his experience on board, and to be able to use his data and his help”.

Although he is a Formula E newcomer, Maro is by no means a racing rookie. He drove in British F3 in 2006 and 2007, alongside the likes of ex-Venturi driver Mike Conway and former Mahindra racer Bruno Senna. He also raced in DTM for four years, before racing in V8 Supercars and various GT championships since 2012.

München-born Engel will be Venturi’s fifth race driver; fellow German racer Nick Heidfeld competed in season one alongside Sarrazin, while Sarrazin was partnered by first Jacques Villeneuve and then Conway in season two.

Andrea Perilli | e-racing.net
Additional reporting by Topher Smith

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Images courtesy of Rajan Jangda

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