Closed Circuit: NextEV NIO in Hong Kong

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NextEV Formula E Team became the first team to produce a FIA Formula E drivers’ champion when they lead Nelson Piquet Jr to victory in season one but the British team didn’t appear to have luck on their side for season two. With a series of disappointing results throughout the 2015/16 season, they made sure all eyes were on them for season three – putting both their cars on the front row for the first ever Hong Kong ePrix.

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Having started the race with a stunning 1-2, with Piquet Jr being the man on pole and clinching three points for his achievement, the race unfortunately did not go to plan. Although Piquet lead the race for the first 17 laps, he was forced to swerve the already-damaged DS Virgin of Jose Maria Lopez, resulting in him leaving the track and allowing Sam Bird and eventual race winner Sebastien Buemi through. Turvey also dropped several places early on, allowing Buemi and Bird through early on in the race leaving him in fourth position.

Pit stops weren’t timed as well as they could have been, with Piquet being worst hit.

Turvey finished in the points and Nelson’s pole position means the team did leave Hong Kong with seven Championship points to their name, however they were unable to turn their outstanding 1-2 qualifying result into a win or podium finish.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b57277de-e54e”][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong;” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nelson%20Piquet%20Jnr%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%221%3B%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Oliver%20Turvey%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%222%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-b57277de-e54e”][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong;” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nelson%20Piquet%20Jnr%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2211%3B%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Oliver%20Turvey%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%228%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-b57277de-e54e”][vc_column_text]

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Gerry Hughes, Chief Engineer: “Whilst qualifying was obviously very good, with Nelson on pole and Oliver starting from second, the race this afternoon clearly didn’t pan out as we would have liked from a team perspective.[/perfectpullquote]

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Nelson’s race strategy was compromised with the delay in pitting him under the safety car, whilst Oliver lost time in the pit stop itself. Essentially, it’s the team’s first race and whilst there are many positives to take from it we have a lot of homework ahead of Marrakech.”[/perfectpullquote]

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Putting his electric race car in pole position, starting his season three campaign strongly, the race seemed to fall apart for Nelson after the first third of the race. Up until lap 17, Piquet was leading the competitive pack and remained in the same position as when started the race. Things seemed to be going well for the Brazilian until he was caught off-guard when Formula E newbie Lopez stopped on track, placing his DS Virgin into the barriers as a result of an earlier incident on the street circuit. Taking evasive action to avoid the car, Piquet left the race track with both Sam Bird and Sebastien Buemi getting past. Piquet remained calm and continued to race in third.

The timing for Nelson’s pit stop was also disappointing and he emerged ninth after his stop, the rest of the field pitting earlier when a safety car was on track. He battled the field for a hopeful top-ten finish but crossed the chequered flag in eleventh.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512310716-c8bf2e2d-dbb95043-b57277de-e54e”][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; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 43;44; 45″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Nelson%20Piquet%20Jnr%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%203%3B%203%3B%203%3B%202%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2014%3B%2010%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%209%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%3B%209%3B%209%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2010%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%5D” title=”Piquet: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1461512375203-dc62694e-d0395043-b57277de-e54e”][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:04.494.

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Best time in FP2: 1:03.676.

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Best time in qualifying: 1:03.099.

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Best time in the race: 1:04.267.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 44.2s (difference: 2.2s).

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“It was obviously a mixed day for us. The qualifying result was great for both Oliver and myself, but the race result is disappointing. The start went well and I was able to create a good gap but then I had nowhere to go to avoid Lopez – it could have happened to anyone though. We were all bunched up under the safety car and we simply made the pitstop on the wrong lap.[/perfectpullquote]

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“For us, we have to concentrate on working on maximising what we can get out of the car and strategy. I think looking forward to Marrakech we will qualify well and we just have to work hard to prepare for the race as a team. The whole team has been working so hard, and we are going to keep pushing.”[/perfectpullquote]

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Briton Oliver Turvey placed his #88 car in second place ahead of the first race of season three. He remained in his track position until lap six, helping his team mate gain a comfortable lead. Unfortunately both Sebastien Buemi and Sam Bird were able to pass Turvey on lap six, resulting in Turvey being pushed down into fourth place.

He found himself behind the Techeetah of Jean-Eric Vergne for a long duration and finally decided to pit on lap 21. After all drivers had made their mandatory pit stop he found himself in fifth. After losing a couple of places towards the end of the race, he finished the race in eighth and ahead of team mate Piquet Jr.

He secured the team four Championship points, which brings NEXTEV’s total to seven Championship points over the Hong Kong ePrix weekend.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512548457-fc72c98b-1a615043-b57277de-e54e”][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; 34; 35; 36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 41; 42; 43;44; 45″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Oliver%20Turvey%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%222%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%202%3B%203%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%204%3B%2013%3B%2012%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%208%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%205%3B%206%3B%206%3B%207%3B%208%3B%208%3B%208%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Turvey: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1461512549057-0abe4d02-33bc5043-b57277de-e54e”][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:04.049.

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Best time in FP2: 1:03.466.

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Best time in qualifying: 1:03.231.

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Best time in the race: 1:05.344.

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 45.7s (difference: 3.7s).

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“NextEV have put a huge effort into the car and it felt great to nail my qualifying lap and be on the front row. We clearly have good pace in qualifying, which is encouraging, but we need to look at our efficiency and how we can save more energy over the race. We have both come away with points from this race, which is a positive start. Now we must work on building on the points in Marrakech.”[/perfectpullquote]

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Katy Fairman | e-racing.net

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Image courtesy of FIA Formula E Media

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