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Lopez on Bird: “I am not his rival”

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It’s no secret that the FIA Formula E Championship is brimming with incredible motorsport talent. The calibre of drivers is one of the reasons the series is so popular with the fans, media and drivers alike. However when it was announced that three-time and current World Touring Car Champion Jose Maria Lopez was to be joining the series for season three, people begun to take notice.

Lopez, who is driving for DS Virgin Racing in the all-electric motorsport championship, has been partnered up with Briton Sam Bird – a move that has made DS Virgin Racing one of the strongest teams on the grid.

“Sam is a good guy,” Jose starts when asked about working with Bird, a three-time ePrix winner in the electric series. “We see each other a bit more when on and around the track, but outside of the sport we get on really well. However when you are racing, things must change; your team-mate becomes an opponent. I think he must understand that I’m not his rival, I’m still adapting myself to the series.

“You must take care of the team and avoid things like what happened in Hong Kong.”

Lopez qualified a brilliant third before enduring a difficult ePrix in Hong Kong

Lopez qualified a brilliant third before enduring a difficult ePrix in Hong Kong

For DS Virgin Racing, Hong Kong was a race they would rather forget. Although the day looked promising for the British team, with both of their cars qualifying in the top four, hopes of a podium or even a win crumbled quickly after lights out. Lopez would suffer damage to his DSV-02 after just the first corner that would eventually result in his retirement, whilst Bird lost his race lead due to a difficult car changeover.

“It wasn’t and will not be my last incident or retirement,” Lopez states. “It was a racing incident. I most certainly wasn’t thinking of battling against Sam, my only target was to finish the race.”

Sam overtook Jose into the first corner of the Hong Kong ePrix, with many quick to blame the Brit for the pile up of cars.

“Sam said he was attacked on Twitter after the race,” Lopez laughs. “He is a bit scared of the citizens of Argentina now but they are all fans and as long as they are not disrespectful to him, it’s fine. He also called me later that day; we have a good relationship. It’s impossible to be friends with your teammate but we are dealing with each other well. You need not to have problems in your team.”

In addition to adjusting in to a new team, drivers that are new to the series also have to embrace the fast-pace environment of the Formula E Championship.

“I’m getting used to this new schedule. Your previous work becomes incredibly important and you spend many hours at the simulator ready to arrive well prepared for the race. Then you have to learn the track in place. In addition to all of this you try to find a little time between each session so you can remain relaxed, because apart from racing you have lots of other events.

“Formula E is a whole process of learning the car and getting feeling with it. When you know what you need, that is when you can start to see what you can optimise.

“It’s a whole new way of racing, with the only similar part to what I’ve done before being the qualifying session. Even then, you can’t go all the time on full-throttle, you have to manage your battery life.

“Normally, when you go fast in a racing car you don’t think in managing, but this is different.

“Having the race just after the qualifying also means that I have to be more careful. You can do well in practice session, but then a little mistake can make you screw it all up. I try to adapt myself as quickly as possible.”

With the next race of the season being in Marrakech next week, Lopez will be hoping his experience from racing touring cars around the track will be able to give him the upper hand when it comes to racing.

“I know the track but I’m still learning about the car,” Lopez continued.

Talk also turned to the future for Lopez now his reign as WTCC ace comes to an end.

“My dream has always been to race in Le Mans 24 Hours. That is something I have expressed for a long time. My manager, Nicolas Todt, is helping me with that however until December 31st I’m attached to Citroen. DS has ‘borrowed me’ for these two races until I’m a full DS driver.”

Katy Fairman, interview by Francisco Aure | e-racing.net

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Images courtesy of Rajan Jangda
Car number image courtesy of FIA Formula E Media

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About Topher Smith
Topher is an experienced and passionate Motorsport journalist with Formula E, Formula 1, GP2/F2, GP3 and IndyCar all on his resume. When he isn't at the trackside you can find him furthering his own capabilities and knowledge through his endless search for original ideas and material. Also plays league pool.