Closed Circuit: DS Virgin Racing in Buenos Aires

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DS Virgin Racing went to Buenos Aires expecting a strong result for both Sam Bird and Jose Maria Lopez. Bird went into the weekend as the defending race winner, while Lopez celebrated his home ePrix in the Argentinian capital.

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After a strong showing from the pair in practice, hopes of a strong weekend were slightly dashed after Lopez hit the wall in qualifying, thus him subsequently lining up on the grid in 18th along with Bird lining up tenth in changeable grip conditions.

Bird was unfortunate and involved in a racing incident that saw him retire out of the race with damage to his suspension on lap four.

Meanwhile, Lopez set out on working his way up the grid following his incident in qualifying. Flying past all his rivals, the Argentinian finished in the points with tenth place at the chequered flag after what was a sensational recovery drive.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh; Buenos Aires” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%224%3B%203%3B%2010%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%3B%2018%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-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh; Buenos Aires” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2213%3B%202%3B%2020%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%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-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_column_text]

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“It was a tough day on the track for Sam, he showed great pace in the early sessions and had the racing incident been avoided I am sure he would have scored well.[/perfectpullquote]

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I’m delighted with the continuing development of Pechito, the racer in him was truly evident today, I am confident that we will see him gaining racing honours this season.

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I would also like to thank DS Performance and our engineering team for the continued progression in the pace of our car, if we ca keep this focus the results will come.”

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Alex Tai, Team Principal[/perfectpullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461512214611-352b21f1-c5375043-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh; Buenos Aires” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22DS%20Virgin%20Racing%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B%2019%3B%2020%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-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_column_text]

The Englishman had an unfortunate race, after qualifying tenth on the grid, Bird propelled himself to ninth, before a few laps later him seeing himself sandwiched into the wall, before the suspension on his car broke.

This meant the only way Bird could salvage someone from the race was to go out in his second car and try setting the fastest lap, a feat he achieved until Mahindra driver Felix Rosenqvist pipped him to it in the latter stages of the race.

Bird however admitted that he was pleased with the pace of the car and looked forward to Mexico.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512310716-c8bf2e2d-dbb95043-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][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″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2210%3B%209%3B%2010%3B%2017%3B%2019%3B%2019%3B%2019%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%3B%2020%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%5D” title=”Bird: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1461512375203-dc62694e-d0395043-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:10.371s (P5)

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Best time in FP2: 1:08.792s (P1)

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Best time in qualifying: 1:09.839s (P10)

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Best time in the race: 1:09.754s (Lap 12)

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 1044.164s (+989.164s)

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”Today was just one of those things. However I was pleased with the pace of the car in the early stages. Let’s hope I can take the fight further in Mexico City!”[/perfectpullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513704972-abbca216-e1a55043-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh; Buenos Aires” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Sam%20Bird%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B%2018%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-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_column_text]

Lopez managed to get away off the line well, and unlike his team-mate, manage to avoid contact with anyone whilst racing his way up the grid.

By the pit stop phase, the Argentinian got himself up to 15th before extending his stint by one extra lap with superb energy management.

Rejoining the race Lopez continued his charge to move up the positions, passing Antonio Felix da Costa and Stephane Sarrazin with the pair and Lopez going three abreast, before he eventually won the battle.. He then passed Robin Frijns for 11th and claimed the last points paying position on lap 36.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512548457-fc72c98b-1a615043-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][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″ values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jose%20Maria%20Lopez%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2220%3B%2017%3B%2017%3B%2016%3B%2017%3B%2017%3B%2017%3B%2017%3B%2017%3B%2017%3B%2017%3B%2016%3B%2016%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2015%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2010%3B%2015%3B%2013%3B%2013%3B%2013%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2014%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2012%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2011%3B%2010%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Lopez: lap chart”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1461512549057-0abe4d02-33bc5043-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_column_text]

Best time in FP1: 1:09.431s (P1)

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Best time in FP2: 1:10.644s (P17)

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Best time in qualifying: 1:16.760s (P18)

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Best time in the race: 1:10.893s (Lap 21)

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Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 59.376s (+4.376s)

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[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]”I enjoyed moving through the pack today in front of a home crowd. I have renewed confidence in my energy management, and I’m growing in confidence and aggression with every minute I spend in the DSV-02.”[/perfectpullquote]

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings” tab_id=”1461513723518-ee223709-f56c5043-b572f818-eaa5728f-d0d3″][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong; Marrakesh; Buenos Aires” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Jose%20Maria%20Lopez%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B%202%3B%202%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]

Jordan Peacock | e-racing.net

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Images courtesy of FIA Formula E Media

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