Closed Circuit: Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler in Marrakesh

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The Marrakesh ePrix was one to forget for the German manufacturer as they were plagued with more bad luck and reliability issues that saw them add just a single point to their championship tally.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_text_separator title=”THE TEAM” 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=”The team’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512664883-ac9eb41a-467a5043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_column_text]After a heartbreaking weekend for Audi in Hong Kong where Daniel Abt saw his victory taken away from him due to a technical infringement and bad luck for team-mate di Grassi, the team had their hopes held high.

That optimism continued throughout practice, where the Audi duo were at the front of the grid, but then in qualifying reliability issues and bad luck for di Grassi and Abt saw them qualify in fifth and eighth respectively.

Abt had a good start moving up the grid, but had to serve a drive through penalty due to a collision and then was caught out when a full course yellow stopped his chances of an early pit stop strategy working, however he then charged to salvage a point, reaching the chequered flag in tenth.

di Grassi also gained a position at the start and was pursuing subsequent race winner Felix Rosenqvist before his car broke down due to reliability issues on lap seven. He is yet to collect a single point following his tough weekend in Hong Kong.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Team mate comparison: qualifying” tab_id=”1461512175704-af49c202-f1e45043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong I; Hong Kong II; Marrakesh; Santiago; Mexico City; Punta del Este; Rome; Paris; Berlin; Zurich; New York City I; New York City II” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Lucas%20di%20Grassi%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%226%3B%2013%3B%205%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Daniel%20Abt%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%224%3B%204%3B%208%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-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_line_chart type=”line” style=”modern” x_values=”Hong Kong I; Hong Kong II; Marrakesh; Santiago; Mexico City; Punta del Este; Rome; Paris; Berlin; Zurich; New York City I; New York City II” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Lucas%20di%20Grassi%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2217%3B%2014%3B%2020%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22turquoise%22%7D%2C%7B%22title%22%3A%22Daniel%20Abt%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%225%3B%2020%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-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_column_text]

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“This was not our day today and not the result that would have been possible. We had fast cars but Lucas’ race was over far too early following a technical issue that we still need to analyze. Almost at the same time, Daniel had a collision with Alex Lynn that was a racing accident in my view. He received a drive-through nevertheless. Even after that, he was still running strong but the full course yellow cost him 35 seconds and deprived him of all chances.”[/perfectpullquote]

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

[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings (points)” tab_id=”1461512214611-352b21f1-c5375043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong I; Hong Kong II; Marrakesh; Santiago; Mexico City; Punta del Este; Rome; Paris; Berlin; Zurich; New York City I; New York City II” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Audi%20Sport%20ABT%20Schaeffler%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2211%3B%2011%3B%2012%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=”Lucas di Grassi” 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=”di Grassi’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512310664-cbeb96df-4af05043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_column_text]The Brazilian was drawn in group one, and managed to set the fastest lap until briefly beaten later on to get himself into Super Pole. However, a technical issue saw him unable to challenge for pole position and he subsequently qualified in fifth place.

di Grassi managed to get himself up to fourth, but on lap seven of the race his car started slowing due to an inverter issue while battling Abt and Nelson Piquet Jr, and he then had to retire his car from the E-Prix.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512310716-c8bf2e2d-dbb95043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_single_image image=”15153″ img_size=”full”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1461512375203-dc62694e-d0395043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_column_text]Best time in FP1: 1:20.310s (P1)

Best time in FP2: 1:19.898s (P2)

Best time in qualifying: 1:20.314s (P2, P5 in Super Pole)

Best time in the race: 1:24.220s (lap 4)

Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: N/A[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”di Grassi says: “…“” tab_id=”1461513354622-5577f4b1-edaf5043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_column_text][perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Our car is fast but obviously it’s frustrating to have reliability issues in two consecutive races. We once again showed what potential we have but I did not score any points. We have to get better in that respect. But I have full confidence in Audi that the issues will be resolved.”[/perfectpullquote][/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings (points)” tab_id=”1461513704972-abbca216-e1a55043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong I; Hong Kong II; Marrakesh; Santiago; Mexico City; Punta del Este; Rome; Paris; Berlin; Zurich; New York City I; New York City II” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Lucas%20di%20Grassi%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%220%3B%200%3B%200%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=”Daniel Abt” 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=”Abt’s race in words” tab_id=”1461512547855-b3644413-70595043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_column_text]Abt was within a shout of a good lap time and getting into the Super Pole shootout, but due to an incident for MS&AD Andretti’s Antonio Felix Da Costa, the session was red flagged and his lap time was ruined. He was then allowed by the stewards to do his lap again, albeit with one warm up lap instead of two, he then crossed the line to qualify in eighth position.

The young German stormed from eighth and worked his way up to fourth before he was given a drive through for his contact with DS Virgin Racing’s Alex Lynn, this saw him drop all the way down to 14th.

Abt added that he felt the car was up to pace, but a full course yellow came out just as he was heading to the pits, costing him dearly. However he recovered from there to reach the chequered flag in tenth, scoring him and Audi a single point.[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Lap chart” tab_id=”1461512548457-fc72c98b-1a615043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_single_image image=”15152″ img_size=”full”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”The race in numbers” tab_id=”1461512549057-0abe4d02-33bc5043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_column_text]Best time in FP1: 1:21.577s (P3)

Best time in FP2: 1:19.760s (P1)

Best time in qualifying: 1:20.605s (P8)

Best time in the race: 1:22.902s (lap 15)

Pit stop time and difference to minimum pit stop time: 45.614s (+0.614s)[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Abt says: “…“” tab_id=”1461513386630-de10c68d-06ab5043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_column_text][perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“This could have become a really good day. In terms of speed, we would have had to win this race. There was nothing I could do in the collision with Alex Lynn. When braking to enter turn one, I was running side by side with him when he pulled over. Even after the drive-through I was really fast. But I had barely reached the pits when the full-course yellow came. Simply incredible!”[/perfectpullquote][/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Championship standings (points)” tab_id=”1461513723518-ee223709-f56c5043-b572f818-eaa56c99-2358a6af-4c9693c4-1ff368d5-80eb6385-8d574e73-116d”][vc_line_chart type=”line” x_values=”Hong Kong I; Hong Kong II; Marrakesh; Santiago; Mexico City; Punta del Este; Rome; Paris; Berlin; Zurich; New York City I; New York City II” values=”%5B%7B%22title%22%3A%22Daniel%20Abt%22%2C%22y_values%22%3A%2211%3B%2011%3B%2012%22%2C%22color%22%3A%22green%22%7D%5D” title=”Championship standings”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_accordion][/vc_column][/vc_row]