YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan Formula E Team is ready to tackle the Shanghai International Circuit for the first time this weekend in Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, as Season 10 approaches the final six rounds of the campaign.
Last time out in Berlin, Oliver Rowland delivered a pair of stunning drives from P15 and P16 on the grid on Saturday and Sunday respectively to secure two podiums, taking his personal tally up to six for the season. The Brit currently sits third in the World Championship standings heading to China for another double-header.
Teammate Sacha Fenestraz has also been performing strongly in recent events, showing positive pace and scoring points in four of the last five races.
China hosted the first ever E-Prix around the Bird’s Nest Olympic Stadium in Beijing back in 2015, with the series’ last visit to the Land of the Red Dragon five years ago in Sanya. Rowland took pole position for the team on that occasion and second place in the race, his first-ever Formula E podium.
Best known as host of the Chinese Grand Prix, this weekend’s venue incorporates modifications to the full layout to make it suitable for Formula E machinery. The track features 12 corners, including the technical looping first turn that gradually tightens as it enters the tricky rolling complex of Turns 2 to 4. The heavy braking zones leading into Turns 6 and 10 are likely to offer the best overtaking opportunities across the two races.
Track action gets underway with FP1 on Friday, while qualifying starts at 10:20 (UTC+8) and the E-Prix at 15:00 (UTC+8) on both Saturday and Sunday.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “Berlin was another strong event in terms of race pace and how effectively our drivers managed to come through the field into the top-10. We’re delighted for Oliver to pick up another two podiums and it was a positive weekend from Sacha, adding more well-deserved points to his tally. This weekend’s event in Shanghai is going to be challenging for everyone, as it’s a new venue for Formula E so it’s going to be about who adapts and learns the quickest. We’re in good spirits after our strong results this year but we know that we still have a lot to improve, so we will look to carry that mentality and focus into this double-header.”
Oliver Rowland, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “I’m happy with the way I’m racing right now. Berlin was strong for us with the double podium, and while we’re happy with our championship position, we’re taking it race-by-race. Shanghai is set to be a completely different type of circuit to what we faced in Berlin, so my goal is to get myself and the car in a slightly better window in qualifying to get us further up the grid. The gaps at the front are so small, any improvement will be a huge help. The track looks to have high-speed corners and we’ll aim to execute our strategy and score two more positive results.”
Sacha Fenestraz, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “We showed good speed in Berlin and proved that strong points is a huge possibility. I continued to make progress on my side with energy management, particularly in these peloton-style races, which we are expecting once again in Shanghai. As a team we’ve been working on improving in qualifying, getting the tires in the right window to be back in the Duels on a regular basis. I’m looking forward to taking on a brand-new venue and can’t wait to be back in the car!”
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