The Atlas mountains of Morocco have always provided a stunning backdrop for Formula E’s event in the North African country, with the first Marrakesh E-Prix held in 2016. The track follows the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan – named after the Crown Prince of Morocco – before spilling out onto the streets of Marrakesh’s hotel district.
Going into this year’s Marrakesh E-Prix, Mercedes-EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne was in the lead for the Drivers’ World Championship with a 5-point advantage over nearest challenger and double champion Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH). Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing) was just 2 points back in third place while Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing), who won last time out in Jakarta, sat fourth. With a maximum of 29 points on offer in Marrakesh, any one of those 4 drivers could lead the championship after the race.
And it was Mortara who moved to the top of the championship with a win as the ROKiT Venturi Racing driver fended off severe pressure from DS TECHEETAH teammates Antonio Felix da Costa and Vergne throughout. Da Costa had started from pole position and, after falling behind Mortara during the early duo of ATTACK MODE activations, he clung to the back of the Swiss’ car as the race reached its climax. But the Season 6 champion couldn’t make it past the ROKiT Venturi Racing driver who looked utterly unflustered throughout the race, collecting his third win of the season, as well as the standings lead.
Vandoorne meanwhile found it hard to hold on to his lead as a braking issue in qualifying left him down in 20th on the grid. He recovered to finish eighth but with just 4 points on the day, his lead was lost to Mortara.
Vergne had found himself in second heading into the closing stages with 2% of usable energy available before he slipped back behind da Costa to an eventual fourth position. Fellow title challenger Evans fought from sixth on the grid to the podium with a final lap lunge on Vergne for silverware and a handful of extra, crucial World Championship points for himself and Jaguar TCS Racing.
The 2.971-km circuit with 12 turns, three straights and a series of bends is known to be an energy-zapping circuit. In the searing 33-degree heat, drivers and engineers elected to jump early for their two mandatory ATTACK MODE boosts. This was based on the school of thought that it would be more efficient and effective in the long run to draw that extra 30 kW through the batteries and powertrain.
In the mix was Lucas di Grassi (ROKiT Venturi Racing), who battled to fifth and vital points for the Monegasque team, who now lead the Teams’ World Championship. Reigning World Champion Nyck de Vries (Mercedes-EQ) secured sixth and Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti) had to settle for seventh. Vandoorne did make up an impressive 12 spots to finish eighth in the end after his qualifying disappointment. Sam Bird wound up ninth for Jaguar TCS Racing, and Oliver Rowland – who ran as high as second spot early on – rounded out the points-paying positions in 10th.
The next round will be in New York City July 16/17 for Rounds 11/12 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. The much-anticipated double-header takes place on the streets of the Red Hook district of Brooklyn against the spectacular backdrop of the Manhattan skyline. This will be followed by a double-headers at the London E-Prix at the end of July. The Season 8 championship then climaxes in Korea where the Seoul E-Prix will be held for the first time on August 13/14.
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