Berlin, Allemagne, May 17th 2022 - There was no respite for the FIA Formula E World Championship competitors as the series quickly swapped the luxury surroundings of the Monaco waterfront for a city break in the German capital, a double-header featuring rounds 7 and 8 contested at the famous Berlin-Tempelhof airport.
The track comes with many difficulties, especially due to the abrasive concrete surface, which calls for astute tyre management. This year, however, the drivers had to contend with an added difficulty in that they contested the opening race in the opposite direction to the second race, making this “double header” a rather unusual proposition and one which looked set to provide some explosive racing. Once again, DS TECHEETAH proved its value: after Antonio Felix Da Costa and Jean-Eric Vergne finished third and fourth in qualifying, the latter went on the attack in the first race to hunt down a superb second place, having attempted – in vain – to dislodge the leader. Vergne thus collected his fourth podium of the season, to go with third places in Mexico and Monaco, and a second place finish in Rome, whilst DS Automobiles claimed its 41st podium in eighty races since it first entered the championship. Da Costa looked to be on course to join the party with a top-five result but was slowed up in the closing stages by a plastic object, dropping him down the field to finish eighth overall. The second race was however a bit trickier for the DS TECHEETAH standard bearers, Da Costa finishing in sixth position and Vergne ending ninth. They nevertheless scored what may prove to be valuable points when it comes to the final reckoning in the championship.
“The race was more difficult today,” admitted Thomas Chevaucher, Director of DS Performance and DS TECHEETAH Team Principal. “Despite both our drivers really pushing hard, we lacked a bit of performance to challenge for the podium. We’re obviously disappointed with this result, but we have scored points again and we’re still in contention for the titles. JEV’s fourth podium of the season in the first race was also the 41st podium in 80 races for DS Automobiles since the brand starting competing in Formula E. I’m very proud that the team has been so consistently among the front-runners. Now we turn our attention to Jakarta!” Indeed, the FIA Formula E World Championship sets course for a new destination, with round nine held in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 4 June. It will be the perfect opportunity for DS TECHEETAH to showcase its ability to adapt to a new track.
A fourth podium of the season ensures Jean-Eric Vergne remains very much in the hunt for the drivers’ title. He lies third in the championship standings, sixteen points behind the leader. DS TECHETAH is also third in the teams’ standings, just eleven points adrift of the second-placed squad.
