Jakarta, Indonesia, June 7th 2022 - Racing at a track for the first time always throws up fresh difficulties and uncertainties. However, DS TECHEETAH once again demonstrated its experience and ability to adapt to untested conditions at the FIA Formula E World Championship’s maiden race in Jakarta, Indonesia.
It was stiflingly hot and incredibly humid – close to 100% – at round nine of the 2022 season, conditions that were set to be a real challenge for the drivers and their cars. DS TECHEETAH excelled in these testing conditions, producing a sublime performance in qualifying: its two drivers, Jean-Eric Vergne and Antonio Felix Da Costa, fought it out in the final duel for pole position. In the end, it was Vergne that scooped his fifteenth career pole in the DS E-Tense FE21 ahead of his team-mate. In the race itself, both DS TECHEETAH drivers showcased their considerable talents to manage their tyres and battery temperature in the hot conditions, to claim second and fourth places respectively. Although he was left with a slight sense of what might have been, Jean-Eric Vergne’s fifth podium of the season nonetheless secured him – and the team – a substantial number of points for the championship standings.
“What a race,” commented a delighted Thomas Chevaucher, Director of DS Performance and DS TECHEETAH Team Principal, after the race. “Obviously, we’re a bit disappointed not to win this round because victory was clearly within our reach! But runner-up is still a very good result. With JEV’s pole along with second and fourth positions for JEV and Tonio in the race, we enjoyed the best team performance this weekend! We leave Jakarta with thirty-three points and are very well placed in the Teams’ and Drivers’ standings. There is no doubt about it now, we are right in the mix for both titles!” A view that was shared by Jean-Eric Vergne: “I started on pole and I finished runner-up so I feel a little bit frustrated not to have won the race. We know however that we worked very well with the team. We’re going to keep working, keep pushing and I know that a race win is within our grasp. I know that next time out in Marrakesh, I will be able to go after our first win of the season.” DS TECHEETAH will be back in action with the rest of the FE competitors in Marrakesh on 2 July at round ten for what promises to be another hotly-disputed contest.
DS TECHEETAH scored more points than any other team this weekend, a very solid performance that enabled it to reclaim second position in the teams’ standings, just sixteen points behind the current leaders. Jean-Eric Vergne also enjoyed a near-perfect weekend, enabling him to strengthen his hold on second place in the championship, closing to within five points of the first-placed driver. Meanwhile, Antonio Felix Da Costa’s fourth place finish equalled his best performance of the season, returning him to a position more consistent with his level of competitiveness. He now lies tenth in the drivers’ championship standings.
