With his victory in Marrakesh Sébastien Buemi scored his eighth Formula E career win while team mate Nico Prost translated his sixth-position on the grid to P4 at the checkered flag.
“We didn’t get distracted by the early pace of some of our competitors but focused on driving our own race with our own strategy which meant the result came our way at the chequered flag”, explained Senior Team Manager Jean-Paul Driot and continued “It’s very good to enter the winter with such a strong points advantage, especially with a long period before we head to Buenos Aires.”
Concentrating on the race strategy was Renault e.dams key to a successful race in Marrakesh, as Senior Team Manager Alain Prost revealed: “We focused on the race in our practice session preparations and this benefitted us especially as we were able to fight back from the penalty for Sébastien.”
Photo: Renault e.dams
Sébastien Buemi had qualified second at the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, but was given a five-place grid penalty and a 2.500 Euro fine due to an issue with his car’s fire extinguisher. “The problem we had with the extinguisher where it must have discharged its gas is an unusual one, but fortunately we were able to fight back in the race”, said Renault Sport Project Leader Vincent Gaillardot. Buemi made up six places before taking the lead.
Team mate Nico Prost was “frustrated that I wasn’t able to qualify higher. I showed good pace in practice but Q1 is the most difficult qualifying session to deliver in, even if it was very close to Superpole. Certainly, I would have preferred to have finished on the podium here – and in Hong Kong – but the most important thing is scoring points.”
Renault e.dams left Marrakesh with 74 points in the Championship, ahead of ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport and Mahindra Racing who both have 36 points. Buemi has 50 points in the Drivers’ Championship with his nearest rival, Lucas Di Grassi, on 28. Prost is in third position with 24 points. The team will get back in action for the third round of season three, the Buenos Aires ePrix on the Circuito de Puerto Madero in Argentina on 18th February 2017.
