Home to DS Automobiles and Virgin Racing driver Jean-Eric Vergne, the Paris ePrix is an important race for the team as they continue to challenge for a leading position in the overall championship standings.
On the 23rd of April, the French capital will welcome the FIA Formula E Championship for the first time. The event has already sold out with great interest from local fans, the exclusive city centre track in the heart of Paris promises to be a great addition to the series as the promoters add yet another mega city to the Formula E calendar following their ideology of city centre racing.
Both Virgin Racing drivers Sam Bird and Jean-Eric Vergne will be looking to earn valuable points during the first of the European races. “The championship is reaching a crucial phase,” explains British driver Sam Bird, currently third in the overall driver’s standings. “This is our opportunity now to push our team into a podium position, I’m feeling confident after gaining pole position in Long Beach. Paris will be a tough track but I’ll be aiming for a good result.”
With a total of 14 turns the 1.93km track is in the heart of the the 7th district and will see the Formula E cars weave around the museums and monuments that make up the stunning complex of buildings known as Les Invalides. A location that Virgin Racing’s French driver Jean-Eric Vergne knows all too well.
“I started racing in Paris as a child so competing here with Virgin Racing will be an important moment for me. It doesn’t surprise me that the event has sold out and knowing the city and its people, I’m sure it will be a fantastic show. Achieving a podium here is my goal, it’s ambitious but the team as a whole have been working so hard to get us to where we are now, I’m aware it’s time for me to give something back.”
DS Automobiles will also be returning to home territory since joining Virgin Racing at the beginning of the Season. The French brand has integrated its own engineers within the team who have played a key role in the creation and the technology of DSV-01.
For Xavier Mestelan Pinon, Director of DS Performance, the Paris ePrix is a vital race for Virgin Racing. “We are rigorously preparing for the Paris ePrix. With the victory in Argentina and the great qualifying results in Long Beach, we know the car can perform and that our drivers have the chance to be competing for the top spots. It goes without saying that for DS Performance it’s the opportunity to showcase our knowledge and brand technology in the heart of Paris, the birthplace of our brand.”
Team Principal Alex Tai knows the team are still in a strong position to challenge for the leading positions in the Championship and wants to achieve the results in Paris that his team are capable of: “We have proven our capability and consistency with Sam’s second pole position of the season at Long Beach, and that we are a leading team who are capable of competing with the best. We have seen with the tight racing Formula E provides that anything can happen and I remind the team that success will be earned through making the least mistakes and being resilient in the face of incidents. We have worked tirelessly with DS since the beginning of the season to improve and we have two extremely talented drivers who I’m sure will want to showcase their abilities. I look forward to seeing what Paris will bring.’
The Paris ePrix will take place on 23rd April at Les Invalides. Tickets are sold out. Click here for more information http://paris.fiaformulae.com/
Fans can submit a Fanboost vote via the official app or website at www.fiaformulae.com/fanboost or via Twitter and Instagram by posting the #Fanboost hashtag alongside either #SamBird or #JeanEricVergne.