Marrakesh. Maximilian Günther (GER) gave a tactically astute
performance in the Marrakesh E-Prix (MAR) to finish runner-up and
take his place on the podium at round five of this season’s ABB FIA
Formula E Championship. It was Günther’s second top-three result
with BMW i Andretti Motorsport in the #28 BMW iFE.20, having
previously taken victory in Santiago (CHI). He climbs into fourth
place in the Drivers’ Championship, just behind team-mate Alexander
Sims (GBR) in third. Sims also drove an impressive race, but was
unfortunately forced to retire from fifth place shortly before the
finish. BMW i Andretti Motorsport is currently second in the Team
standings with 90 points.
Günther started from second place on the grid after a strong
performance in qualifying. He set the fastest time in the regular
qualifying session, earning himself a point towards the Drivers’
Championship. In the Super Pole, he was only beaten by António Félix
da Costa (POR, DS Techeetah), who was just 0.069 seconds quicker.
Günther spent much of the early stages of the race, in which
efficiency and energy management played a key role, challenging for
the lead. Eventual winner Félix da Costa pulled clear in the closing
stages, while Günther was embroiled in a spectacular battle for second
place with Jean-Éric Vergne (FRA, DS Techeetah). Günther made the
decisive overtaking manoeuvre on the final lap.
Sims started the race from eighth place and focussed on saving as
much energy as possible in the first half of the race. That paid
dividends later on in the race and, as he did in Mexico City (MEX),
Sims started to fight his way back through the field to fifth place.
Shortly before the end of the race, a scrap with Edoardo Mortara (ITA,
Venturi) resulted in contact that broke the track rod on the #27 BMW
iFE.20. Sims was forced to retire from the race on the final lap.
Reactions to the Marrakesh E-Prix:
Jens Marquardt (BMW Group Motorsport Director):
“Congratulations to Maximilian Günther on the second podium of his
young career as a BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver. The BMW iFE.20
made a good impression all weekend in Marrakesh. It was the same story
in the race. Maximilian and the team once again gave a very tactically
mature performance, made good use of the efficiency of the BMW i
drivetrain, and more than deserved second place. The battle with
Jean-Éric Vergne in the closing laps was top class! Unfortunately,
Alexander Sims’ car suffered a mechanical issue after contact with
Edoardo Mortara shortly before the end of the race. At that point he
was running fifth after an intelligent race. It is a great shame that
he was not rewarded with some points. After five races, our record
this season is still very positive. Congratulations to António Félix
da Costa on his win.”
Roger Griffiths (Team Principal BMW i Andretti Motorsport,
team standings: 2nd place):
“We came here with high expectations after our performance last year.
Maximilian and Alexander impressed in qualifying. We then had a
strategic battle with DS Techeetah in the race. We knew that they
would be very strong – and we were ultimately unable to stop António.
However, Maximilian more than earned his second place with an
outstanding performance and great overtaking manoeuvre on the final
lap. I feel sorry for Alexander: like in Mexico, he once again
produced a fantastic fightback and was set to score a lot of valuable
points in fifth place. To be forced out so close to the finish –
without, in our opinion, having done anything wrong – is a bitter blow.”
Alexander Sims (#27 BMW iFE.20, starting position: 8th place,
race result: DNF, points: 46, driver standings: 3rd place):
“Unfortunately, the race once again showed what a thin line there is
between fortune and misfortune in Formula E. I lost a few positions at
the start, but was then able to save a lot of energy and win back one
place after another with the clever use of ATTACK MODE. It was all
looking good until the contact with Edoardo Mortara shortly before the
finish, in which my car was damaged. That was that – a real shame.
However, congratulations to Maximilian and the team on a deserved
podium finish.”
Maximilian Günther (#28 BMW iFE.20, starting position: 2nd
place, race result: 2nd place, points: 44, driver standings: 4th place):
“I am really very happy with second place. Today was all about
managing the race intelligently. In the first half of the race I was
still able to challenge António for the lead. In the end, however, he
was simply a little bit too good. Congratulations to him on the win. I
then had the battle with Jean-Éric towards the end of the race, in
which I fortunately came out on top, thanks to a late overtaking manoeuvre.”
The BMW i Safety Cars.
BMW i is “Official Vehicle Partner” of the ABB FIA Formula E
Championship in Season 6. Spearheading the fleet are two Safety Cars:
The BMW i8 Roadster Safety Car (combined fuel consumption: 2.0 l/100
km; combined power consumption: 14.5 kWh/100 km; combined CO2
emissions: 46 g/km)*, which has been specially modified for use at the
racetrack, and the BMW i8 Coupé Safety Car (combined fuel consumption:
1.8 l/100 km; combined power consumption: 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined
CO2 emissions: 42 g/km)*. The BMW i fleet also includes the BMW i3s
(combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined energy consumption:
14.6-14.0 kWh; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km)* as “Race Director
Car”, the BMW 530e (combined fuel consumption: 1.8-1.6 l/100 km;
combined energy consumption: 14.5-13.8 kWh/100 km; combined CO2
emissions: 40-36 g/km)* in its role as “Medical Car” and the BMW X5
e45 (combined fuel consumption: 2.0-1.7 l/100 km; combined energy
consumption: 23.5-21.3 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 46-38
g/km)* as “Rescue Car”.