SEASON 3: DI GRASSI FINALLY TAKES THE CROWN
PHOTO: thestar.com
F RMULA
Third edition of the Formula E Championship was the 2016/17 Formula E Season. It began with the 2016 Hong Kong e-Prix on the 9th October 2016. Calendar was modified, and new cities made their debuts: Marrakech, Montreal and New York.
The third season of Formula E also saw the addition of two new teams to the Championship. Team Aguri were replaced by Techeetah, a Chinese based outfit that used the Renault powertrain. The other new contender would be Jaguar, a British based car manufacturer who will build their own powertrain for their maiden voyage into Formula E. Another change will be for Dragon Racing, whose partnership with well-known racing team, Penske sees them enter as a manufacturer for the first time.
Buemi was having a great season, and it seemed like he will take another title, maybe even easier than he did in season 2. Swiss driver won six times in first eight races, but along with two pole-positions and one fastest lap those were the only points he scored during the season. He also missed one two-race round in New York, when he had commitments in World Endurance Championship.
PHOTO: rallystar.net
Di Grassi used Buemi's absence in a good way, scoring one 4th and one 5th place in New York, and apart from one retirement during the season and the last race, Di Grassi was never placed lower than 5th place, so he amassed enough points to beat Buemi in the race for the championship trophy.
The team that really bounced into the fight was Mahindra Racing, and the driver that got much attention was a young Swede, Felix Rosenqvist. With one win, three second place finishes and one third, Mahindra's rookie ended the season in third place in the driver's championship.
Renault e.Dams in the end wins another teams' championship, with Audi close behind. Jean-Eric Vergne finally got his first Formula E win in the last race of the season.