SEASON 4: FIRST FORMULA E ERA ENDS WITH JEAN-ERIC VERGNE AS CHAMPION
PHOTO: topgear.com
F RMULA
The fourth edition of FIA Formula E Championship, which began with two races in Hong Kong on 2nd December, was the last to feature mid-E-Prix car changes, and the last to use the Spark-Renault SRT_01E as a base chassis.
Lucas di Grassi started the season as the defending Drivers' Champion, while Renault e.Dams still remained unbeaten since the championship began. Series' first title sponsor became the Swiss tech firm ABB after signing a multi-year sponsorship deal.
The opening races of the season would both be held in Hong Kong, with Sam Bird and Felix Rosenqvist both winning a race. Rosenqvist would then claim victory in Marrakech to take the Championship lead, before Jean-Éric Vergne won in Santiago and placed himself in the title fight.
From then on Vergne was the main man of the Championship. French driver claimed the victory in Punta del Este and Paris and took the lead in the standings. Bird chased him hard with a victory in Rome, while Rosenqvist just disappeared as himself and Mahindra were not as competitive as when the season started. Things were completely different in Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler garage, because they had a bad start to the season, but jumped back.
PHOTO: sarajevosports.com
After dominating the pre-season test in Valencia, poor reliability cost the German squad dearly, with the team having to wait until the fifth round to claim their first victory. Second driver Daniel Abt then claimed a dominant victory in Berlin, before di Grassi earned further victories in Zürich and New York City.
That late charge meant that Audi entered the final round just five points behind Techeetah, with their lead driver Vergne already having secured the Drivers' Championship, with Bird in second place. Ultimately, Vergne would claim his fourth victory of the season, but second and third place for di Grassi and Abt meant that Audi bested the Chinese squad by two points, and won the teams' title.
Away from the title fights the fourth Formula E Championship would see new drivers come to the pit lane. The season would also be littered with announcements about the upcoming 2018-19 season, season 5 with new Gen2 car. New team was also announced - HWA joining the series ahead of the arrival of Mercedes and Porsche.