Mahindra Racing endured a “rollercoaster weekend” on the Diriyah E-Prix double-header, with the Riyadh Road Circuit having performed host to rounds two and three of the 2022/23 ABB FIA Formulation E World Championship.
After claiming a podium on the season opener, there have been hopes that the aspect could possibly be amongst the factors locations in Diriyah, one thing they’d’ve been in Race One had it not been for an unlucky collision. Lucas di Grassi and Oliver Rowland each made it into the duels forward of the primary race of the weekend in Saudi Arabia, earlier than each have been concerned in a gap lap collision. Each drivers had nowhere to go as every thing acquired just a little bit too tight on the opening nook, leading to contact between the 2 drivers.
Rowland was pressured to pit on account of a puncture, with the Briton happening to complete nineteenth, while Di Grassi completed thirteenth. Race Two was remarkably even worse for the Banbury-based crew, with Rowland having retired with suspension injury, while Di Grassi completed fifteenth. On account of the point-less weekend, the crew slipped to sixth within the Constructors’ Championship going into their house race.
Crew Principal Frederic Bertrand admits that his aspect merely had “no luck” within the first race, and that the “disappointment and frustration” from Race One was carried into Race Two, the place the outfit’s powertrain was “not on the stage they need to have been”.
“It was a rollercoaster weekend. We began with good emotions, and a powerful first qualifying, with each vehicles making the duels. Within the race we had no luck on the primary lap, destroying the potential for end result. Day two was a troublesome one, with the crew carrying some disappointment and frustration from the day earlier than. Within the race, the vehicles weren’t on the stage they need to have been.
“Total, there’s some frustration, loads of learnings, however nonetheless numerous vitality and pleasure within the preparation for Hyderabad. Even when we’re disillusioned, we’re not discouraged.”
