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Pascal Wehrlein travels to Saudi Arabia this weekend to repeat his double dominance at Diriyah last season and extend his lead at the top of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship standings.
Wehrlein triumphed in the first race of the season in Mexico City, converting Julius Bär Pole Position into his fifth win in Formula E and going one better than last season’s second place to Jake Dennis, who went on to become Formula E world champion.
Defending champion Dennis heads to the doubleheader in Diriyah (Friday, Jan. 26 and Saturday, Jan. 27) aiming to improve overall on his season-opening performance in Mexico. A rare mistake in qualifying forced him to start from the back of the starting grid in 14th place, the British fighter showed his fighting spirit to finish ninth.
Second behind Wehrlein in any of the races at Diriyah last year, Dennis will try to overtake a bigger one to revive the defence of his name, which is being pressed by a number of drivers, reaffirming Formula E’s reputation as the most competitive motorsport.
Wehrlein leads the drivers’ world championship ahead of Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing) in second and Nick Cassidy in third, while Maximilian Günther will try to put Maserati MSG Racing in contention for the name in fourth. Mitch Evans is fifth.
“I already had a good feeling in testing and until the end of last season it was clear that we had made some steps forward,” said Wehrlein. “Mexico is always, in one way or another, a special track for us, I mean, that’s why I’m a little cautious. But we can check this functionality in qualifying and on other tracks.
Wehrlein is fully compatible and confident, and heads to Saudi Arabia as the favorite after sealing the double in Diriyah last season. Although he didn’t seem to have lap speed and had qualified in order for either race last season, he didn’t matter at race time.
The German was fast throughout the weekend, overtaking two calculated races with an unrivalled power control strategy. The 29-year-old has become the fifth driver in Formula E history to win any of the rounds of a doubleheader.
Elsewhere on the grid, NEOM McLaren Formula E rookie Sam Bird is among the most successful drivers at Diriyah. He has two wins to his name, as does Season 7 World Champion Nyck de Vries. Bird’s teammate, Jake Hughes, set the tone. in qualifying for the 2023 visit, proving that the McLaren package works on the Saudi street track, which is a “home” occasion for the NEOM-sponsored team.
DICING IN THE DARK:
Saudi Arabia hosts the night races of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with the circuit illuminated by energy-efficient LED generation around the circuit, as well as the bright neon halos of the 22 GEN3 Formula E racing cars.
LED lighting reduces energy consumption by up to 50% compared to non-LED equipment and is powered by sustainably sourced biofuel generators, underlining Formula E’s position as a global leader in integration of sustainability in elite sport.
António Félix da Costa, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team and Formula E Season Six Champion, said:
“Because it’s a night race, your practice and qualifying are the day and then you run in the afternoon. Temperatures are replaced, as is the surface of the track, as the sand is swept away. Your perceptions are also replaced with the replacement of shadows. It requires a bit of adaptation and visual training, but I like the other variables and it definitely creates a wonderful display for the fans. It’s great to run there and it’s wonderful to watch, especially at night.
ABOUT DIRIYAH STREET CIRCUIT:
Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2024 Diriyah E-Prix of season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship.
The Diriyah City Circuit, just outside the Saudi capital, Riyadh, is a true street circuit that winds through the historic city walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The bumpy bobsleigh track at Driiyah is a rider favourite and one of the toughest circuits on the calendar to balance power control and outright pace; Drivers have never encountered an overtaking problem.
SOCIAL IMPACT IN DIRIYAH
Formula E’s positive impact on sustainability extends beyond the track. The Change. Accelerated. Live-driven Zero Summit will also be located in Diriyah ahead of the race, bringing together industry leaders, policymakers and experts in sustainable energy and climate action to drive the transition to net zero.
The FIA Girls on Track program will give 120 women in Diriyah the opportunity to launch careers in motor sport, with educational lectures at Alfaisal University for more than 50 young people in Riyadh.
ENTERTAINMENT ON TRACK:
One Republic and The Backstreet Boys will perform post-race concerts alongside Queen of Arab Pop, Nancy Ajram and local skill and Cairokee with DJ sets via Alesso and AfroJack.
The Allianz Fan Village includes the Gaming Arena with G-Force racing and simulators, as well as more family-friendly entertainment.
SCHEDULE: WHERE, WHEN AND HOW TO WATCH OR STREAM THE DIRIYAH E-PRIX 2024:
Canadians can watch the double header action on Friday, Jan. 26 on TSN+ at 11am EST and Saturday, Jan. 27 on TSN2/TSN+ at 11am EST.