Lucas di Grassi Tag

By Christopher DeHarde, Staff Writer After a growing year with new partner Team Joest, Mazda finished off their 2018 IMSA WeatherTech Sports Car Championship challenge with a double podium finish at this past weekend’s Motul Petit Le Mans with a second and third place finish for their two RT24-P DPi machines. The No. 55 of Spencer Pigot, Jonathan Bomarito and Marino Franchitti led at times but they had the lion’s share of bad luck for the team with contact forcing the mechanics to replace the nose and tail on the carRead More

By FIA Jean-Eric Vergne has made it four different winners of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in as many seasons, as fifth place in today’s E-Prix was enough to put him out of reach of his rivals with one race left to run in New York City tomorrow (15 July). In a day of high drama on the banks of the Buttermilk Channel in Brooklyn, Vergne went from last on the grid thanks to a technical infringement during qualifying to top of the world by the end of theRead More

By FIA Lucas di Grassi has secured his first win as reigning champion of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship at the historic inaugural Zurich E-Prix – the first circuit race to have taken place in Switzerland in over 60 years. The Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler driver scythed his way through the order from fifth on the grid to finally take top spot, having scored a remarkable four consecutive second places in recent races. The Brazilian picked off the leading pack one-by-one over the course of the opening period ofRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer A Championship Statement With half of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship season complete, the championship favorite has finally been revealed. Jean-Eric Vergne and Techeetah established themselves as the tour’s top team in a dominant CBMM Niobium Punta del Este E-Prix romp, claiming the Julius Baer Pole Award and leading wire-to-wire to earn their second victory of Season Four. The run was Vergne’s third podium and sixth top five in as many races this season. More importantly, it was also a championship statement. “We are incredibly happyRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer Last season a ninth-place result would have left Lucas di Grassi inconsolable over the points lost. In Mexico City it was all he could ask for. Di Grassi overcame a five-second pit stop penalty  and drove his way through the field from last on the grid to claim ninth in Saturday’s Mexico City E-Prix. The defending ABB FIA Formula E Championship contender earned his first points of the season in the process. Afterward the Brazilian and his Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler team celebrated two victoriesRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer Defending Mexico City E-Prix winner Lucas di Grassi swept the practice sessions for the ABB Formula E Championship’s Season Four return. Di Grassi’s 1:01.203 lap in the middle stages stood as the quickest time in the 30-minute final practice for Saturday’s E-Prix. The Season Three champion is looking to score his first points of the season after four scoreless races. He’ll have to endure a 10-place grid penalty for the race. Felix Rosenqvist followed in second for Mahindra Racing with a time a 1:01.442. Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Mitch EvansRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer A determined Lucas di Grassi stood atop the charts with a new fastest lap in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship’s opening practice of the weekend at Mexico City. Di Grassi, who is still searching for his first points of the year after four disappointing races, led the way with a time of 1:01.158, the fastest lap the all-electric single-seater series has managed at Audromo Hermanos Rodriguez. Rookie Edoardo Mortara followed in second with a 1:01.520 for Venturi Formula E Team. Jean-Eric Vergne (1:01.630), Mitch Evans (1:01.827) and Alex Lynn (1:01.849)Read More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer What appeared to be a promising day ended with zero points and disappointment for the third-straight race for defending ABB FIA Formula E Championship Lucas di Grassi. “Our car is fast but obviously it’s frustrating to have reliability issues in two consecutive races,” Di Grassi said. “We once again showed what potential we have but I did not score any points. We have to get better in that respect. But I have full confidence in Audi that the issues will be resolved.” Looking to make upRead More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer At the end of a chaotic Free Practice 2 in Morocco, the Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler duo of Daniel Abt and Lucas di Grassi were left standing a cut above the rest of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship field. Abt laid down a new lap record of 1:19.760 in the closing moments of Saturday’s second pre-qualifying practice to lead the session, snatching the top spot from teammate di Grassi (1:19.898). Sebastien Buemi (1:19.936) ended the session in third, with Mitch Evans (1:20.001), and Nelson Piquet Jr. (1:20.115)Read More

By Aaron Bearden, Contributing Writer Defending ABB FIA Formula E champion Lucas di Grassi and Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler got off to a strong start in their efforts to bounce back into title contention in Morocco. Di Grassi streaked across the start-finish line on a full power lap with a time 1:20.310 as the sun rose above the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan to set quick time in the first of two free practice sessions for Saturday’s Marrakesh E-Prix. The lap was the quickest seen from the all-electric series at Marrakesh, toppingRead More