After their third and fourth place finishes in Monaco a fortnight in the past, Vandoorne and Vergne arrived in Berlin with the agency intention of taking one other huge factors tally. They usually did, on the very first race!
It is true that the 2 members of the DS Penske Staff know the observe inside out, as Berlin is the one metropolis to have featured on the championship calendar since its inception. This time, nevertheless, the route laid out by the organisers is a brand new one, 2.3km lengthy with 15 bends, the Berlin circuit additionally has the weird function of being coated in ‘runway’ kind concrete.
“This new observe represents a problem for each the drivers and the entire staff, and I am happy that we had been in a position to meet it,” feedback Eugenio Franzetti, Director of DS Efficiency, which rigorously prepares the electrical single-seaters for the DS Penske staff.
“Because the floor of this circuit is probably the most abrasive of the season, we in fact all the time should handle the vitality of the batteries, but in addition the wear and tear of the tyres. It was on this foundation that our drivers labored on the set-up of their DS E-TENSE FE23, with the magnificent stage of efficiency we noticed at present.”
Stoffel Vandoorne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Photograph by: DR
The DS E-TENSE FE23 on observe
Vandoorne set a string of excellent instances in follow. Vergne was additionally within the high 10, even forward of his team-mate (fifth) within the second session. The 2 DS Penske drivers are undeniably as much as the duty on the Berlin observe, as qualifying bought underneath means in superb climate. Each certified for the quarter-finals after the group levels, Vergne and Vandoorne gained their first duel and progressed to the semi-finals. And whereas Vergne got here up quick in opposition to Edoardo Mortara’s Mahindra by only a tenth of a second, Vandoorne removed Sergio Sette Camara’s ERT. He met up with Mortara once more within the remaining, and the ultimate duel went within the Mahindra driver’s favour.
However with Vandoorne on the entrance row and Vergne simply behind, DS Penske gave the impression to be the strongest staff on the grid. The one different producer to have managed to get each its vehicles into the highest 10 was Maserati.
“It is a disgrace to overlook out on the three factors from pole place,” lamented Vandoorne. “However the automobile is unimaginable and we could be assured for the long run. The necessary factor now could be to do the perfect job we will for the staff and attempt to end on the rostrum.”
Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Photograph by: DR
A loopy race
After simply three laps, the 2 DS Penske vehicles had been within the lead. It was then that the teamwork started, as two drivers in this sort of race may help shield their positions. However on this circuit, the Assault mode set off zone is way from the trajectory and leads to a lack of a number of positions.
Vandoorne was a superb tactician, however managed to restrict the harm. Simply behind, the 2 Porsches put the strain on the Franco-American vehicles, however they resisted. The positions modified barely, and as a security automobile was triggered, the gaps narrowed. On the restart, the DS
Penske vehicles misplaced a number of locations, however remained on the entrance.
A couple of laps later, Vandoorne was caught up in a collision involving a number of vehicles and once more misplaced positions. He dropped out of the highest 10, however the finish of the race highlighted the superb efficiency of the DS E-TENSE FE23s.
Because the organisers added six laps to compensate for the stoppages, one other vitality technique was introduced. The top of the race was completely loopy, with many adjustments of place.
Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske, DS E-Tense FE23
Photograph by: DR
At the least six drivers had been in with an opportunity of profitable, and up till the final second, DS Penske was in with an opportunity of victory. Vergne lastly secured second place, whereas Vandoorne managed to climb again as much as seventh.
“It was a really intense race,” mentioned Vergne simply after the end. “I lacked a little bit of vitality however our tempo was superb and I am very proud of this podium. It is all very reassuring for the long run.”
The second race in Berlin takes place this Sunday, with a begin at 3.03pm native time.
Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Penske, 2nd place, Nick Cassidy, Jaguar TCS Racing, 1st place, Oliver Rowland, Nissan Formulation E Staff, on the rostrum
Photograph by: DR