Nissan Formula E Team takes pole and podium at Diriyah E-Prix

Rowland clinches P3 from pole, while Fenestraz secures strong points

Nissan Formula E Team opened their account in Season 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with an excellent display to score 26 points in Round 3 in Diriyah.

After a frustrating Friday, where Oliver Rowland finished 13th and Sacha Fenestraz retired with damage, the squad bounced back in style in the second event of the double-header.

Franco-Argentine Fenestraz took top spot in Qualifying Group A, with Rowland joining him in the Duels after setting the fastest time in Group B. While Fenestraz was knocked out in the quarter-finals, British racer Rowland earned victory in all three Duels, setting the quickest time at each stage and claiming the three points on offer for the Julius Baer Pole Position.

In the 36-lap race, under the Diriyah lights, Rowland lost a spot off the line, before being shuffled down to third in the Attack Mode phase. Despite this, he kept pace with the leaders and pressured for second place in the latter stages, eventually having to settle for third and a return to the podium in just his second race weekend back with the team.

Meanwhile, Fenestraz enjoyed a strong run, battling hard with those around him and joining the lead pack for the final laps, picking up his first points of the season in sixth.

Formula E now enters a seven week break, returning for the São Paulo E-Prix on 16 March.

Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “Round 3 was a really good one for the team and a huge reward for all our hard work. Yesterday’s race was frustrating, we didn’t have the pace to compete but we came back with a really strong car for the second race. 26 points is a great return and we’re hoping to capitalize on this in the following events. Both drivers were strong in qualifying, with Oli on pole and Sacha in P7, two good starting positions. In the race, Oli didn’t have the best start and after the Attack Mode period he ended up P3. He put a lot of pressure on the drivers in front towards the end, but was sensible and comfortably secured the podium. Sacha had good pace, making up a position and defending well from those behind to clinch sixth. To have two cars in the Duels, take pole position and finish with both Oli and Sacha in the top six shows the big step we’ve made as a team. We’ve got a break coming now before the next round, so we’ll keep working and look to replicate this performance in São Paulo.”