Formula E: Rosenqvist takes Marrakesh spoils

Race 3 of the 2017/2018 ABB FIA Formula E Championship saw Sweden’s Felix Rosenqvist (Mahindra Racing/Michelin) claim his third Formula E victory. Pole winner Sébastien Buemi (Renault e.dams) and Sam Bird (DS Virgin Racing) were second and third, but Lucas di Grassi left Morocco pointless.

Things aren’t going well for Formula E’s defending champion di Grassi (Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler) who followed up his double blank scorecard in Hong Kong with another did-not-finish in his Audi e-tron FE04 in Marrakesh due to a mechanical failure on Lap 7.

In contrast, his arch-rival Sébastien Buemi (Renault e.dams) bounced back from a perfectible weekend in Asia to earn points for both pole position and second place in the race itself. The Renault driver emerged in front at lights-out and led for much of the duration but eventually succumbed to pressure from Felix Rosenqvist a few laps from home.

The Swede nearly scuppered his chances during the midrace car-swap when he almost hit another competitor in the pit lane. He survived the scare, however, to notch up his third win in the series which he now provisionally tops, ahead of Briton Sam Bird who was third in Marrakesh.

The day’s top five was rounded out by Nelson Piquet Jr (Panasonic Jaguar Racing) and Jean-Eric Vergne (Techeetah), with returnee José-Maria Lopez (Dragon Racing) taking sixth spot. Alex Lynn, Nicolas Prost, Daniel Abt, André Lotterer, Nick Heidfled and Edoardo Mortara were all involved in tangles, while Oliver Turvey and Jérôme d’Ambrosio started from the pit lane.

The next clash will take teams to the streets of Santiago, Chile, on February 3.