Nissan Formula E Team secured a top-10 finish in both Rounds 11 and 12 of the 2023/24 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, with Oliver Rowland in the points twice as the series made its maiden visit to Shanghai International Circuit.
Returning to China for the first time since 2019, the weekend produced two closely-matched days of action throughout the field.
In qualifying for Saturday’s Round 11, Rowland progressed to the Duels, making it to the Final and lining up second for the race. Following an extremely tight session, Sacha Fenestraz found himself 22nd on the grid, despite being just over two-tenths from getting through. In a dramatic E-Prix, Rowland battled hard throughout in the lead group, making a last-lap move to take fourth and a strong haul of 12 points. Meanwhile, Franco-Argentine racer Fenestraz completed several excellent overtakes, moving up 11 places to clinch 11th, just one position outside the points.
Today in Round 12, Rowland once again made it through to the Duels, having topped Group A. Fenestraz was only a tenth slower than his teammate, but could only do enough for sixth. Starting in eighth and 12th respectively, the duo fought hard in the midfield throughout the 28-lap race, with British driver Rowland clinching a point in 10th, with Fenestraz close behind in 14th.
Formula E now enters a four-week break following the intense schedule in recent months, returning for the penultimate race weekend of the season in Portland, USA on June 29-30.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal, Nissan Formula E Team: “It’s not the weekend we were expecting after a strong result in Berlin. It was really tight and hard-fought throughout, so we’re pleased to come out with points in both races. Oli performed well on Saturday to take P4, while Sacha did a great job to make so many overtakes and was unfortunate not to finish in the points. Today it was more difficult to pass, which made it tough. Neither driver got the best start and it was hard to recover. We’ve got a break now to see where we can improve, as we’ve been doing all season, and to consolidate third place in the Teams’ Championship next month in Portland.”
Oliver Rowland, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “I’m satisfied with the finish on Saturday, qualifying was strong to be on the front row and then we battled hard in the lead group throughout the race. P4 was a solid result and a good haul of points, even if a podium was definitely possible. Today was a bit more difficult, I made it into the Duels but I think we could’ve done more. The race was also tough, it was harder to overtake today but we still managed to take a point. Overall a decent event, and now it’s time to work hard in the break before Portland.”
Sacha Fenestraz, driver, Nissan Formula E Team: “I hoped for more this weekend, the race pace was very strong yesterday but unfortunately the qualifying caused a difficult day. I felt competitive and think we have made a step forward on one-lap pace, we just didn’t get the laps together. It was fun to overtake several cars, but a shame to narrowly miss out on points. Today, qualifying was better but we had to deal with the battery temperatures, which made it tough in the race. We’re improving step-by-step, and now it’s time for a short break and to disconnect before turning our full focus to Portland and London.”
