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Jean-Eric Vergne takes pole position for the Santiago ePrix

2017/2018 FIA Formula E Championship. Round 3 - Marrakesh ePrix. Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, Marrakesh, Morocco. Friday 12 January 2018. Jean Eric Vergne (FRA), TECHEETAH, Renault Z.E. 17. Photo: Zak Mauger/LAT/Formula E ref: Digital Image _56I4554

Jean-Eric Ergne has taken his second pole of the year in an incident-filled Superpole. Buemi finished second ahead of Di Grassi, who finished therd but will start the race from thirteenth due to his ten place penalty. A surprising Lotterer inherited the Brazilian’s third spot on the grid.


The first group which started qualifying was formed by the drivers who are sixth to tenth in the standings; Sebastien Buemi, Nick Heidfeld, Mitch Evans, Daniel Abt and Antonio Félix Da Costa.

Evants had an off during his timed lap and he could not clock a competitive time. Meanwhile, Buemi was the fastest driver after completeing a fantastic lap half second faster than Abt, who was second ahead of Heidfeld, Da Costa and Evans, on last place unless other drivers would make mistakes.

The next group was formed by the championship leaders; Edoardo Mortara, Nelson Piquet Jr, Jean-Éric Vergne, Sam Bird and Felix Rosenqvist.

Championship leader, Rosenqvist, completed a surprisingly slow lap, far from the Superpole. Mortara did not do better and was on provisional ninth ahead of Evans. Bird and Vergne were ahead, with Piquet fourth between Buemi and Abt.

The next drivers to take the track were Nico Prost, Oliver Turvey, Maro Engel, Alex Lynn and José María LópezProst went up to fifth and left Abt out of the Superpole, while Lynn ended up ahead of both. Turvey took provisional sixth and Engel and López ended up in the midfield.

Finally, the last drivers to clock their times were the five bottom racers on the standings; Lucas Di Grassi, André Lotterer, Jerome D’Ambrosio, Tom Blomqvist and Luca Filippi.

The defending champion Di Grassi went first but was surprised by a quick Lotterer who took first by more than two tenths of a second. The rest of the drivers were not able to clock competitive times. Thus, Lotterer, Di Grassi, Berd, Vergne and Buemi moved on to the Superpole.

The Swiss e.Dams driver was the first to register a time, a 1:19.3 that was two tenths slower than his own first qualifying time. It was those two tenths, that Vergne had on him, showing he had the speed to fight for the pole position.

Bird was unable to complete a quick lap, losing control of his car and hitting the wall. The British driver caused the session to be stop and he did not register any time.

After a few minuts of stoppage, Di Grassi took the track and went up to third place, half a second adrift Vergne. The last driver to do his lap was Lotterer, who had an incident at the start of his lap. Nevertheless, the damage was not important and he was able to complete his lap.

It was then Vergne, who took Pole, his second of the season. This nets him three points that leave him just four behind Bird on the standings. Buemi will be starting from second, while Di Grassi took third but will be starting from thirteenth due to his penalty. This means it is Lotterer and Bird who will be on the second row, with Piquet fifth.

The Santiago ePrix will take place at 4pm local time (8pm CET)

Qualifying – Santiago de Chile

Pos Driver Team Lap Time
1 Jean-Eric Vergne Techeetah 1:19.161
2 Sébastien Buemi Renault e.dams 1:19.355
3 Lucas Di Grassi Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler 1:19.673
4 André Lotterer Techeetah 1:46.429
5 Sam Bird DS Virgin Racing No Time
6 Nelson Piquet Panasonic Jaguar Racing 1:19.300
7 Alex Lynn DS Virgin Racing 1:19.447
8 Oliver Turvey NIO Formula E Team 1:19.574
9 Nicolas Prost Renault e.dams 1:19.623
10 José Maria López Dragon Racing 1:19.662
11 Daniel Abt Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler 1:19.726
12 Maro Engel Venturi Formula E Team 1:19.877
13 Jérome d’Ambrosio Dragon Racing 1:19.923
14 Felix Rosenqvist Mahindra Racing 1:19.984
15 Nick Heidfeld Mahindra Racing 1:20.012
16 António Félix da Costa Andretti Autosport 1:20.132
17 Edoardo Mortara Venturi Formula E Team 1:20.157
18 Tom Blomqvist Andretti Autosport 1:20.422
19 Luca Filippi NIO Formula E Team 1:31.271
20 Mitch Evans Panasonic Jaguar Racing 1:40.540