Audi Sport ABT Shaeffler’s rookie driver Nico Muller set a new Formula E lap record at the Marrakesh circuit with a time of 1:19.651. He smashed yesterday’s fastest lap of 1:19.760 set during the race.
“I had lots of fun today. My first time in a Formula E car was a very successful one”, said the 25-year-old Swiss driver. “I really enjoyed myself and I got to do a lot of laps. Being the quickest is the icing on the cake. But what’s more important is that we did the work that was planned. I got my first taste of a very fun series, in a very fun car.”
In the morning session, a miscalculation on Turn 1 for Dragon’s Andrea Caldarelli brought out the red flag. He found himself in the tyre wall with damage to the nose and front suspension. Running soon got back underway though, and as the test reached its halfway point it was Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s Paul Di Resta quickest. His teammate for the day Pietro Fittipaldi followed up the team’s strong morning pace and came second in the afternoon’s session with a time of 1:20.597.
With the rookie test open to any driver who does not, and has never held an eLicence, it resulted in an eclectic mixture of proven talents and young guns. Two of the top drivers from the FIA Formula 3 Championship both enjoyed their first outings in the all-electric single-seater, with Joel Eriksson third quickest in the morning session for DS Virgin Racing and Maximillian Gunther third in the afternoon timesheets for Dragon.
Audi Sport ABT Shaeffler’s rookie driver Nico Muller set a new Formula E lap record at the Marrakesh circuit with a time of 1:19.651
Despite Muller’s sensational lap, it was a day of mixed fortunes for Audi. Technical difficulties continued to plague FIA Formula 2 driver Nyck de Vries’ car for most of the running. He managed to do a lap – late in the afternoon, giving the tenth fastest time.
“I think this is a great initiative to have this rookie day”, Formula E founder and CEO Alejandro Agag commented. Formula E is about the future and these guys are the future talent. To give them an opportunity to drive the cars and for us to get to know them better is great. The quality of the people here is amazing and many others would have loved to come but there is only 20 places here.”
Really fun first day in @FIAFormulaE with @audisport @abt_sportsline here at the rookie test. lot’s of laps, lot’s learned and ending up P1 with a new Marrakech track record is the icing on the cake! thanks to the team for a great job! ?#nm51 pic.twitter.com/DW15LEA7Lw
— Nico Mueller (@nico_mueller) January 14, 2018
