Formula E drivers head Sport to Eternal City
LEICESTER’S JAKE DENNIS AMONG BRITONS ON GRID FOR ROME E-PRIX
FORMULA E star Jake Dennis is preparing for the third and fourth rounds as the World Championship moves to Rome this weekend.
Dennis, who grew up in Leicester, will be among seven British drivers taking part - the largest representation of one nation on the grid.
The BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver said: “The races in Rome are some of the most exciting ones in the whole season.
“I love the city, so I am looking forward even more to competing there in Formula E as well.
“The new circuit is very technical and extremely long. That will be a new challenge for all of us.”
The Rome circuit has undergone a number of amendments and is now the second longest track in Formula E history behind Beijing.
The races will showcase the Roman District’s spectacular, historic surrounds, including the Palazzo dei Congressi, Piazzale Marconi and, starting from this year, the iconic Palazzo della Civilta Italiana, also known as the “Square Coliseum”.
The entire Ninfeo Park will also form a part of the circuit’s perimeter.
Formula E sporting director Frederic Espinos said: “We’ve created a real challenge – and in my opinion, one of the greatest layouts we’ve made yet.
“We’ve managed to keep the character of Rome in this new layout, with its undulations, lots of elevation changes, surface changes and the ontrack excitement we’ve always seen when visiting the city.”
Fresh from winning the second round under lights in Diriyah, Saudi Arabia, Jaguar Racing driver Sam Bird will be going head-to-head with another British team in Envision
Virgin Racing. As well as Bird and Dennis, the other British drivers on the grid will be Alexander Sims, Alex Lynn (both of Mahindra Racing), Oliver Turvey, Tom Blomqvist (both of NIO 333 Formula E Team) and Oliver Rowland (Nissan e.dams).
The first race of the Rome E-Prix doubleheader will be shown live on BBC Two from 2.45pm (BST) tomorrow.
The following day, round four of the Formula E World Championship will be available to watch on the BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website, with all future races live on the BBC.
Bird said: “It’s great news for British fans that we will be racing around the city streets of Rome live on BBC Two on a Saturday afternoon.
“It was fantastic to get my first win for Jaguar in Diriyah on the opening weekend of the season.”
Lynn said: “Following the intense racing we saw in Diriyah in the first ever night races, we are now heading to Rome and a new track layout which will be a fresh challenge for all the drivers.
“I’m sure fans will be in for a treat with more unpredictable action to come.”