- Models
Luckless Weekend for NIO in Berlin
Round 10 of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin on Saturday 25th May, proved to be a disappointing race for NIO with drivers Oliver Turvey and Tom Dillmann both encountering early misfortune.
Turvey made a good getaway at the standing start from 14th on the grid and was immediately trading places throughout lap one after initially being boxed in at Turn Two.
Although sustaining front wing damage which didn’t cause too much of an issue, the delays in the thick of battle did, and he dropped down the order. The British racer eventually ended the BMW i Berlin E-Prix Presented by CBMM Niobium in a frustrating 18th place.
From 17th position at the start, Dillmann was shuffled back to 20th spot on a very busy opening lap where there was action aplenty. After slipping two further places to 22nd position, the Frenchman went on to end the E-Prix an improved 19th after late race issues for a couple of rivals.
Oliver Turvey, Race Driver, NIO Formula E Team:
“We have had a tough season. Despite preparing well for this weekend and extracting as much as we could from the car in qualifying, it was a challenge. We got a good start and it was quite tight in the first few corners but I managed to hold position. I realised quickly that I had damaged the front wing but it didn’t affect the race too much, but clearly not ideal. After that we struggled for pace and I fought as hard as I could. It was not the result that we wanted and everyone here at NIO has put a huge amount of effort in, but we keep learning every weekend.”
Tom Dillmann, Race Driver, NIO Formula E Team:
“It was a tough race, but we did a good job to maximise the package that we had. We had a clean lap in qualifying which was encouraging. Unfortunaley, come the race, we just didn’t have the performance in the car to be able to challenge for points. We are not giving up and we are all working really hard to make any progress we can.”
Gérry Hughes, Team Principal, NIO Formula E Team:
“The Berlin Tempelhof Airport circuit has always been a tough circuit for us and today’s race has proved no exeption. Whilst we continue to extract more performance from the NIO 004 chassis, it is clear that all of the other teams are doing exactly the same, in a championship which is proving to be ultra-competitive.
So now, with only three races left this season, we will continue to strive for marginal improvements where and when humanly possibly.”
There is now a break of almost a month in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship calendar prior to round 11, the Julius Baer Swiss E-Prix, in Bern on Saturday, 22nd June. The race in Switzerland will be the last of the ‘European’ season ahead of the double-header Season 5 finale in New York City, USA, in July.
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