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Home Success the Target for NIO as Formula E Arrives in Hong Kong
ABB FIA Formula E Championship team NIO will be bidding for a swift return to the points-paying positions when round five of the season takes place in downtown Hong Kong this coming weekend – one of the squad’s eagerly awaited ‘home’ races.
Getting underway on Sunday, 10th March, around the streets of the spectacular and iconic Central Harbourfront, the HKT Hong Kong e-Prix will be one of the most important races of the year for NIO with lots of local support and scores of VIP guests in attendance.
The team arrives in the Far East with plenty to build on from the two recent races in the Americas, where driver Oliver Turvey scored points in the Santiago e-Prix in Chile before he and team-mate Tom Dillmann delivered season-best qualifying performances in Mexico City.
While an action-packed and drama-filled round four in Mexico just over a fortnight ago didn’t ultimately bear fruit for NIO in terms of the race result, there is no doubt that the squad has been making progress and more is anticipated going forwards.
Oliver Turvey, Race Driver, NIO Formula E Team:
“I am really looking forward to racing in Hong Kong, it is a fantastic central location with one of the most iconic city skylines as a backdrop. Although we have had a tough start to the season, we have previous experience on this tight street circuit where we have been able to show strong pace over the past two years. So I’ll be aiming to score the best result possible for NIO this weekend.”
Tom Dillmann, Race Driver, NIO Formula E Team:
“Hong Kong is a new circuit for me and one I am looking forward to. We have been preparing by working hard in the simulator to learn as much as we can. The track is quite different to anything that we have had so far with it’s stop and go layout, so it will be challenging, and the weather could also play an important part.”
Gérry Hughes, Team Principal, NIO Formula E Team:
“For me, Hong Kong always conjures up memories of Season 3 with the NIO 001 chassis locking out the front row in qualifying – but that seems a distant memory now and, unfortunately, the previous races around the streets of downtown Hong Kong have not been too kind to us. However, we return in Season 5 with the Generation 2 NIO 004 chassis with the primary objective of more points and hence the sole focus for the whole of the NIO Formula E Team is a simple one.”
Round five of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship season on Sunday, 10th March, will be shown live on BBC Two, the BBC Sport website, BBC iPlayer, mobile app and through the BBC ‘Red Button’ service. British Eurosport and BT Sport will also carry coverage live. Visit the official championship ‘You Tube’ channel for highlights, features and catch-up coverage.
Rd5 Schedule, Sunday, 10th March: HKT Hong Kong e-Prix
(all times local)
07.30 – Free Practice 1
10.00 – Free Practice 2
11.45 – Qualifying Group 1
11.55 – Qualifying Group 2
12.05 – Qualifying Group 3
12.15 – Qualifying Group 4
12.30 – Superpole (Top 6)
16.03 – Race (45mins +1 lap)
Connect with the NIO Formula E Team: @NIOFormulaE - Twitter, Instagram and Facebook: #BlueSkyComing #Acronis
