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Turvey Takes Top 12 Best for NIO in Action-Packed Sanya e-Prix
NIO drivers Oliver Turvey and Tom Dillmann battled the odds to post P12 and P13 finishes respectively in today’s FWD Sanya E-Prix in China, the second of the squad’s Season 5 ‘home’ races.
With qualifying not working out as intended, Dillmann started as the highest placed of the duo in 17th spot with Turvey two positions behind. With a tough E-Prix ahead, the NIO team-mates did progress well in a race impacted by several yellow flag interuptions and a red flag stoppage with 10 minutes to go.
At the beginning of the 45-minute plus one lap encounter, both drivers made good starts but Dillmann was impeded as a result of contact to the rear of his car from a rival, and so dropped behind Turvey.
Moving into 14th and 15th by lap two, the pairing did lose some ground but started to again move back up the order and, prior to the red flag, Dillmann had passed Briton Turvey to claim 14th place.
After the resumption, Turvey hit back to re-pass the Frenchman and the NIOs then climbed into 12th and 13th before the E-Prix concluded under Full Course Yellow conditions, due to a final lap collision involving two cars.
Oliver Turvey, Race Driver, NIO Formula E Team:
“It was great to be racing in China, we have had a lot of support which has been fantastic and a real boost. The race was tough and with a new track layout, and the heat, it presented a number of challenges. We pushed as hard as we could to get the most out of it but had to settle for no points which was disappointing. As a team it was disappointing not to get a better result for NIO but we certainly gave it our best.”
Tom Dillmann, Race Driver, NIO Formula E Team:
“This weekend on the whole we maximised everything that we had. I had a good qualifying lap which I was satisfied with, but despite making positive steps we need to improve further. We had a good strategy but it did not quite play out with the red flag and safety car so we had to make the most of the situation that we found ourselves in. We were unlucky in the end, but being here for the team’s home event has been great, we have been made to feel so welcome.”
Paul Fickers, Engineering Director, NIO Formula E Team:
“In another eventful E-Prix, the NIO formula E-Team came close to a points score in its home race in Sanya. The full course yellow at the end of the race did not allow the usual thrilling fight for positions and did, as such, anticipate the final race outcome. The team will now focus its attention on the upcoming European season and is looking forward to another exciting event in Rome.”
Formula E now heads to Europe for the first of five races on the continent, starting with the Rome E-Prix in Italy on Saturday, 13th April.
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