24 March 2019, Sanya – The Chinese Island of Hainan played host to its first ever E-Prix as VENTURI Formula E Team drivers, Felipe MASSA and Edoardo MORTARA, went to battle for the Monaco based team at the 6th round of the 2018-19 Formula E Championship on Saturday 23rd March. An action packed race in the sweltering heat saw both drivers pushed to the limit at the 2.236km track’s debut. The final race results saw MASSA finish in 10th, earning a valuable championship point, with MORTARA in 13th.

GOOD PACE, BAD LUCK With the thermometer nudging 30°C, the race kicked off at 3pm local time with Edoardo MORTARA beginning the race from 11th position with teammate Felipe MASSA in 15th. Both VENTURI Formula E Team drivers got off to a flawless start, with Felipe MASSA working his way through the pack and completing the opening lap in 12th and Edoardo MORTARA climbing to 8th place.

The Italian-Swiss driver then hovered between 8th and 10th, until a crash resulted in the red flag being deployed with a third of the race to go. Before the interruption, Felipe MASSA was consistently in touch with the top 10, with both cars performing efficiently.

With just four minutes of the race remaining, NISSAN E.DAMS Sébastien BUEMI’s collided with 8th place MORTARA which resulted in him losing a place before quickly regaining it. Unfortunately he was then unable to avoid Robin FRIJNS (ENVISION VIRGIN RACING) and Lucas DI GRASSI (AUDI SPORT ABT SCHAEFFLER) who were stationary on the track. Undeterred, MORTARA went back on the attack and crossed the finishing line in 10th place, only to be handed a 16 second penalty for failing to activate one of his mandatory two ‘Attack Mode’ settings, demoting the Italian-Swiss driver back down to 13th.

Felipe MASSA crossed the line in 11th place, but the penalty for his teammate saw him promoted to a 10th place finish.

The 51st E-Prix took place in Sanya, on the Island of Hainan in the far south of China. Nicknamed the “Chinese Hawaii”, the popular seaside resort hosted eleven teams, racing on a waterfront circuit that provided the stage for a dramatic contest.

Information and photo source : VENTURI Formula E Team