It’s Sunday in Rome, and we are going green again for the final Practise session of the weekend. After a crash packed first race in Rome, many drivers were left with severely damaged cars but in good health, and everyone is able to return racing today.
Luckily spare parts were found for everyone, in spite of the general shortage of Gen 3 car component, with a number of cars still sporting more than a bit of duct tape. Track temperature is at 45C right now, much cooler than during yesterday’s race in 60C
Jake Dennis puts in the first timed lap of the session in 1:43.116s, whereas after the first round of attempts Günther leads in 1:39.439s.
The first yellow flag of the day is brought out by Maserati’s Edoardo Mortara, who slightly kissed the wall at Turn 6 and is able to return to the pits on his own to asses the damage.
The only car to not have been out on track ten minutes in the session is Fenestraz’s Nissan, after leading yesterday’s E-Prix for a long time but ending the race out of the podium due to energy saving.
Nissan later confirmed that the French-Argentinian driver won’t be taking part in the session, with the team hoping to get his car sorted out for qualifying.
Merhi went slightly into the wall as well at Turn 15, and is forced to pit to check his car. It has not been a great session for Mahindra, as Di Grassi stalls on track and has to stop the car at Turn 16, bringing out another yellow flag. Afterwards, Merhi had yet another moment at Turn 4, locking up and ending straight out of the track.
At the halfway point of the session, one of yesterday’s podium contender Rast leads in 1:38.550s, followed by Nato and Wehrlein. Yesterday’s race winner Evans with his third Rome win in a row, shortly took the lead, but his efforts have been bested by the other drivers.
His teammate Sam Bird mentions regeneration issues as he laps around with a freshly rebuilt car after his huge crashes yesterday with Buemi and Mortara.
With ten minutes to go, Günther has bested Rast for the lead by 0.141. The Maserati driver scored the Italian team’s first home podium in Formula E.
The German McLaren driver locks up and goes straight out at Turn 4, as the championship contenders put in some strong laps to all enter the Top 5.
In the final stages of the session, Dennis puts in two purple sectors, but it’s not enough as he is ultimately shuffled to P6. Unsurprisingly, Mitch Evans leads the session with a 1:37.561s, followed by Envision’s Buemi, who has the best time in the final sector and Günther.
Da Costa’s final effort brings him up from out of the top ten to P4, improving the best time in the second sector to get ahead of championship leader Nick Cassidy.
Photo Credits Jaguar TCS Racing
