Second-to-last double header is upon us – what can we expect from this year’s travel to Rome? Strap in and find out!
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“Veni, vidi, vici” is definitely something that the drivers would like to say after the double header is done. But what can we expect from the beautiful Rome, a city that provided us with a fantastic spectacle last year?
The Circuito Cittadino dell’EUR, spanning 3.385km and consisting of 19 turns, is one of the longest tracks in Formula E. It incorporates notable landmarks such as the Palazzo dei Congressi, Piazzale Marconi, and the iconic Palazzo della Civilta Italiana, also known as the “Square Coliseum.” Additionally, Ninfeo Park runs alongside the track. This circuit offers a perfect combination of high-speed stretches and challenging, intricate sections, featuring varying elevations. It provides numerous opportunities for overtaking at the hairpin and several 90-degree bends.
When the E-Prix was first announced, this is what Virginia Raggi, back then the Mayor of Rome said about hosting the race: “Rome is a key protagonist in the international landscape with EUR setting the scene for the first Formula E race in Italy. The future means sustainable mobility, innovation and above all respect for the environment. With this event, Rome will benefit from a positive economic impact as other major cities in Europe and around the world have experienced. Formula E will bring investments and benefits to the city with its legacy program, such as new streets and electric charging stations. Our desire is to see more and more vehicles powered by clean energy circulating in Rome, because for our administration – sustainable mobility and safeguarding the environment are extremely important objectives.”
And since then, the event became not only widely popular amongst the fans, but also a track that the drivers really enjoy. One of them is definitely Mitch Evans of Jaguar TCS Racing, who won it back-to-back last year after a difficult start into the season. This year, the double header in Rome is the second-to-last event of the season, ahead of the final in London by the end of this month.
It’s even better since Rome will be another E-Prix your pitdebrief.com crew will report on live from the paddock! So, before we head for the electrifying two rounds – what happened last time in Portland? Well, the drivers added another 403 overtakes onto the board, and we’ve had a fantastic race happening on the US soil. Jake Dennis emerged as the leader of the championship, although leading by only one point ahead of Nick Cassidy. Taking into consideration that last year Rome was a Jaguar dominated circuit, both Cassidy and Mitch Evans are expected to pull some sort of a magical performance on the streets of the Italian capitol.
Their main competitor, Pascal Wehrlein, had a difficult time in Portland. Finishing in 10th place, he earned only a single point in Formula E’s first visit to Oregon. Considering there’s only four races left in the calendar, a good performance in both rounds in Rome will be absolutely crucial to his place in the championship standings. Portland’s circuit witnessed the fastest top speed ever recorded in Formula E history, marking the third time this season that the record has been broken at new tracks on the calendar. One of the before-mentioned favourites for Rome Mitch Evans reached an astonishing top speed of 276.6km/h, making him the fastest driver in Formula E history. Can he do it again in Italy?
Here’s the sessions schedule for this weekend’s double-header Rome E-Prix:
FP1 – 14/07/2023 – 17:00 – 17:45 CET
FP2 -15/07/2023 – 08:10 – 08:55 CET
Qualifying – 15/07/2023 – 10:40 – 11:55 CET
Race – 15/07/2023 – 15:03 – 16:30 CET
FP3 – 16/07/2023 – 08:10 – 08:55 CET
Qualifying – 16/07/2023 – 10:40 – 11:55 CET
Race – 16/07/2023 – 15:03 – 16:30 CET
As per usual, you can find the coverage of the WHOLE weekend here at Pitdebrief.com, and again remember to tune in here as we’ll be covering the event live! And don’t forget: enjoy the race, wherever you are! ✨
