Podium For Audi Driver Di Grassi In Buenos Aires

February 20, 2017 by Audi

◾Audi factory driver clinches third place in Formula E race in Argentina

◾First pole position for the Brazilian in the electric racing series

◾Daniel Abt with comeback drive from grid position 16 to seventh place

Audi factory driver Lucas di Grassi on clinching third place in Buenos Aires (Argentina) maintained his second place in the Formula E standings. His teammate Daniel Abt in race three of the fully electric racing series shone with a comeback drive from grid position 16 to seventh place.

Lucas di Grassi already gave Team ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport reason to cheer in qualifying. For the first time, the Brazilian clinched the top spot on the grid in Formula E and, as a result, scored three extra points. In the race, with temperatures of nearly 30 degrees centigrade in the shade, things initially did not go as expected. Di Grassi was struggling with heavy oversteer and dropped to position five. Following the car change halfway through the race, the Brazilian was able to attack again and to claim third place on the podium.

Audi factory driver Loïc Duval in the team of Dragon Racing finished in position six. Daniel Abt, following contact with the wall in qualifying, had to settle for grid position 16. With a strong race and a good strategy of the team the young German went on to battle his way forward to position seven, securing important points for the teams' classification as a result.

Formula E will continue in Mexico City on April 1.

A word from ... Lucas di Grassi

In Buenos Aires, you clinched your first pole position in Formula E. Consequently, wouldn't you have hoped for more than third place in the race?

Lucas di Grassi: 'A podium was the maximum we were able to achieve. With third place in the race and pole position we scored 18 points in total. It was no doubt a good weekend for us even though we still have a lot of homework to do.'

Why weren't you able to defend your initial lead?

'It's obvious that the cars with a Renault powertrain in front of and behind me were faster. In addition, my first car felt pretty strange. I had relatively little grip and a lot more oversteer than expected. The only thing I could do was to wait until the car change halfway through the race. The second car then was really good. I was able to overtake Nico (Prost) and make up some ground to Jev (Jean-Eric Vergne) too. Recovering from position five to three was a top result. More than that wasn't possible.'

You continue to rank in second place of the standings, but the gap to leader of the standings Sébastien Buemi has gotten bigger. What can you do about that?

'Seb (Buemi) was dominant last year as well. But he made some mistakes that we took advantage of. This season, he hasn't made any mistakes in the first three races. Obviously, we're going to continue trying to reduce the deficit to Renault. But during the season, only small improvements are possible in Formula E. You can only make a major step with a new homologation – and that exists only from year to year. We're already working on the new powertrain for season four.'

What will be possible in the next races?

'In season three, we can only try to score as many points as possible. I've managed to do that pretty well so far by taking second place in Hong Kong, fifth in Marrakesh, plus the 18 points in in Buenos Aires. We have to be ready to act when the others make mistakes. In that case, we can win races as well.'

You clinched your first pole position in Formula E in Buenos Aires. Did you expect that?

'We always try to extract the maximum. The track had little grip and I managed a good lap. That it turned out to be pole position was a nice surprise. It was great putting the car on pole.'

The Audi Group, with its brands Audi, Ducati and Lamborghini, is one of the most successful manufacturers of automobiles and motorcycles in the premium segment. It is present in more than 100 markets worldwide and produces at 16 locations in twelve countries. 100-percent subsidiaries of AUDI AG include Audi Sport GmbH (Neckarsulm), Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A. (Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy) and Ducati Motor Holding S.p.A. (Bologna, Italy).

In 2016, the Audi Group delivered to customers about 1.871 million automobiles of the Audi brand,
3,457 sports cars of the Lamborghini brand and 55,451 motorcycles of the Ducati brand. In the 2015 financial year, AUDI AG achieved total revenue of €58.4 billion and an operating profit of €4.8 billion. At present, approximately 88,000 people work for the company all over the world, about 60,000 of them in Germany. Audi focuses on new products and sustainable technologies for the future of mobility.

Photo credit: Audi
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