The Nissan Formula E Team secured valuable points at the Shanghai International Circuit in a challenging ABB FIA Formula E World Championship double-header.
Oliver Rowland and Norman Nato ensured a double-points finish during Round 10’s Pit Boost event on Saturday, while Sunday saw heavy rain hamper the team’s chances of building on that performance in Round 11.
During the first race day of the weekend, the Japanese outfit made significant progress following a difficult Free Practice 2. For the eighth time in nine qualifying sessions, championship leader Oliver Rowland advanced to the Duels, lining up sixth for Saturday’s race, with teammate Norman Nato starting 15th.
The British driver fired into the lead battle at the start, claiming second after the first sequence of corners. With energy conservation key, the peloton-style race saw several drivers take turns out front, including Rowland, who recovered well after receiving contact from another competitor on Lap 6.
He rejoined the fight for first as the Pit Boost window opened, making his stop slightly later than many rivals and re-emerging in the top three. With multiple cars battling in the final stages, Rowland narrowly missed out on a podium, finishing fifth.
Meanwhile, Nato managed his pace through the early stages, saving more energy than anyone else throughout the race. After completing his Pit Boost stop, the French driver moved into the top 10 and started to make his way further up the order. In the final stages, Nato’s excellent management saw him join the battle for the podium positions that included Rowland, eventually coming home just behind his teammate in sixth.
Sunday brought torrential rain, but the Nissan Formula E Team duo showed promising pace in the Free Practice session, with both inside the top 10 before it was suspended due to the weather. However, the pair were unfortunate in qualifying, with conditions worsening throughout the session. Rowland was forced to abort his final run and had to settle for 15th on the grid, while Nato was unable to improve as the rain intensified, qualifying 21st.
With the Shanghai circuit still soaked, the delayed race got under way behind the safety car. On Lap 8, it went green with the field spread out due to the rolling start. The tricky track conditions meant it was difficult for Rowland and Nato to make progress, finishing 13th and 21st respectively.
Despite Sunday’s result, Rowland retains a healthy lead in the Drivers’ Championship with a 68-point advantage. He is currently on 171 and still the only driver with multiple race wins (four).
Keep fighting
The Nissan Formula E Team remains in a tight battle in the Teams’ Standings, sitting second on 190 points, just one behind first, while Nissan still holds the top spot in the Manufacturers’ with 285.
Tommaso Volpe, managing director and team principal of the Nissan Formula E Team, said: “It was a mixed weekend for us. However, there are still five races to go, and we’ll keep fighting until the end for all three titles.”