Formula E returns with Round 10 at the Marrakesh E-Prix as Season 8’s title contenders begin to step forward.
Round 9 of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship appears to have separated the true contenders from the midfield. The inaugural Jakarta E-Prix saw the top four in the standings finish in the top five. The race was a huge success in Indonesia, filling the stands with 60,000 and setting a Formula E TV record. With 13.4 million live viewers in Indonesia, it was the biggest single country viewing total in the series’ history. Now after nearly a month off, Formula E travels to the northwest of Africa and the fifth Marrakesh E-Prix.
Having missed the calendar last season, Marrakesh offers up brutally hot race conditions, several overtaking chances, and a circuit that has yet to see a repeat winner. In two months’ time, Season 8 will have concluded with three double-headers to follow this weekend’s race. The Marrakesh E-Prix is a huge opportunity for one of the top four to solidify a lead heading into a frenetic finish.
The Circuit – Marrakesh E-Prix:
The 2.9 km circuit is split between the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan and the city streets around the Marrakesh hotel district. With a mixture of high-speed straights and tight corners, there will be plenty of opportunities to pass including Turns 1, 3, 7, and 11. Lucas di Grassi holds the lap record with a 1:20:737 in 2019 for Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler.
Current Standings:
Drivers’ Championship
Five are listed below, but it looks to be a four-driver battle for the remainder of the season. The top four have taken two of the three podium places in each of the last six rounds. And thanks to a reverse order finish by the top-four in Jakarta, only 12 points separate Vandoorne and Evans.
- Stoffel Vandoorne – 121 points
- Jean-Eric Vergne – 116
- Edoardo Mortara – 114
- Mitch Evans – 109
- Robin Frijns – 81
Teams’ Championship
Mitch Evan’s form keeps Jaguar’s title hopes alive, even if they are on the outside looking in, with Sam Bird 12th in the Drivers’ Championship. Meanwhile, just 17 points separate the top three with both DS Techeetah and ROKiT Venturi gaining on Mercedes in Jakarta.
- Mercedes-EQ – 186 points
- DS Techeetah – 170
- ROKiT Venturi – 169
- Jaguar TCS – 139
- TAG Heuer Porsche – 114
On track rivals 🤝 Shuffleboard rivals
It’s @mitchevans_ 🆚 @afelixdacosta this time!
Who will be victorious? 🤔#ABBFormulaE #Motorsport #Racing pic.twitter.com/xH4uVNCu3a
— Formula E (@FIAFormulaE) June 23, 2022
Race Predictions:
While it’s been two years since the series visited Marrakesh, DS Techeetah dominated the 2020 podium. Both Evans and Mortara finished in the points that day, while the Mercedes cars struggled. Much like Jakarta, Marrakesh will be extremely hot and test the team’s battery energy and race strategies. I expect all four of the championship leaders to be in the hunt for the Qualifying knockout rounds, with a podium of:
- Jean-Eric Vergne
- Stoffel Vandoorne
- Mitch Evans
How to Watch the Marrakesh E-Prix (EDT):
- Practice 1: Friday 7/1 – 11:55 am on CBS Sports HQ, Formula E’s YouTube Channel, Formula E’s Website, or the Formula E App.
- Practice 2: Saturday 7/2 – 2:25 am on CBS Sports HQ, Formula E’s YouTube Channel, Formula E’s Website, or the Formula E App.
- Qualifying: Saturday 7/2 – 4:30 am on CBS Sports HQ.
- E-Prix: Saturday 7/2– 11:30 am on the CBS Sports Network.
