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2015 London ePrix

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The 2015 London ePrix, officially known as the 2015 Visa London ePrix, was two Formula E motor races that took place on the 27 and 28 June 2015 on the Battersea Park Street Circuit in Battersea Park, London. It was the tenth and eleventh rounds of the 2014–15 Formula E season, the last of the inaugural season of Formula E.[1]

Background to race weekend

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In December 2013, the FIA approved a Formula E calendar of ten races, of which London was the 10th and last race.[2] Wandsworth Council eventually approved of the circuit and also announced that it would be a double race on the 19 February 2015.[3]

There was some controversy over the park circuit which took place in a Grade II* listed park with opposition to a public park being disrupted to accommodate the races. Battersea Park was closed to the public for four days with a three-week disruption period and a decision has yet to be taken on a repeat race.[4]

Since the previous ePrix in Moscow, five driver changes were made. The first of these was that Jaime Alguersuari had been replaced by Fabio Leimer,[5] as the Spaniard was forced to withdraw due to health issues.[6] He was the first of three new Swiss drivers (taking the total 4), with Alex Fontana[7] and Simona de Silvestro[8] replacing Vitantonio Liuzzi and Justin Wilson respectively. De Silvestro's appearance in Formula E makes her the eighth driver to drive for Andretti this season, the sixth in the second car, and the third female driver in series history. Also making their first appearance was Sakon Yamamoto, who replaces António Félix da Costa as the Portuguese driver is driving for BMW in DTM,[9] and Oliver Turvey, who replaces Charles Pic, becoming the fourth different driver to drive the second car for NEXTEV Team China Racing.[10]

Race One

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2015 London ePrix
Race 10 of 11 of the 2014–15 Formula E season
Layout of the Battersea Park Street Circuit
Layout of the Battersea Park Street Circuit
Race details
Date June 27, 2015
Official name Visa London ePrix
Location Battersea Park Street Circuit, Battersea, London, United Kingdom
Course Temporary circuit
Course length 2.925 km (1.818 miles)
Distance 29 laps, 84.825 km (52.708 miles)
Weather Sunny
Pole position
Driver e.dams-Renault
Time 1:24.648
Fastest lap
Driver Brazil Lucas di Grassi Audi Sport Abt
Time 1:28.229 on lap 25
Podium
First e.dams-Renault
Second Dragon Racing
Third Andretti Autosport
Lap leaders

Background to Race One

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After winning the last race in Moscow, Nelson Piquet Jr. led the world championship by 17 points to fellow countryman, Lucas di Grassi. Swiss driver Sébastien Buemi was six points behind di Grassi in third. e.dams Renault topped the teams' championship by 44 points to Audi Sport Abt. NEXTEV Team China Racing was third, 11 further behind Audi Sport Abt.

After exceeding the track limits on multiple occasions in Moscow, Jarno Trulli was handed a five place grid penalty for failing to slow after cutting the chicane.[11]

Qualifying

[edit]
Pos. No. Driver Team Time Gap Grid
1 9 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi e.dams-Renault 1:24.648 1
2 7 Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio Dragon Racing 1:25.104 +0.456 2
3 11 Brazil Lucas di Grassi Audi Sport Abt 1:25.105 +0.457 3
4 99 Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr. NEXTEV TCR 1:25.144 +0.496 4
5 27 France Jean-Éric Vergne Andretti Autosport 1:25.182 +0.534 5
6 8 France Nicolas Prost e.dams-Renault 1:25.258 +0.610 6
7 88 United Kingdom Oliver Turvey NEXTEV TCR 1:25.829 +1.181 7
8 21 Brazil Bruno Senna Mahindra Racing 1:25.879 +1.231 8
9 2 United Kingdom Sam Bird Virgin Racing 1:25.894 +1.246 9
10 77 Mexico Salvador Durán Amlin Aguri 1:25.964 +1.316 10
11 6 France Loïc Duval Dragon Racing 1:25.998 +1.340 11
12 23 Germany Nick Heidfeld Venturi Grand Prix 1:26.128 +1.480 12
13 66 Germany Daniel Abt Audi Sport Abt 1:26.302 +1.654 13
14 30 France Stéphane Sarrazin Venturi Grand Prix 1:26.318 +1.670 14
15 10 Italy Jarno Trulli Trulli GP 1:26.852 +2.204 201
16 5 India Karun Chandhok Mahindra Racing 1:27.160 +2.512 15
17 28 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Andretti Autosport 1:27.208 +2.560 16
18 55 Japan Sakon Yamamoto Amlin Aguri 1:27.456 +2.808 17
19 18 Switzerland Alex Fontana Trulli GP 1:28.083 +3.435 18
20 3 Switzerland Fabio Leimer Virgin Racing 1:28.152 +3.504 19
  • ^1 – Jarno Trulli was handed a five place penalty for excessive corner cutting in Moscow.[11]

Race

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Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 9 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi e.dams-Renault 29 47:54.784 1 25+31
2 7 Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio Dragon Racing 29 +0.939 2 18
3 27 France Jean-Éric Vergne Andretti Autosport 29 +1.667 5 15
4 11 Brazil Lucas di Grassi Audi Sport ABT 29 +2.409 3 12+22
5 99 Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr. NEXTEV TCR 29 +7.370 4 10
6 2 United Kingdom Sam Bird Virgin Racing 29 +7.762 9 8
7 8 France Nicolas Prost e.dams-Renault 29 +8.553 6 6
8 6 France Loïc Duval Dragon Racing 29 +9.507 11 4
9 88 United Kingdom Oliver Turvey NEXTEV TCR 29 +10.032 7 2
10 30 France Stéphane Sarrazin Venturi Grand Prix 29 +12.077 14 1
11 28 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Andretti Autosport 29 +15.946 17
12 5 India Karun Chandhok Mahindra Racing 29 +35.595 16
13 23 Germany Nick Heidfeld Venturi Grand Prix 29 +41.034 12
14 3 Switzerland Fabio Leimer Virgin Racing 29 +42.697 20
15 10 Italy Jarno Trulli Trulli GP 29 +43.273 15
16 21 Brazil Bruno Senna Mahindra Racing 29 +48.423 8
17 77 Mexico Salvador Duran Amlin Aguri 29 +1:01.9873 10
Ret 18 Switzerland Alex Fontana Trulli GP 25 Suspension 19
Ret 66 Germany Daniel Abt Audi Sport ABT 15 Accident 13
Ret 55 Japan Sakon Yamamoto Amlin Aguri 15 Battery 18
  • ^1 Three points for pole position.
  • ^2 Two points for fastest lap.
  • ^3 Salvador Duran received a drive through penalty converted into a 49-second penalty for overuse of power.

Standings after the race

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Drivers or teams listed in bold were still able to take the respective title.

Drivers' Championship standings[12]
Pos Driver Points
1 Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr. 138
2 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi 133
3 Brazil Lucas di Grassi 125
4 Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio 95
5 France Nicolas Prost 88
Constructors' Championship standings[13]
Pos Constructor Points
1 France e.dams Renault 221
2 Germany Audi Sport ABT 157
3 China NEXTEV TCR 144
4 United States Dragon Racing 138
5 United States Andretti Autosport 119
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

Race Two

[edit]
2015 London ePrix
Race 11 of 11 of the 2014–15 Formula E season
Layout of the Battersea Park Street Circuit
Layout of the Battersea Park Street Circuit
Race details
Date June 28, 2015
Official name Visa London ePrix
Location Battersea Park Street Circuit, Battersea, London, United Kingdom
Course Temporary circuit
Course length 2.925 km (1.818 miles)
Distance 29 laps, 84.825 km (52.708 miles)
Pole position
Driver Venturi
Time 1:23.901
Fastest lap
Driver United Kingdom Sam Bird Virgin Racing
Time 1:26.790 on lap 24
Podium
First Virgin Racing
Second Dragon Racing
Third Dragon Racing
Lap leaders

Qualifying

[edit]
Pos. No. Driver Team Time Gap Grid
1 30 France Stéphane Sarrazin Venturi Grand Prix 1:23.901 - 1
2 7 Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio Dragon Racing 1:23.965 +0.064 2
3 6 France Loïc Duval Dragon Racing 1:24.107 +0.206 3
4 2 United Kingdom Sam Bird Virgin Racing 1:24.241 +0.340 4
5 21 Brazil Bruno Senna Mahindra Racing 1:24.318 +0.417 5
6 9 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi e.dams-Renault 1:24.385 +0.484 6
7 23 Germany Nick Heidfeld Venturi Grand Prix 1:25.494 +1.593 7
8 77 Mexico Salvador Duran Amlin Aguri 1:25.649 +1.748 8
9 18 Switzerland Alex Fontana Trulli GP 1:25.689 +1.788 9
10 10 Italy Jarno Trulli Trulli GP 1:27.093 +3.192 10
11 11 Brazil Lucas di Grassi Audi Sport ABT 1:32.570 +8.669 11
12 88 United Kingdom Oliver Turvey NEXTEV TCR 1:33.626 +9.725 12
13 28 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Andretti Autosport 1:34.167 +10.266 13
14 27 France Jean-Éric Vergne Andretti Autosport 1:35.032 +11.131 14
15 8 France Nicolas Prost e.dams-Renault 1:35.111 +11.210 15
16 99 Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr. NEXTEV TCR 1:35.284 +11.383 16
17 3 Switzerland Fabio Leimer Virgin Racing 1:35.543 +11.642 17
18 66 Germany Daniel Abt Audi Sport ABT 1:38.473 +14.572 18
19 5 India Karun Chandhok Mahindra Racing 1:41.232 +17.331 19
20 55 Japan Sakon Yamamoto Amlin Aguri no time - 20

Race

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Sarrazin won the race from pole, but he was penalized post-race for overusing his allocated energy, handing Bird victory in his home race.[14] Piquet Jr., meanwhile finished seventh and became Formula E's inaugural drivers' champion by one point ahead of Buemi, after the Swiss driver spun on his out lap after changing cars and stuck behind fourth-placed Senna for the remainder of the race, but nevertheless, e.dams secured their inaugural team's championship title.[14]

Pos. No. Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Points
1 2 United Kingdom Sam Bird Virgin Racing 29 45:48.792 4 25+21
2 7 Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio Dragon Racing 29 +6.973 2 18
3 6 France Loïc Duval Dragon Racing 29 +9.430 3 15
4 21 Brazil Bruno Senna Mahindra Racing 29 +10.147 5 12
5 9 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi e.dams-Renault 29 +10.689 6 10
6 11 Brazil Lucas di Grassi Audi Sport ABT 29 +11.204 11 8
7 99 Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr. NEXTEV TCR 29 +11.561 16 6
8 77 Mexico Salvador Duran Amlin Aguri 29 +12.402 8 4
9 88 United Kingdom Oliver Turvey NEXTEV TCR 29 +14.142 12 2
10 8 France Nicolas Prost e.dams-Renault 29 +14.535 15 1
11 66 Germany Daniel Abt Audi Sport ABT 29 +23.170 18
12 28 Switzerland Simona de Silvestro Andretti Autosport 29 +24.610 13
13 5 India Karun Chandhok Mahindra Racing 29 +31.501 19
14 18 Switzerland Alex Fontana Trulli GP 29 +38.423 9
15 30 France Stéphane Sarrazin Venturi Grand Prix 29 +48.6802 1 33
16 27 France Jean-Éric Vergne Andretti Autosport 28 +1 lap 14
Ret 23 Germany Nick Heidfeld Venturi Grand Prix 23 Gearbox 7
Ret 3 Switzerland Fabio Leimer Virgin Racing 17 Suspension 17
Ret 10 Italy Jarno Trulli Trulli GP 14 Brakes 10
Ret 55 Japan Sakon Yamamoto Amlin Aguri 6 Accident 20

Notes:

  • ^1  – Two points for fastest lap.
  • ^2  – Stéphane Sarrazin received a drive through penalty converted into a 49-second penalty for overuse of power.
  • ^3  – Three points for pole position.

Standings after the race

[edit]
Drivers' Championship standings[12]
Pos Driver Points
1 Brazil Nelson Piquet Jr. 144
2 Switzerland Sébastien Buemi 143
3 Brazil Lucas di Grassi 133
4 Belgium Jérôme d'Ambrosio 113
5 United Kingdom Sam Bird 103
Constructors' Championship standings[13]
Pos Constructor Points
1 France e.dams Renault 232
2 United States Dragon Racing 171
3 Germany Audi Sport ABT 165
4 China NEXTEV TCR 152
5 United Kingdom Virgin Racing 133
  • Note: Only the top five positions are included for both sets of standings.

References

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  1. ^ "London Timetable". FIA Formula E. Archived from the original on June 29, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2015.
  2. ^ "The final 2013 meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council (WMSC) took place today (4 December) in Paris, France". fia.com. Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. 4 December 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2013.
  3. ^ "Green light for 'double header' London ePrix in Battersea Park". FIA Formula E. 19 February 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 24 February 2015.
  4. ^ ""Chaos" as Battersea Park prepares for Formula e weekend".
  5. ^ "Leimer replaces Alguersuari for London". Formula E Operations. FIA Formula E Championship. 23 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Jaime Alguersuari withdrawn from Formula E finale on health grounds". Autosport. 23 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  7. ^ "Fontana to race at London ePrix with Trulli". Motorsport. Motorsport.com. 25 June 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  8. ^ "De Silvestro to race in Visa London ePrix". Formula E Operations. FIA Formula E Championship. 14 June 2015. Archived from the original on 27 June 2015. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  9. ^ Biesbrouck, Tim. "Yamamoto replaces Felix da Costa in London". Electric Autosport. Formula Blue Media. Retrieved 15 June 2015.
  10. ^ "McLaren F1 test driver Oliver Turvey to make Formula E debut". autosport.com/. Autosport. 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  11. ^ a b "Trulli handed post-race grid penalty". Formula E Operations. FIA Formula E Championship. 6 June 2015. Archived from the original on 29 June 2015. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
  12. ^ a b "Driver Standings". fiaformulae.com. FIA. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Team Standings". fiaformulae.com. FIA. Archived from the original on 30 May 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
  14. ^ a b "Formula E crowns its first champions in London". www.motorsport.com. Retrieved 2022-06-03.
Previous race:
2015 Moscow ePrix
FIA Formula E Championship
2014–15 season
Next race:
2015 Beijing ePrix
2015–16 season
Previous race:
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London ePrix Next race:
2016 London ePrix