De Silvestro fastest female in Formula E test

Simona De Silvestro

Simona De Silvestro was the fastest in the Riyadh Formula E test that followed the race on Saturday.

Teams were granted permission to run two cars in each of the two sessions if they entered a female driver.

De Silvestro was 10th-fastest in the second session and 14th-fastest on combined times with a 1:12.048s around the 2.50km street circuit.

The Swiss driver completed all laps of her second session and all but one of the first at standard power mode rather than 225kW or 250kW, unlike a number of those ahead of her.

Women tryouts – Pippa Man (GBR), GEOX Dragon, Tatiana Calderon (COL), DS TECHEETAH, Amna Al Qubaisi (UAE), Envision Virgin Racing, Carrie Schreiner (DUE), HWA Racelab, Carmen Jorda (ESP),Nissan e.Dams, Beitske Visser (NLD), BMW I Andretti Motorsports, Jamie Chadwick (GBR), NIO Formula E Team, Simona de Silvestro (CHE), Venturi Formula E and Katherine Legge (GBR), Mahindra Racing

“It’s been very special to participate in the test today," said De Silvestro, who last raced in Formula E in 2015/16.

“The car felt great, we had some typical testing tweaks to make but the speed of the improvements made by the team was really impressive and bodes well for the season ahead."

Virgin Racing driver Sam Bird’s 1:09.668s was the fastest lap of the day, and indeed of the circuit’s short history given that practice and qualifying the day prior were affected by rain.

His teammate Robin Frijns was faster in the morning session but that lap was 0.876s slower than Bird’s best.

Race 2 of the season will be held in Marrakech on January 12.

Results: Test Session 1, Riyadh

Results: Test Session 2, Riyadh

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