Formula E: Cape Town South Africa up next
The inaugural Cape Town E-Prix is Formula E’s first sub-Saharan African event, with the spectacular Table Mountain providing the backdrop for the second of three consecutive events at new venues to the championship, following an unforgettable debut in India and Hyderabad last time out.
The Mother City’s Green Point district provides the location for the high-speed 2.921km circuit, looking out on Robben Island and in the shadow of Table Mountain – snaking around the DHL Stadium and skirting the coastline.
It’s a fast-paced track, with bumpy braking zones, a tight chicane at Turns 4, 5 and 6 with a pacy, eye-of-the-needle section midway around the lap – all set to throw up a real challenge for the 22 world class drivers. Another new event means everybody starts at zero, too.
The inaugural Cape Town E-Prix is Formula E’s first sub-Saharan African event, with the spectacular Table Mountain providing the backdrop for the second of three consecutive events at new venues to the championship, following an unforgettable debut in India and Hyderabad last time out. The Mother City’s Green Point district provides the location for the high-speed 2.921km circuit, looking out on Robben Island and in the shadow of Table Mountain – snaking around the DHL Stadium and skirting the coastline. It’s a fast-paced track, with bumpy braking zones, a tight chicane at Turns 4, 5 and 6 with a pacy, eye-of-the-needle section midway around the lap – all set to throw up a real challenge for the 22 world class drivers. Another new event means everybody starts at zero, too.
Porsche setting the pace
With a quarter of the season complete, its TAG Heuer Porsche and Pascal Wehrlein leading the way in both the Teams’ and Drivers’ World Championships. A win-double for the German in Diriyah followed a podium in the season-opener in Mexico City. Hyderabad proved a test for the Stuttgart manufacturer, with a technical issue throwing Wehrlein’s weekend into jeopardy via a heavy practice shunt.
Wehrlein and Porsche were able to find the root cause of the problem and recovered come the race to third and a maiden podium for Antonio Felix da Costa, with Wehrlein following home fourth – making sure the German team would lead the Formula E standings for the first time in its fourth season of competition.
Porsche didn’t have it all their own way in Hyderabad, then, and nor did Jake Dennis in the Avalanche Andretti-run Porsche 99X Electric. The Brit was unceremoniously removed from a potential top three finish by an overenthusiastic move from Rene Rast (NEOM McLaren). The resulting 16th-placed finish proved costly for Dennis – who’d won Round 1 in Mexico and brought it home second twice in Diriyah – allowing Wehrlein to extend his advantage in the standings over Dennis, who does still sit second.
Home hero
Johannesburg-born racer Kelvin van der Linde learned this week that he’d remain in the ABT CUPRA line-up in place of the injured Robin Frijns, meaning a home Formula E debut for the South African – on the same weekend his brother Sheldon races sportscars at Kyalami. Some weekend for the family.
“Now this dream is actually coming true and I’m driving a World Championship race in South Africa,” said van der Linde. “We all hoped that Robin would be fit in time. But of course, I will now give everything to represent him decently in Cape Town as well. The interest is enormous, my phone doesn’t stop ringing and buzzing. I’m really looking forward to the weekend.”
It’s been a tough return to Formula E for ABT so far, with no points and a best of 11th for Nico Mueller in Hyderabad. Things are slowly improving for the squad, and van der Linde will look to home support to urge him on up through the field in Cape Town
