Formula E

Excitement building ahead of inaugural Valencia e-Prix

Motorsport Technology
21 Apr 2021
3 min read

Yet another new circuit joins the Formula E roster this weekend as the world’s premier electric racing series welcomes the 3.376-kilometre Circuit Ricardo Tormo onto the calendar.

Although it is the first time the circuit will have held a Formula E race, drivers will still be familiar with the layout because it is the home or pre-season testing. Yet with a revised layout, it is sure to throw up a fresh and exciting challenge.

For the ROKiT Venturi Racing team, partnered by Acronis, spirits will be high following Edoardo Mortara’s fourth place finish in Roma and Norman Nato’s sterling drive to what would have been a podium had his energy not expired on the penultimate corner.

“Overall I think Rome was a good weekend for us as a team and I’m looking forward to returning to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo for the first time since November,” said Mortara. “Because it’s the home of pre-season testing, it’s a venue that I’m used to as a driver but changes to the second and third sector make the track quite different to the configuration we’ve driven in the past.

“The positioning of Attack Mode in Turn 8 will be very interesting and the chicane on the start-finish stretch should be a key overtaking opportunity come race day.”

For Nato, despite the disappointment of his agonising late exclusion, he will be brimming with confidence as he now knows he is capable of mixing it at the sharp end of proceedings.

“I think we showcased the performance that we’re truly capable of in Rome and I’m excited to get back into the car in Valencia,” said Nato. “After spending some time in the simulator earlier this week, the changes to the Circuit Ricardo Tormo make the track quite tricky, especially with the addition of the chicane.

“There are always some differences when you arrive at the circuit and it will be interesting to see what the track will be like in reality when the running gets underway. I’m really looking forward to being back out on track.”

ROKiT Venturi Racing is not the only Acronis partnered team to be taking to the streets of Valencia, with both the NIO333 FE Team and DS TECHEETAH both hoping to build on a positive start to the season.

Oliver Turvey has already notched points finishes in both rounds in Ad Diriyah before new recruit Tom Blomqvist bagged a ninth place in the second race in Rome.

“I am looking forward to racing in Valencia for the first time after we had a positive final day at the pre-season test. The new layout has changed the nature of the track to be more like the street circuits we race on in Formula E. The whole team has worked so hard recently, so I hope to be able to repay them for all their work with more points in the double header at Valencia and to continue the team’s points scoring run.”

And for the recent dominant DS TECHEETAH outfit, there will be high hopes of another victory as their two champion drivers battle it out in the all new DS E-TENSE FE21.

Motorsport Technology

View all posts

You may also like