Formula E karting session

Formula E karting session

2018-04-26 - 資料

With just days to go until the 2018 Qatar Airways Paris E-Prix, a handful of ABB FIA Formula E Championship drivers headed down to the RKC track in Paris to try their hand at SODI RSX electric karting alongside rising Formula 3 star Billy Monger.

"When I had my accident, I didn't know if I'd be able to drive again, let alone race with the Formula E grid," said Monger, who lost both of his legs last year in an accident. "I know how important motorsport has been in my rehabilitation - not only on the circuit but also off the track, keeping me motivated and stimulated. I think it can help a lot of people. I'm just working my way up the categories but Formula E is obviously something I'm interested in - we'll have to wait and see!"

 

 

Leading the event - and also the Formula E driver's championship - was Techeetah's Jean-Eric Vergne, who organised the day with the support of the newly-established FIA Disability and Accessibility Commission and its President Nathalie McGloin to raise funds for the charity Spinal Track. Providing disabled drivers with the chance to get behind the wheel of a racing car, Spinal Track, "is about getting disabled people to do the same things able-bodied drivers can do." said McGloin. "I know how much I get from driving on track, so I wanted to offer that to other people." To donate and show your support - click here.

With a full day of karting, it was business as usual for the Formula E drivers, with just as much action as a regular Formula E street race, albeit on a smaller scale. "It was great to be here all together today," said Jean-Eric Vergne, who also celebrated his 28th birthday today. "It was the first time we've had electric karts on the track. Formula E is setting an example as the future of motorsport and soon that will come to karting. We're proving today that we're able to do a karting race with top Formula E drivers."

Hosting the event at RKC - his family track near Paris - JEV explained why this race was particularly significant to him and other racing drivers. "At my family track, we have always wanted to encourage people into motorsport and catered for handicapped people," he said, looking around at a full grid featuring drivers of all ages and abilities moments before the race. "We've always been involved in that and we've seen a lot of disabled drivers before but no one like Billy, who had such an accident at the beginning of his career. So to see him doing Formula 3 only one year after the accident and getting on the podium is incredible. He's an example to all of the guys his age."

Starting off with three, eight-minute free practice sessions, the drivers mixed into teams with fans and aspiring racing drivers before heading into three rounds of qualifying, each lasting eight minutes. With both the session and the competition starting to heat up, the teams headed into the races, each competing for that all-important first place finish. "It's good training for Saturday," said Mahindra Racing's Felix Rosenqvist with a smile, before congratulating Venturi Formula E's Maro Engel, whose team took home the first place prize with MS & AD Andretti Formula E's Antonio da Felix Costa and his team in second, followed by Monger's team just making it onto the podium in third.

 

Info & Pictures : fiaformulae.com