São Paulo ePrix brings Formula E competition to the streets of São Paulo, with two Brazilian drivers among those vying for victory; meet them
Formula E is finally coming to Brazil. After years of waiting, negotiations and a significant delay due to the covid-19 pandemic, the São Paulo ePrix is scheduled for 25 March. Starting from the Anhembi Sambódromo, the category will transform part of the northern part of the capital São Paulo into a scene of great disputes and lots of speed with electric vehicles.
And among the riders vying for victory in a competitive season still in stage six are two Brazilians. Unlike F1, which has long lacked a representative from our country, Formula E has had competitors from the country in all its seasons, including a veteran who has already been through them all.
Famous names in motorsport have already been behind the wheel of electric cars in Formula E. Nelson Piquet Jr., for example, was the first champion in the category, while Lucas di Grassi also took home a title. Felipe Massa, who made the history of Formula 1, was a driver in the category for two seasons, while Bruno Senna contested one.
Meet now the Brazilian drivers competing in Formula E in the current season, which reaches its sixth race in the Sao Paulo ePrix.
Luke di Grassi
The winner of the first race in the category was also the winner of the 2016-2017 Formula E season, a welcome title after finishing second in the previous competition, with Switzerland’s Sébastien Buemi taking victory by just two points. Over the years, Lucas di Grassi has driven cars for Audi Sport ABT and ROKiT Venturi, arriving at the Sao Paulo ePrix at the wheel of Mahindra Racing.
More than a veteran, having participated in all seasons of Formula E, di Grassi was one of the forerunners of the category. He was a technical advisor during the planning of the sport and also a test driver for the sport’s first prototype, being directly involved in the development of the car and the competition itself, before signing with Audi Sport ABT as a debut team.
Likewise, di Grassi was one of the most active voices in securing the arrival of Formula E in Brazil. In 2020, during the Santiago ePrix, in Chile, the pilot spoke in an interview with canaltech for the modality to arrive in São Paulo was a matter of time – delayed, of course, due to the covid-19 pandemic. Now, in this post-vaccine period, the wish has come true. In addition to the capital São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro (RJ) has also entered the contention to host the race.
Early in his career, di Grassi competed in sports such as Formula Renault 2.0 Brazil and Formula 3 Sudamericana, as well as finishing runner-up in the 2007 GP2 season. The Brazilian also spent a year in Formula 1, taking the wheel in Virgin Racing’s debut in the category and with a best finish of 14th at the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Lucas di Grassi arrives at the Sao Paulo ePrix in 10th place in the drivers’ standings, with 18 points after a third place at the debut of the current season, at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodríguez, in Mexico City. At 38 he is the second oldest driver on the current grid, but he still has many years of competition ahead of him, with plans to retire by 2029.
Sergio Sette Camara
In his third season in Formula E, Sérgio Sette Câmara will be at the wheel of NIO 333 Racing, making his first team change after competing in the previous two tournaments for GEOX Dragon, where he was also a test driver in 2020. , his best result so far obtained by the team, with a fourth place at the Diriyah ePrix, in Saudi Arabia, which also marked the first points he obtained in the competition.
Despite being 24 years old, the driver from Belo Horizonte (MG) has great experience, having competed since he was 16. He began his career in Formula 3, having also made his debut at the Interlagos Circuit, finishing that season in seventh place. Refreshment came the following year, with third places and podiums conquered at the circuits of Spa-Francorchamps, in Belgium, and at the Red Bull Ring, in Austria.
To date, Sette Câmara holds the world record for fastest lap at the Formula 3 Macau Grand Prix, while a stint in Formula 2 in 2017 ensured him a maiden victory, also at the Belgian circuit, as well as a 12th place in Formula 2 drivers’ championship that year.
Sette Câmara occupies 15th place in the Drivers’ Championship, with 10 points scored so far in his best race of the season when he finished fifth at the Hyderabad ePrix in India. He is partnered with Dan Ticktum on NIO 333.
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Source: Terra
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