LONDON: The Circuit International Automobile Moulay El-Hassan in Marrakech presents a unique challenge for Formula E teams and drivers alike, and ROKiT Venturi team principal Jerome D’Ambrosio hopes it will act as a springboard for a successful FIA World Championship title drive come the end of the season.
The semi-permanent racing facility will mark the return of the Formula E World Championship to Morocco, and both ROKiT drivers are looking forward to testing their skills on the nearly-three kilometer track.
“After a month away from the track, the team is rested and ready for the big final push this season in which we will complete a total of seven races in only seven weeks,” D’Ambrosio said.
“Since Berlin, we have built a good momentum and this weekend, the goal is to maintain that form.
Marrakech is a circuit that we haven’t raced at since Season 6 but having raced there several times, it’s a circuit that we hold a lot of historic data from.
This will form the basis of our understanding and as always, the goal is to qualify well and score a good haul of points, consistency is the most important aspect of performance at this stage of the season and we will make sure to keep that in mind going into this weekend,” he added.
Title-hopeful Edoardo Mortara got the team’s best finish at the circuit in 2020, crossing the line in fifth place.
“After our podium in Jakarta, I’m really looking forward to taking to the track in Marrakech and capitalizing on the form we know we’re capable of,” he said.
“Since Berlin, we have been able to establish some good momentum but this definitely doesn’t mean that we can relax.
“We need to take the same approach for this weekend as usual and we know that we have the potential to finish well – we just need to execute a clean race and see where we end up,” he added.
His teammate, Lucas di Grassi, said getting the balance of the car in the hot Moroccan weather will be key.
“Since the beginning of the season we have shown that we have strong race pace but Marrakech will be very hot so the correct thermal management of the car, tyres and batteries will be critical to unlocking success during the race this weekend,” he said.
“We’ve prepared really well so I feel confident that a podium finish is within our reach.
“My focus now is to perform at my best and win as many races as possible from now until the end of the season,” he added.