Second Formula E victory for Buemi

Renault e.dams’s Sebastien Buemi sealed his second victory at the Punta del Este ePrix, the third race of the 2015/16 Formula E season on Saturday.

The picturesque street circuit lies next to the beach, and thousands of Formula E fans gathered to witness the practice, qualifying and the actual race, as 18 drivers from nine teams paced around the 2.8km circuit for 33 laps in their electric race cars. 

Buemi started from fifth place on the grid, but moved quickly to the front of the field. He would say later, “The start was really important for the outcome of the race.”

“Pulling away from the clean side of the grid meant I could jump di Grassi and then close in and pass (Jerome) D'Ambrosio and (Sam) Bird in the opening laps," he added.

The Swiss, who has experienced three Formula 1 seasons racing for Toro Rosso, was tailed all the way by ABT Schaeffler’s Lucas di Grassi, who had raced his way to victory in the Putrajaya ePrix just last month.

Di Grassi has managed to end up in the top two so far this season, and is only behind Buemi by one point in the Drivers’ Championship after the recent race. D’Ambrosio claimed his first Formula E pole and rounded up the podium, while his Dragon Racing teammate, Loic Duval, took fourth place. 

Another Formula 1 veteran, Venturi’s Jacques Villeneuve, had to withdraw from the race after crashing during the qualifying round. The 1997 Formula 1 champion was unhurt, but his chassis could not be repaired in time for the race.

The inaugural Formula E champion, Nelson Piquet Jr, crashed dramatically during the penultimate lap of the race at Turn 15, as he was attempting to hold off Virgin Racing’s Jean-Eric Vergne. Piquet Jr had to retire while the Frenchman finished eighth. 

The next race will take place in February on the shores of Buenos Aires.