After taking a double podium finish at the Marrakesh E-Prix, Envision Virgin Racing's Sylvain Filippi believes that the team's speed from the second round of the season displays the outfit's potential for Santiago, having unlocked the squad's pace.
In Marrakesh, both Robin Frijns and Sam Bird powered to a double podium finish for Envision Virgin, with the result marking the British marque's first double podium result in the ABB FIA Formula E Championship's short history of competition.
By taking second place, only 0.143s adrift of victory, Frijns secured what is currently his best result in the all-electric single seater series while third place for Bird, who also secured pole position, marked his 16th podium result.
After failing to score in the season-opening Ad Diriyah E-Prix, Envision Virgin currently occupies fourth in the Drivers' Championship with 36 points.
“The Marrakesh E-Prix was not only a huge boost for the team but also a key turning point as, despite being an independent team with limited testing, we were able to unlock our true pace,” said Filippi, Managing Director and Chief Technology Officer of Envision Virgin Racing
“For sure, the competition in Formula E is super competitive and you never quite know who is going to come out on top, but I know there is more to come, and our double podium shows the team’s potential.
"I’ve always said we have one of the best driver pairings in the paddock and with the team working as well as it is, we feel we can deliver again in Santiago.”
Bird, who will make his 48th Formula E race start in Santiago as one of five drivers to have taken part in every race in the championship, carries his confidence forward in the 2018/19 campaign and believes that Envision Virgin will once again challenge the leading pack:
“After the last result in Marrakesh, we’re really looking forward to racing in Santiago," he said. "It’s a new track but preparations have been going well in the simulator and we know we have the pace to challenge at the sharp end once again.”
Frijns, who was absent from the Season Four grid, echoed his team-mate's attitude, looking to maintain his pace from Marrakesh as Formula E's South American of the 2018/19 calendar leg begins:
“To get my best ever Formula E result in only my second ever race for Envision Virgin Racing is a fantastic feeling," added Frijns.
"The team is working so hard and the points haul in Marrakesh shows this, so we head to Santiago full of confidence and hopefully able to continue where we left off.”
The Santiago E-Prix will take place on January 26.
