Cookie Consent by Free Privacy Policy website Second victory for Sam Bird and DS Virgin racing in New York
july 18, 2017 - DS Performance

Second victory for Sam Bird and DS Virgin racing in New York

  • British racer amasses impressive 53-point tally to head into season final as a championship contender
  • Double win and double podium for #dsvirginracing to round off weekend and team's largest ever points haul
  • Inaugural #newyork #formulae race hailed huge success with sell-out crowds

Sam Bird secured an outstanding second win from pole position during the second #formulae #newyork ePrix to round off an incredible weekend for the #dsvirginracing team, amassing the team's largest ever points haul and keeping the Brit in title contention heading into the final two rounds.

In front of another sell-out Brooklyn crowd, the team began the day by making it a double pole position, this time through Bird after team-mate Alex Lynn's stunning P1 debut yesterday.

As the race got underway, Bird lost out to Mahindra's Felix Rosenqvist into the first corner, holding onto P2 while Lynn was pushed down the order from his P7 grid slot. Lap nine then saw a brief stoppage via a full course yellow, bunching up the pack and gifting Bird a great opportunity to get on the back of the leader. Full of confidence, he did just that, making an identical move at the same hairpin as he did on Saturday to take the lead.

Meanwhile, Lynn's race was sadly cut short when he was forced to retire due to an electric issue, once again bringing out full course yellows and presenting a tricky pit-stop period as Mahindra – running either side of Bird – looked to get the undercut. The #dsvirginracing team were quick to react though and a neat pit-stop a lap later saw him return out in front as #racing resumed.

From then on it was a case of managing the gap and energy – in the extended 49-lap race – which he did faultless to cross the line with a sizeable 11-second margin and pick up a combined 56 points for the team for the double-header weekend.

"I'm still in shock!" said Bird who now has five wins to his name. "What a weekend it's been and what a car the #dsvirginracing guys have given me. Being a longer race today I thought it would be hard on energy but we managed it so well. The pit-stop was a key point but we timed it well to just get out in front. I'm just delighted for everyone in the team, especially my engineers and mechanics, who have worked so hard for this."

Lynn said: "I'd like to thank the #dsvirginracing team for giving me the opportunity to race this weekend. I'm very proud of what I achieved, especially with the pole position, and very happy for the team with the results they got."

Team Principal Alex Tai said: "It's been an absolutely fantastic weekend for the team and all our partners. To be the first team to win in #newyork is incredible but to do it again is unthinkable! Sam and Alex both did an incredible job, as did all the mechanics and engineers, and showed the true potential of the car. Now it's on to Canada and to end the season on a high." 

Xavier Mestelan Pinon, #ds Performance Director, added: "This is a fantastic achievement for #dsvirginracing team and confirms the improvements we've made over the last few months. This weekend we showed our car is fast in qualifying and also very efficient in terms of energy consumption. This is the result of a hard R&D during testings and on the simulator. I'd like to say a huge thank you to the #ds Performance team and to the PSA Motorsport Division for their hard work."

The final two rounds (11 and 12) of the 2016/2017 FIA #formulae Championship take place in Montreal, Canada on July 29 and 30.

2017 FIA #formulae #newyork ePrix (Round 10) - Race Results

  1. Sam Bird, #dsvirginracing, 49 laps
  2. Felix Rosenqvist, Mahindra, +11.381s
  3. Nick Heidfeld, Mahindra, +12.319s
  4. Pierre Gasly, Renault e.dams, +12.355s
  5. Lucas di Grassi, ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport, +23.451s
  6. Nicolas Prost, Renault e.dams, +30.470s
  7. Tom Dillmann, Venturi, +41.862s
  8. Jean-Eric Vergne, TECHEETAH, +52.292s
  9. Robin Frijns. Andretti #formulae, +1:00.475s
  10. Jérôme D'Ambrosio, Faraday Future Dragon #racing, +1:12.659s

Driver standings (after Round 10)

  1. Sébastien Buemi, 157pts
  2. Lucas di Grassi, 147pts
  3. Felix Rosenqvist, 104pts
  4. Sam Bird, 100pts
  5. Nicolas Prost, 84pts
  6. Nick Heidfeld, 78pts
  7. Jean-Eric Vergne, 74pts
  8. Jose Maria Lopez, 50pts
  9. Daniel Abt, 47pts
  10. Nelson Piquet Jr, 33pts

Team standings (after Round 10)

  1. Renault e.dams, 259pts
  2. ABT Schaeffler Audi Sport, 194pts
  3. Mahindra #racing, 182pts
  4. DS Virgin #racing, 153pts
  5. TECHEETAH, 94pts

For more information on the #dsvirginracing #formulae Team, please visit www.ds-virginracing.com.

CONTACT INFORMATION
ADRIEN DA CUNHA BELVÈS – #ds Performance
+33 685 262791
adrien.dacunhabelves@DSautomobiles.com

LUCY RILLSTONE – #ds Virgin Racing
+44 (0) 7494 567886
lucy.rillstone@ds-virginracing.com

DS UK COMMUNICATIONS
KEVIN JONES – Head of Communications
+44 (0)2476 884215 / +44(0) 7880 786596
kevin.jones@DSautomobiles.com

FOLLOW #ds ON TWITTER AT: www.twitter.com/ds_uk_official

FIND #ds ON FACEBOOK AT: www.facebook.com/dsukofficial

FOLLOW #ds ON INSTAGRAM AT: www.instagram.com/ds_uk

About #ds AUTOMOBILES:
A French brand born in Paris, #ds was founded on 1 June 2014. Its ambition is to embody the French know-how of luxury in its cars. Driven by its outstanding heritage and avant-garde spirit, #ds perpetuates the values of innovation and distinction inherited from the first #ds, launched in 1955. Designed for customers looking for a means to express themselves as individuals, the #ds Collection comprises #ds 3, #ds 3 CABRIO, #ds 4, #ds 4 CROSSBACK and #ds 5 (DS 5LS & #ds 6 in China) and is complemented by the DS 7 CROSSBACK. The models in the #ds range stand apart through their avant-garde design, refinement and attention to detail, advanced technology and dynamic serenity. Presented at the 2017 Geneva Motor Show, #ds 7 CROSSBACK – the SUV by #ds featuring Parisian-style innovation and savoir-faire – ushers in the next generation of #ds models. With the #ds 7 CROSSBACK La Première first edition model, forward thinkers can reserve their car online or at a #ds Store or #ds Salon, and be the first to get behind the wheel. Committed to high-performance hybrid and electric cars, the brand will launch the #ds 7 CROSSBACK equipped with E-Tense, the hybrid powertrain by #ds, in 2019. #ds models are available from #ds Stores and #ds Salons. #ds also has flagship stores, #ds WORLD PARIS, #ds WORLD SHANGHAI and #ds Urban Store, at Westfield London. Follow all #ds news on www.DSautomobiles.com @DS_Official

DS Performance is the motorsport division of the business bringing technological expertise to #formulae through the #dsvirginracing #formulae Team. Future #ds vehicles will have Hybrid (PHEV – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) and Electric technology advanced by the competitive development at its motorsport division at #ds Performance located in Satory, near Versailles, France. 

About Virgin group:
Virgin is a leading international investment group and one of the world's most recognised and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors including mobile telephony, travel & transportation, financial services, leisure & entertainment and health & wellness.

About Total:
Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, and the world's second-ranked solar energy operator with SunPower. Our 100,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many #people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits. ww.total.com.

About the FIA #formulae Championship:
The FIA #formulae Championship is the world’s first fully-electric single-seater #racing series, competing on the streets in the backdrop of some of the most iconic cities - including Hong Kong, Marrakesh, Buenos Aires, Monaco, Paris, Montreal and #newyork. The championship represents a vision for the future of the motor industry, serving as a platform to showcase the latest innovations in electric vehicle technology and alternative energy solutions. Future seasons will see the regulations open up further allowing manufacturers to focus on the development of motor and battery components, which in turn will filter down to everyday contemporary electric road vehicles. The 2016/17 FIA #formulae Championship sees 10 teams and 20 drivers go wheel-to-wheel in 12 cities spanning five continents in the fight to be crowned #formulae champion. The inaugural season of #formulae sparked into life in September 2014 around the grounds of the Olympic Park in Beijing. The third season of the all-electric #racing series got underway on 9 October in Hong Kong, with the season finale double-header in Montreal on 29 & 30 July.

About FIA & Michelin - Today’s partners for tomorrow’s mobility:
As well as being the official #formulae tyre supplier, Michelin is an official partner, at the international level, of the FIA Action for Road Safety campaign. The programme is designed to support the Decade of Action for Road Safety initiated by the UN, the aim of which is to save five million lives over the next 10 years. This programme is set up to educate and advocate for safer roads, vehicles and behaviours around the globe.