LUCAS DI GRASSI MAKES HISTORY IN ZURICH

This Sunday (10), Lucas Di Grassi from São Paulo won a historic and exciting victory in the race that marked the return of motorsport to Switzerland after 64 years of absence. Current world champion of Formula E, Di Grassi won the 10th stage of the season in Zurich, raising the record for the category of consecutive podiums to five – making him the best driver of the year in the second half of the championship. The result even lifted Lucas to third place in the table – despite having been severely hampered by the car's consecutive breakdowns in the first five races of the year. On his way to the podium, Audi Sport team driver Abt Schaeffler dedicated the achievement to his first child, who will be born at the end of the month in São Paulo.

‍

The achievement was the seventh in Di Grassi's career in the category, before he had already won in Beijing (China, 2014), Putrajaya (Malaysia/2016, Long Beach (USA/2016), Paris (France/2016), City of Mexico (2017) and Montreal (Canada / 2017). In all, the Brazilian records no less than 25 podiums in the FE, another record. "I knew our victory was close and it was important that it happened here in Switzerland", says Lucas "It is an incredible honor to be the first driver to win in this country after more than six decades without racing. I could see that the Swiss people are very fond of the sport and I was especially happy to see the reaction of the public after the flag and also at the It was an incredible feeling to take the Brazilian flag to the top again. After four consecutive second places, this victory came in the best possible way and at the right time. And I dedicate this first place to my son, who will soon be born in Brazil ”.

‍

Switzerland had not run races on its territory since 1955. The decision was made law after the sport's most tragic accident, which occurred a year earlier in Le Mans (France), when 83 spectators died. With advances in safety and technology, the decision was revised and racing with electric motors was allowed. Formula E was the first category to compete in the country.

‍

The road to victory - Lucas started from fifth position and maintained an aggressive stance from the beginning. In the second round, the Brazilian already moved to fourth position to start a hunt for his next opponent, Englishman Sam Bird. Lucas didn't give the pilot of the DS Virgin Racing team a chance. With one more precise maneuver on the inside of Turn 10, on lap 13, the Brazilian surprised the Brit, who seemed to believe his position was still momentarily secured. On the 16th lap, it was the turn of the German Andre Lotterer (Techeetah) to succumb to the rhythm of the Brazilian, who dived into the fast turn 1 to take second place.

‍

Di Grassi immediately began the pursuit of Jaguar team leader Mitch Evans. Two laps after having overcame Lotterer, the Brazilian left Evans behind and took the lead not to leave the lead until the 39th and final lap of the historic race in Switzerland. The victory in Zurich is Lucas' seventh podium, considering the last eight events he has played in both Formula E and Stock Car. The Brazilian's next appointment is scheduled for the 14th and 15th of July, with the double round of the final stage of Formula E, on the streets of New York.

‍

Confirms the sequence of podiums in the last eight events played by Lucas Di Grassi:

03/17 – Punta del Este/FE, second place

04/08 – Curitiba/Stock, victory

04/14 – Roma/FE, second place

04/22 – Velopark/Stock , suspension break

04/28 – Paris/FE, second place

05/06/ – Londrina/Stock, victory

05/19 – Berlin/Formula E, second place

06/10 – Zurich/Formula E, victory