Audi Sport ABT’s Lucas di Grassi stole victory in the inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Beijing, China – September 13, 2014

Audi Sport ABT’s Lucas di Grassi stole victory in the inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix after Nicolas Prost and Nick Heidfeld crashed in a last corner battle for the lead.

Heidfeld walked away unscathed from a nasty looking incident after contact with Prost left him unable to control the car and flipped into the tyre barrier.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

As the pair approached the final corner the Venturi driver dived up the inside in an attempt to the take the lead.
The Frenchman moved left to defend and inevitably lead to their wheels colliding.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Heidfeld said:
“I thought it was going to be a very big crash as well. Once I hit the kerb it felt like I was in the air forever. I closed my eyes and waited for the impact and then I thought ‘Oh that was lucky!’ I have a small pain in my calf but apart from that I’m perfectly fine.”

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

After clambering out from underneath the car Heidfeld, clearly aggravated, confronted Prost. However, Di Grassi won’t complain as he picks up the full 25 points and with it takes the lead of the championship.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Di Grassi said:
“Firstly, I’m happy Nick [Heidfeld] is ok and it shows how safe these cars are. To win the race is like a dream come true. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. The team did a great job all through practice and qualifying, yes we made a few mistakes but overall I’m extremely happy to be the first ever winner of a Formula E race.”

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Andretti driver Franck Montagny finished runner-up nearly three seconds adrift of Di Grassi as the Brazilian’s team-mate Daniel Abt crossed the line in third place.

On return to the pitlane Abt was handed a time penalty for exceeding the battery consumption.
The German driver used 28.2kW of the allocated 28kW available.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Katherine Legge and Jaime Alguersuari were also penalised for being over the limit.

Virgin Racing’s Sam Bird was eventually promoted to claim the final place on the podium.

Andretti’s new signing Charles Pic put on a strong display to finish fourth ahead of Karun Chandhok.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Mahindra team-mate Bruno Senna retired on the opening lap after being squeezed between the two Amlin Aguri cars.

The Brazilian broke his left-front suspension and consequently brought out the Qualcomm Safety Car.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Despite topping four of the five pre-season tests, e.dams-Renault’s Sebastien Buemi failed to finished after retiring on lap 19.

Takuma Sato picked up two points for Amlin Aguri posting the fastest lap of a 1.45.101 in the final moments of the race.

Audi Sport ABT’s Lucas di Grassi stole victory in the inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

After a dream start in the first ever Formula E race in Beijing, Lucas di Grassi begins his title assault on the Barcelona World Cup.


FIA Formula E Championship – Drivers’ Standings

1. Lucas di Grassi - 25

2. Franck Montagny - 18

3. Sam Bird - 15

4. Charles Pic - 12

5. Karun Chandhok - 10

6. Jerome d’Ambrosio - 8

7. Oriol Servia - 6

8. Nelson Piquer Jr – 4

9. Nicolas Prost - 3

10. Stephane Sarrazin – 2

11. Takuma Sato - 2

12. Daniel Abt - 1

13. Jaime Alguersuari – 0

14. Nick Heidfeld – 0

15. Michela Cerruti – 0

16. Katherine Legge – 0

17. Ho-Pin Tung – 0

18. Sebastien Buemi – 0

19. Jarno Trulli - 0

20. Bruno Senna – 0

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Formula E partners with 360 Racing to produce new app

Formula E has entered into a joint partnership with leading Immersive Technology developers 360 Racing to produce a new app for the new all-electric FIA Formula E Championship.

Launched for the first ever race in Beijing, and available free to all tablets and smartphone users, the app will provide fans with a comprehensive look into the new ground-breaking motorsport series.

Current features include the latest news, results and standings together with videos and information on the series itself.

Audi Sport ABT’s Lucas di Grassi stole victory in the inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Scheduled for release later this year will see pioneering interactive features added such as 360 degree onboard cameras, live timing and race telemetry.

The unique, patented camera system will be based on Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset.

Similar cameras are being used in high-level surveillance by 360 Racing’s sister company, IC Real Tech.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

“We are very excited to leverage our Snapdragon technology into Formula E cars. Our Snapdragon chipset will enable these 360 degree onboard cameras carry multiple features simultaneously” - said Vice President of Technology at Qualcomm (NASDAQ:QCOM), Graeme Davison.

Users of the app also have the chance to make five votes for Formula E’s FanBoost - allowing fans to vote for their favourite driver to receive an extra speed burst during the race - rather than the single vote currently allowed via the Formula E website.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Nick Heidfeld crashed in a last corner battle for the lead. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

“It’s an honor to partner with Formula E and Qualcomm on delivering an application that will engaige the users in this unique racing series like nothing else seen before. Fans will be able to immerse themselves into the on-board cameras and look around freely as they would if there were in the car next to the pilots” - said Dmitry Kozko, President of 360 Racing and IC Real Tech.

The inaugural Formula E Evergrande Spring Beijing ePrix. Beijing, China, September 13, 2014. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Alejandro Agag, CEO at Formula E, added:
“Technology lies at the heart of the FIA Formula E Championship as does fan interactivity and this new app will allow our fans to get up close to the action and to feel a part of the experience whether at the track, watching at home or even on the move.”

Formula E has entered into a joint partnership with leading Immersive Technology developers 360 Racing to produce a new app for the new all-electric FIA Formula E Championship. Courtesy of the new FIA Formula E Championship

Fans can download the official app here:
for Apple users and Android users

Apple:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/fia-formula-e-championship/id915376328  

Android:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.qtproject.FE360  


Source: the FIA Formula E Championship - News 

 http://www.fiaformulae.com/



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