MS&AD Andretti Formula E aiming to bounce back into the points positions in the streets of Paris.

Munich. Paris (FRA) hosts the eighth round of ABB FIA Formula E Championship season 4 on Saturday, 28^th of April. BMW works drivers António Félix da Costa (POR) and Tom Blomqvist (GBR) will aim for a points-scoring Paris ePrix after difficult outings in the last two races. Last week BMW Motorsport continued its development of the new BMW iFE.18 with a test at Calafat (ESP).

The Situation

After a strong start to the season, fortunes have turned for MS&AD Andretti Formula E in the last two events. Neither Félix da Costa nor Blomqvist scored points in Punta del Este (URU) or Rome (ITA). Bad luck and incidents have curtailed the team’s progress in recent races, but both drivers will know that top-10 results are within reach on Parisian streets this weekend. Meanwhile BMW works driver Bruno Spengler (CAN) completed a comprehensive testing programme with the new BMW iFE.18 last week in Calafat in preparation for season 5.

The Team

The MS&AD Andretti Formula E team is in its fourth season of Formula E in 2017/18. So far, Michael Andretti’s (USA) team has contested 40 races, claimed three pole positions, and scored 222 points. BMW works driver Félix da Costa is again in action at the wheel of the number 28 MS&AD Andretti ATEC-003 in Season 4. Joining the Portuguese driver is fellow BMW works driver Tom Blomqvist, racing car number 27.

The Expectations

Tom Blomqvist, MS&AD Andretti Formula E: “I’m quite excited to be racing in Paris. It’s another iconic city center that we have the pleasure of racing around. Luckily, we haven’t had long to wait since last time out in Rome. I’m feeling positive ahead of the race, we have prepared well and I like the look of the circuit. It’s looks difficult but challenging so I’m looking forward to seeing what the MS&AD Andretti team can achieve.“

António Félix da Costa, MS&AD Andretti Formula E: “It’s good to finally not have a big break between races. The MS&AD Andretti team is going back to racing straight after Rome which is good. We had really good race-pace in Rome, we went with a really aggressive strategy and we made up a lot of places. We are trying to redeem ourselves after the unlucky situation we had in pit lane in Rome. We should have been in the points at that race so we are looking forward to getting back on the track. We are obviously aiming for points but I think we even have potential to fight for a top five so I’m looking forward to racing at this amazing track and city.”

The Circuit

Paris’s streets played host to thrilling races in seasons 2 and 3, and its simple recipe of heavy braking zones and great scenery make it a great Formula E venue. Racing around Les Invalides complex, drivers will experience one of the toughest tracks of the season, ultra-bumpy and extremely narrow. Overtaking is possible, but incidents and contact are regular occurrences. Turns three and 10, coming after straights, are among the best passing opportunities, but only for brave competitors.

The BMW i Fleet

BMW i is once again “Official Vehicle Partner” of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in Season 4. Spearheading the BMW i fleet is the new BMW i8 Coupé, modified with BMW M components (combined fuel consumption: 1.9 l/100 km; combined energy consumption 14.0 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 42 g/km)*. As well as the BMW i8 Coupé, the BMW i fleet for the ABB Formula E Championship also includes the new BMW i3s (combined fuel consumption: 0.0 l/100 km; combined energy consumption: 14.3 kWh; combined CO2 emissions: 0 g/km)* as “Medical Car” and “Race Director Car”, and the BMW X5 xDrive40e (combined fuel consumption: 3.4 – 3.3 l/100 km; combined energy consumption: 15.4 to 15.3 kWh/100 km; combined CO2 emissions: 78 – 77 g/km)* in its role as “Rescue Car”.