Team Principal of DS Virgin Racing, Alex Tai, has said he’s delighted with the progress of Jose Maria Lopez following his performance at the Buenos Aires ePrix.
Lopez topped the timesheets in free practice one of his home race, however a crash in qualifying left him down in eighteenth on the grid.
He managed to fight through the field however, and snuck into the points with tenth place.
Speaking afterwards Tai said he was pleased with how ‘Pechito’ drove, saying that the racer in him was becoming more evident with each passing race.
Tai commented, “I’m delighted with the continuing development of Pechito, the racer in him was truly evident today, I am confident that we will see him gaining racing honours this season.
“I would also like to thank DS Performance and our engineering team for the continued progression in the pace of our car, if we ca keep this focus the results will come.”
DS Performance Director Xavier Mestelan echoed Tai’s sentiments, saying, “This was a positive race for Pechito.
“His energy management skill in the late pitting shows his rapid progression as a Formula E driver in just his 3rd race.”
Lopez himself said that he had enjoyed his home race, and felt that he was starting to become more comfortable in the car.
“I enjoyed moving through the pack today in front of a home crowd,” Lopez said.
“I have renewed confidence in my energy management, and I’m growing in confidence and aggression with every minute I spend in the DSV-02.”
It was a disappointing ePrix for his team-mate Sam Bird however. The Brit managed to qualify tenth on the grid, but a crash on lap four damaged his rear suspension and meant that he had to pit early for his second car.
He then tried to grab the points for setting the fastest lap of the race, but was pipped at the end by Mahindra Racing’s Felix Rosenqvist.
“Today was just one of those things,” said Bird. “However, I was pleased with the pace of the car in the early stages. Let’s hope I can take the fight further in Mexico City!”
