YOKOHAMA, Japan – Nissan e.dams driver Oliver Rowland took the team's maiden victory today in round five of the ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge in what has been described as the best race in the esports series so far.
Rowland showed strong pace from the outset, qualifying in P3 on the Berlin circuit, having had just one day's practice along with the rest of the grid on the newly created virtual Tempelhof track.
Rowland got away cleanly at the start, key to sim racing success, and immediately settled into an exciting battle with the lead group of three drivers. On lap 7, from third position, Rowland made an inch-perfect move into a hairpin bend to overtake two cars at once and claim the lead. He maintained the lead to the finish, fending off constant pressure from behind.
The stylish overtake and team's first virtual win pay tribute to "Go Nissan Day," celebrated each year on May 23. In Japanese the date 5/23 is pronounced Go (5), Ni (2), San (3). Sebastien Buemi qualified in P11 and crossed the finish line in 12th position.
The new online racing series represents Formula E, the pinnacle of real-world zero emission racing, as the height of zero emission competition in the virtual world. This aligns with Nissan's goal of zero emissions and zero fatalities, an important pillar of Nissan Intelligent Mobility, the brand's vision for changing how cars are driven, powered and connected into society.
The ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge raises funds for UNICEF's global coronavirus appeal, helping keep children safe, healthy, and learning in the face of the pandemic.
🇬🇧 Here’s the moment @oliverrowland1 took victory at the virtual Berlin Tempelhof Airport!
— Nissan e.dams (@Nissanedams) May 23, 2020
🇫🇷 Et voici le moment où Oliver Rowland remporte la victoire sur le circuit virtuel de l'aéroport Tempelhof de Berlin !#ABBFormulaE | #RaceAtHome | @FIAFormulaE | @NISMO pic.twitter.com/UJxyKeSr4Y
DRIVER'S QUOTES
OLIVER ROWLAND
"Finally, I get to wear the winner's cap! I've been putting quite a lot of effort into my sim racing practice recently, so it's nice to get a good result today. I was disappointed after the last race in Hong Kong, and today there was big pressure from the driver behind, but it was a good race. I really enjoyed it, as nerve wracking as it was - and all for such a good cause too."
SEBASTIEN BUEMI
"I finished 12th and qualified 11th, and this is my best qualifying so far. So, I am getting better each time, and I am looking forward to next week as I think I could be in the mid-pack of racers, or even better."
NEXT RACE
Date: Saturday, May. 30
Track: To be announced
Catch the online racing action: 3:30 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. (British Standard Time)
WHERE TO WATCH
Facebook: http://facebook.com/nismo
Website: http://fiaformulae.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/fiaformulae
Twitter: https://twitter.com/fiaformulae
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/FIAFormulaE
Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/fiaformulae
Contact
Anna Teslik
Global motorsports communications manager
Phone: +33 7 7614 7286
ATeslik@nissan-europe.com
Dan Anslow
Global motorsports press officer
Phone: +44 7787 152 543
media@nismosupport.com
For more information about Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.'s products, services and our commitment to sustainable mobility, visit Nissan-Global.com. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn, and view our latest videos on YouTube.
Get more information about Nissan motorsports on NISMO.com.