BMW i Andretti’s Maximilian Günther followed his win in last week’s test race with a victory in the first round of the eight-race “ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge” run on a virtual Hong Kong street circuit. His teammate Alexander Sims scored a point with a tenth-place finish.
Günther started his simulated BMW iFe.20 third and quickly moved up to second. He took over the lead when Mercedes’ Stoffel Vandoorne made an error and fell back, and led the rest of the way. Sims, running his second-ever sim race, started 22nd and moved through the pack to finish tenth.
Günther said, “It was another fantastic race and I’m delighted with the first 25 points of the season. Stoffel Vandoorne ahead of me obviously made a mistake so I was able to take the lead and bring it home safely. As racers, we always want to win when we are competing. It’s no different in sim racing to real racing. I think as drivers we are having a lot of fun in these events during this time when we’re unable to be at the racetrack. I hope it’s the same for the fans.”
The main race was run with regular Formula E racers. In a separate contest for sim racers, Team Redline driver Kevin Siggy finished third in an iFE.20. Joshua Rogers won for Porsche.
Race two in the series will be run on May 2 on a circuit to be announced.—Brian Morgan
[Photo courtesy BMW Motorsport.]
