Maximilian Günther in the #28 BMW i Andretti Motorsport iFE.20 finished second in the ABB Formula E race in Marrakesh on February 29. His teammate Alexander Sims was running fifth on the final lap when contact forced him out of the race.
Günther started second on the grid alongside pole sitter António Félix da Costa in the #13 DS Techeetah car and battled with him for the lead early in the race. Günther took the lead for a time around the halfway point, but Félix da Costa regained the top position after his second use of attack mode. Günther then battled with Félix da Costa’s teammate Jean Eric Vergne, who got by for a time, only to be passed for the final time by Günther, who had managed energy more effectively, on the last lap.
Sims moved up from his eighth place starting position to fifth, but contact with Venturi’s Edoardo Mortara on the final lap broke the track rod in the #27 iFE.20, forcing Sims out of the race.
BMW motorsport director Jens Marquardt said, “Congratulations to Maximilian Günther on the second podium of his young career as a BMW i Andretti Motorsport driver. The BMW iFE.20 made a good impression all weekend in Marrakesh. It was the same story in the race. Maximilian and the team once again gave a very tactically mature performance, made good use of the efficiency of the BMW i drivetrain, and more than deserved second place. The battle with Jean-Éric Vergne in the closing laps was top class! Unfortunately, Alexander Sims’ car suffered a mechanical issue after contact with Edoardo Mortara shortly before the end of the race. At that point he was running fifth after an intelligent race. It is a great shame that he was not rewarded with some points. After five races, our record this season is still very positive. Congratulations to António Félix da Costa on his win.”
After Marrakesh, Félix da Costa leads drivers’ points, with Sims third and Günther fourth. BMW i Andretti is second to DS Techeetah in team points. The series’ next race, the Rome E-Prix, is scheduled for April 4.—Brian Morgan
[Photo courtesy BMW Motorsport.]
