Santiago E-Prix poses the next challenge for HWA RACELAB

After races in Arabia and Africa, HWA RACELAB now heads to South America for round three of the ABB FIA Formula E season. The fledgling Formula E team's goal for the race in Santiago, Chile, on 26th January is to complete the full race with both cars and to gain more valuable experience in the process.

  • Quotes from Gary Paffett and Stoffel Vandoorne ahead of the race in Chile
  • Ulrich Fritz: "Our goal is to finish the race with both cars."
  • Facts and itinerary for the Santiago E-Prix

Affalterbach, 23rdJanuary 2019 – The action comes thick and fast for HWA RACELAB. With the race in Marrakesh behind them, the next exciting challenge now awaits the team, in the form of the Antofagasta Minerals Santiago E-Prix this Saturday (26.01.). The main task in Chile is once again to gain as much experience as possible. Gary Paffett and Stoffel Vandoorne showed, with times around the top ten in the first free practice session in Marrakesh, that the VFE05 cars from Affalterbach are capable of matching the pace of their rivals. However, the double retirement in Morocco means that the priority is now to ensure that both cars finish the race. This will then allow them to line up with greater confidence in the following races.

Santiago is hosting its second E-Prix, having made its debut on the Formula E calendar last year. The circuit is located in the city centre and takes the drivers through Parque O'Higgins, the second largest park in the Chilean capital. The race lasts 45 minutes plus one lap. 

Gary Paffett (37, England)
"After two really tough weekends, the goal for Chile is to improve. For the team, that means improving the car. For me personally, that means improving my driving and learning more about the Formula E car. We have to make it through to the end of the race and learn as much as possible. We are still learning and have to make the best of this situation."

Stoffel Vandoorne (26, Belgium)
"This is a new country for me. I have never been to Chile before, but I've heard a lot of positive things about it. I will have a bit of time to take a look around, which will be cool. I watched last year's race on television, and it was pretty crazy. However, this year's circuit is new. It is hard to say how it will pan out, as it is new to everyone. That is definitely a positive thing for us, as it means that everyone will be starting the weekend from scratch. I am looking forward to the race. The first two races were difficult for us as a team. We did not get many kilometres under our belt. I really hope the weekend runs smoothly for us this time."

Ulrich Fritz, Team Principal HWA RACELAB
"Unfortunately, our outings so far in Formula E have not gone as we would have hoped. It was obviously good to have another test after the race in Marrakesh, which allowed us to deal with some of the technical problems that occurred on the Saturday. I hope we have found a solution. That is basically what this year is all about: uncovering problems and finding solutions. Our goal for Chile is to do as much driving as possible and to finish the race with both cars."   

Facts on the Antofagasta Minerals Santiago E-Prix
Circuit:     Parque O‘Higgins
Length:    2.407 km
Corners:  14
Distance: 45 min + 1 lap

Schedule for 26thJanuary 2019
Free practice 1:       12:00 - 12:45 (CET)
Free practice 2:       14:15 - 14:45 (CET)
Qualifying:               16:00 - 16:45 (CET)
Super Pole:             16:45 - 17:05 (CET)
Race:                      20:00 (CET)
Podium ceremony: 21:00 (CET)

About HWA AG
HWA AG is an independent, 360° engineering specialist in the fields of automobile racing and high-performance cars. Formed in 1998 by Hans Werner Aufrecht, the company is based in Affalterbach (Germany) and employs roughly 300 highly-qualified members of staff. HWA AG offers all its products and services under the motto ENGINEERING SPEED: The company’s objective is to develop the best possible, high-quality solutions, in order to get its partners and customers to their destination quicker. The portfolio of services ranges from designing all vehicle components to assembling complete cars, together with the relevant logistics, after-sales and support services.

About HWA RACELAB
HWA RACELAB is HWA AG’s operations team in motorsport. It brings together experienced specialists in high-quality race engineering and the associated services, in pursuit of success on the motorsport scene. HWA RACELAB will enter Formula E as a new team in the 2018/19 season, adding a future-oriented string to HWA’s wealth of racetrack expertise. Furthermore, HWA RACELAB will race in the new, international FIA Formula 3 championship in 2019. With eleven Drivers’ titles and over 180 race wins as a works team for Mercedes-AMG in the DTM, the company is one of the most successful players in international motorsport. HWA RACELAB also draws on the company’s other core areas of expertise, such as the development, assembly and running of GT cars for customer racing, as well as the assembly of Formula 3 race engines. 

 

Oliver Kapffenstein
Motorsport Communications, Formula E

tel:     +49 (0) 711 17 57 00 4
mob:  +49 (0) 160 8 67 47 97
email: o.kapffenstein@hwaag-partner.com

Marlene Wieland
Motorsport Communications, Formula E

tel:     +49 (0) 711 17 51 80 3
mob:  +49 (0) 160 8 62 80 80
email: m.wieland@hwaag-partner.com

 

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