Following an upward trend: HWA RACELAB looking to back up positive developments from Chile in Mexico

HWA RACELAB has gained plenty of experience in the first three races of the ABB FIA Formula E season. The new team from Affalterbach enjoyed its first partial success in qualifying at the latest event in Chile. The goal for race four of the season, in Mexico City on 16th February, is now to achieve a positive result in the race itself. 

• Quotes from Gary Paffett and Stoffel Vandoorne ahead of the race in Mexico
• Ulrich Fritz: "We have taken a step forward in all areas."
• Facts and schedule for the Mexico City E-Prix

Affalterbach, 13th February 2019 – Qualifying in Santiago saw Stoffel Vandoorne progress to the top six of the fastest drivers for the second time, while Gary Paffett completed the full race and got valuable race kilometres under his belt. Encouraged by these positive experiences, HWA RACELAB now travels to this Saturday's (16th February) CBMM Niobium Mexico City E-Prix determined to continue the upward trend. 

A top-ten result and a first points finish is by no means beyond the realms of possibility. Vandoorne showed in Chile, when he was running a fine sixth until his retirement, that HWA RACELAB's VFE-05 car has the pace required to challenge towards the front of the field. Team-mate Paffett also matched the pace of his rivals for long stretches of the race. The task for the two drivers is now to produce this performance over the full race distance in Mexico. 

The race will be held on a shorter variant of the Formula 1 circuit at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez, which, at 2,500 metres above sea level, is one of the highest racetracks in the world. The drivers pass under the grandstands at the Foro Sol stadium, where there promises to be a unique arena atmosphere.

Gary Paffett (37, England)
"We are making progress every weekend: me personally, Stoffel and the entire HWA RACELAB team. I completed the full race in Santiago. That was the first step. The next step is now to score the first points. That is my goal for Mexico. We now have a certain pace and greater experience with the car and the processes on a race weekend. We will now improve step by step, I am sure of that. I am really looking forward to Mexico."

Stoffel Vandoorne (26, Belgium)
"It is not all that long since I was last in Mexico. I drove in the Formula 1 Grand Prix there at the end of last season. I am really pleased to be returning. The fans are always incredibly euphoric, they cheer on every driver vociferously. It is always a very special feeling to drive through the stadium section in Mexico City, where so many spectators are sat. However, the current layout will be completely new to me, as only one corner is the same as in Formula 1. I am looking forward to the race and am intrigued to see how the weekend unfolds."

Ulrich Fritz, team principal HWA RACELAB
"We took a step forward in all areas in Chile and were again able to gain a lot of experience. Unfortunately, we failed to get a good result in the race. However, we will focus on the positive: we had the speed to challenge for our first points. If possible, we want to finish the job this time in Mexico. However, I am wary of making predictions or setting ambitious goals. Unlike in Chile, the circuit in Mexico is once again familiar ground for the other teams. This means that they start the weekend with an advantage, which we must first make up."  

Facts on the CBMM Niobium Mexico City E-Prix
Circuit:     Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
Length:    2.093 km
Corners:  17
Distance: 45 minutes + 1 lap

Schedule for 16th February 2019
Free practice 1:       14:30 - 15:15 (CET)
Free practice 2:       17:00 - 17:30 (CET)
Qualifying:               18:45 - 19:21 (CET)
Super Pole:             19:30 - 19:50 (CET)
Race:                      23:00 (CET)
Podium ceremony: 00:00 (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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