Sam Bird will need to overcome being drawn in Group 1 for tomorrow’s qualifying if he is to repeat his win in Race 2 of the Qualcomm New York City ePrix
With the track usually improving as the groups progress, Bird will need to lay down a strong performance early on to make it through to the Super Pole session that determines Pole Position. Today’s pole sitter, Bird’s DS Virgin Racing team-mate Alex Lynn, has a potentially advantageous draw in Group 4, while Lucas di Grassi, who is now only 20 points behind Sebastien Buemi in the championship goes in Group 3.
Formula E qualifying works by the 20 drivers being drawn into four groups of five. Each group is given six minutes during which the drivers have one opportunity to record a lap using full 200kw power.
Following the conclusion of the group stages, the five fastest drivers proceed to Super Pole. Here the drivers take to the track one at a time in the reverse order of the times in the qualifying stages ie the driver who was fifth fastest goes first followed by the fourth etc.
The drivers have just one lap at 200kw to set their best time. The order from Super Pole determines positions 1-5 on the grid, with the group stages setting spots 6-20.
Race 2 qualifying groups
Group 1
Robin Frijns
Loic Duval
Sam Bird
Nelson Piquet Jr
Nico Prost
Group 2
Daniel Abt
Antonio Felix da Costa
Jerome D’Ambrosio
Felix Rosenqvist
Oliver Turvey
Group 3
Lucas di Grassi
Mitch Evans
Pierre Gasly
Jean-Eric Vergne
Stephane Sarrazin
Group 4
Alex Lynn
Adam Carroll
Nick Heidfeld
Tom Dillmann
Maro Engel