Stat Attack: 10 things you didn't know about the race in Sanya

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Stat Attack: 10 things you didn't know about the race in Sanya

We take a look back at the lesser-known stats and facts surrounding Formula E's third race in mainland China.

Stat Attack: 10 things you didn't know about the race in Sanya

With just days to go until the 2019 FWD Sanya E-Prix kicks off on the city's coastline on March 23, we take a look back at the lesser-known stats and facts surrounding Formula E's third race in mainland China.

10. Back to the mainland 

After Beijing played host to the world's most populous country’s first two E-Prix, the circuit has shifted over one and a half thousand miles, relocating from the capital in the north to the southernmost tip of Hainan Island. 

9. "The Hawaii of China"

Hainan is China's smallest province and home to the nations fourth space launch centre. Often referred to as "the Hawaii of China" Sanya is the country’s most famous tropical resort and has a population of around 700,000. 

8. History in the making

The history of Sanya dates back more than 2000 years, when the ancient city was known as Yazhou, literally meaning "cliff state", a reference to the city being ringed on three sides by mountains. So remote from the capital of China, Sanya was historically a place of exile for disgraced officials who had fallen foul of the country’s rulers, but it is now a popular destination for leisurely escape for numerous Chinese holidaymakers and, as of now, home of Formula E in mainland China. 

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7. 21 and counting

Sanya becomes the 21st city to host a Formula E race, as the all-electric series returns to mainland China for the first time since October 2015, when Nissan e.dams' Sebastien Buemi dominated the Beijing E-Prix.

6. The long...

The previous circuit used in the Chinese capital was the longest in Formula E history. The Beijing track, designed around the site of the 2008 Olympic games, measured just shy of 3.5-km. 

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5. ...and the short

The 11 turn Sanya circuit, however, is much shorter in length and, at 2.3-km, is more comparable to Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport Street Circuit, although bears a passing resemblance to the New York City circuit in terms of track layout.

4. Chinese drivers

China isn’t represented in the current driver line-up, but there have been two Chinese drivers in the all-electric series. Ho-Pin Tung, who is Panasonic Jaguar Racing’s official reserve driver, started three of Formula E’s first four E-Prix driving for China Racing (now NIO). Despite competing in only nine E-Prix, NIO’s current reserve drive, Ma Qing Hua, has represented three different teams in the space of three seasons. Alas, he failed to score a single point driving with Aguri, Techeetah and NIO, with 11th his best finish in London in Season 2 with Aguri.  

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3. Formula E in Asia

There have been nine Formula E races staged in Asia in the history of the series, with four in Hong Kong, two in both China and Malaysia, and one in Saudi Arabia.

2. Audi lead the way 

With six podiums in Asia, Audi Sport Abt Schaeffler lead the way into Sanya, closely followed by Envision Virgin Racing and Mahindra Racing with five.

1. Chinese connections

Chinese team DS Techeetah have never won an E-Prix in Asia, with two runner-up spots their best results on the continent to date. After Andre Lotterer came painfully close to bringing home a win for the team in Hong Kong, which ultimately didn't come to pass, DS Techeetah will be keen to impress in their first ‘home’ E-Prix. For NIO, 6th remains its best result in Asia, which the team has managed twice - once in Beijing (Season 2) and in Hong Kong (Season 4), both times through Oliver Turvey. Envision Virgin Racing arrive in China with Chinese team owner Envision Group. The squad will be looking to consolidate their positions at the head of both driver and team standings heading into Sanya. Envision has clinched five podium finishes in Asia, including two wins but still, the team hasn't placed higher than 3rd in mainland China.