PREVIEW: Formula E returns to Morocco for fifth Marrakesh E-Prix on 2 July

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PREVIEW: Formula E returns to Morocco for fifth Marrakesh E-Prix on 2 July

PREVIEW: Formula E returns to Morocco for fifth Marrakesh E-Prix on 2 July

The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship makes a return to Marrakesh for Round 10 of Season 8 on 2 July at the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan, with four drivers stealing a march on the rest in the race for the Drivers’ title.

Mercedes-EQ’s Stoffel Vandoorne leads the way in the Drivers’ World Championship with a five-point advantage over nearest challenger and double champion Jean-Eric Vergne (DS TECHEETAH). Edoardo Mortara (ROKiT Venturi Racing).

WAYS TO WATCH: Where and how to watch every minute of Season 8

The winner last time out at the inaugural Jakarta E-Prix, Mitch Evans (Jaguar TCS Racing), sits fourth but just 12 points back from the standings lead. With a maximum of 29 points on offer over the weekend, any one of those four drivers could seize the initiative come the chequered flag.

Fine margins

Evans’ win in Indonesia squeezed the margins splitting the top four, with Mortara and Vergne also making the podium last time around to pile the pressure on points pacesetter Vandoorne.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Consistency is key in Formula E if any driver is to assemble a run at the World Championship, and the Belgian has finished outside the top five just twice in nine rounds and is more than delivering on that front. That said, both Evans and Mortara have scored in all but two races this season while Vergne has never failed to tally.

With Envision Racing’s Robin Frijns slipping to 17th and taking home zero points in Jakarta, and reigning champion Nyck de Vries retiring from the last encounter – the top four in the standings look to be making it a battle between themselves as the season heads towards its decisive stretch.

Saturday’s action gets underway with Free Practice from 17:00 local time, with qualifying at 09:40 and Round 10 itself from 17:00 local. Keep track of all the action at fiaformulae.com/live and tune in where you are via fiaformulae.com/watch.

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The track

The Atlas mountains providing a stunning backdrop, and it’s Formula E’s fifth trip to the city’s centuries-old Agdal district, with Marrakesh having first featured back in 2016. The track follows the form the Circuit International Automobile Moulay El Hassan - named after the Crown Prince of Morocco - before spilling out onto the streets of Marrakesh's hotel district.

Renowned for being an energy zapping circuit, this fast and highly technical track features 12 turns, three straights and a series of bends completing a track length of 2.971km.

On our last outing, it was Moroccan magic for Antonio Felix da Costa and DS TECHEETAH who dominated proceedings, that victory setting in motion a run to the 2019/20 championship trophy. 

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Sebastien Buemi (Nissan e.dams) sealed the win on our inaugural visit back in 2016, with Felix Rosenqvist and Jerome D'Ambrosio taking back-to-back victories for Mahindra Racing in 2018 and 2019 before da Costa fired his Season 6 title charge into life a year later here.

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The lap record holder is Lucas di Grassi - the ROKiT Venturi Racing driver set a 1m20.737s in 2019 when at Audi Sport ABT Schaeffler.

Follow live

Follow every lap from Marrakesh as it happens in the Live Hub. Keep across Live Timing – including a real-time interactive track map and the ability to follow your favourite driver – plus detailed session reports, exclusive interviews, all the standings and results as well as reaction from the ground means fans won’t miss a moment.

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New for Season 8, there’s a full race day rundown pulling together everything on-track with the best of social media and in-race clips – alongside the usual Live Hub experience that debuted in Season 7. Get involved using #ABBFormulaE.

The Formula E app allows fans to go behind the scenes and listen to Driver Radio for live reactions from the cockpit and the pit wall as the race plays out. To listen in, download now on iOS and Android.

Watch

Don't miss a minute of Season 8. Keep track of the best ways to tune in where you are at fiaformulae.com/watch.

Get involved

Formula E blurs the lines between the real and virtual worlds of motorsport and there are even more opportunities to engage with the championship in Season 8, even if you can’t be at an E-Prix in person.

Formula E is the only motorsport in the world that lets fans play an active role in influencing the outcome. FANBOOST for Round 10 opens on Tuesday 31 May, until 15 minutes into the race. To give your favourite driver an extra boost of power, visit FANBOOST and the Formula E app.

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Can you predict the unpredictable? The Formula E Predictor puts you in the hot seat to predict each round of the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. 

It's free to play, and points are awarded for each correct prediction. Make your picks for five race outcomes - selecting from the 22 Formula E drivers that you think will win the E-Prix, clinch Julius Baer Pole Position, set the TAG Heuer Fastest Lap, be the first to use ATTACK MODE and be the driver to make up the most places in the race.