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Once again - for the third time, to be precise - the ABB FIA Formula E Championship returns to Paris for the 2018 Qatar Airways Paris E-Prix. In less than a day's time, all 20 drivers and 10 teams will set off on the 1.92-km circuit around the historic Les Invalides complex, in the heart of Paris - the birthplace of not just Formula E, but of motorsport in general, after the city hosted the first auto race in 1894.
As the eighth round of the championship and second European race in the season's calendar, Paris will be contested ground as the pressure and competition continues to build towards the double-header season finale in New York on July 14 and 15. With Techeetah's Jean-Eric Vergne - the home race hero - at the top of the standings with 119 points, Sam Bird (DS Virgin Racing) in second and Felix Rosenqvist (Mahindra Racing) in third will be on the hunt for point and podium positions. Click here for a full season catch up on all that's happened so far in season four. It's been quite a competition.
With just hours to go until the lights go green in Paris, here are the top three storylines to look out for in the City of Light.
1. Bird aims skywards
With just 18 points separating Bird from championship leader Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Virgin Racing's frontman could be closer to the championship title than he's ever been before.
"We're there or thereabouts," said Bird. "We just need to keep on scoring points. Like I've said every round before, I just need to keep accumulating points every single weekend and when I get to New York, I'll assess the situation." Last season, Bird flew to victory in both races in New York City but it came too late in the championship. "I know that I'm second but it doesn't matter until we get to New York. Then, maths will start to come into it - right now it's all about points. But it also depends on the other drivers - if they're on song, then it makes it very difficult for me. If they mess up, then I need to be there pick up the pieces. A bit like a vulture!" he laughed.
2. Third time lucky for home race hero Vergne?
Championship leader and local Parisien Jean-Eric Vergne is yet to win in his hometown, despite two previous attempts. Finishing as runner-up on Formula E’s first visit to the capital, he failed to make the chequered flag last year due to a suspension failure, which put him in the wall in front of the home crowd. Devastated, JEV walked back to the garage, with his head in his hands. "Hopefully this year, the same won't happen again!" said Vergne with a smile. "The real aim is to leave the race weekend with no regrets." With his rivals closing in on his championship lead, Vergne must be craving a return to the top step of the podium on the same streets he grew up on. "It's amazing, as a Parisien, to be racing here in the city. But also in terms of the Formula E calendar - it's the best race because it's the most central, racing around amazing landmarks like Les Invalides is just incredible."
3. Mahindra missing momentum
Another race in Rome and, much to the disappointment of Felix Rosenqvist, another wasted opportunity for Indian Mahindra team. Currently sitting third in the championship standings, the Swede's season got off to a great start after he clinched victory in Hong Kong and Marrakesh before reliability problems hampered his performance in Mexico City and Rome, where he was forced to retire from the race - throwing 50 points away in the process. "We just need to do what we did in Rome - that should be enough to win the championship providing I don't have any failures again," said the Swede cooly. But time is running out for Rosenqvist as he battles against the clock in a bid to translate pace into points. "I try to not be either aggressive or defensive because when you when you emotionally react to something it always seems to go the wrong way. You don't want to be kamikaze your way through and then fall down even further. I just want to stay calm and do the job." Could Paris see him turn things back around?
4. Back to the beginning
As the birthplace of motorsport, hosting the first ever motor race between Paris and Rouen in 1894, the French capital was also the city in which Formula E was first founded. Scribbled on a napkin at a dinner between Alejandro Agag and Jean Todt - President of the FIA - the concept of an all-electric, single seater championship came alive. Since then, it's been four years of nothing but top-level wheel-to-wheel racing between 20 drivers, 10 teams all fighting for the championship title over five continents.
E-Race
Not all the racing in Formula E takes place on the track. At every round of the championship is the E-Race - a virtual race taking place in the Allianz E-Village, where drivers battle against the fans on simulators, that replicate all the on-track action. With the three fastest fans going head-to-head against the three fastest drivers, the E-Race is the place to take on pros.
After the Qualifying session today, the four drivers going through into the E-Race are as follows.
Lopez - 00:59:285
JEV - 01:00:927
Mortara - 01:02:416
Blomqvist - 01:03:292
With Edoardo Mortara currently leading the E-Race championship standings - albeit, just 10 points ahead of Sam Bird, who sits in the same position in the Formula E drivers' championship - it's Mitch Evans who completes the podium in third place with 40 points. Don't forget to tune in to see who wins the E-Race in Paris.
E-Race championship standings
1 Edoardo Mortara 53
2 Sam Bird 43
3 Mitch Evans 40
4 Jose Maria Lopez 40
5 Felix Rosenqvist 37
6 Alex Lynn 30
7 Nelson Piquet Jr. 26
8 Maro Engel 12
9 Daniel Abt 10
10 Nicolas Prost 8
11 Jean-Eric Vergne 0
12 Sebastien Buemi 0
13 Oliver Turvey 0
14 Lucas di Grassi 0
15 Nick Heidfeld 0
16 Andre Lotterer 0
17 Antonio Felix da Costa 0
18 Jerome d'Ambrosio 0
19 Tom Blomqvist 0
20 Ma Qing Hua 0
Don't forget to tune in to watch ALL the race action. Click here for our broadcast guide or here to listen live on Formula E Radio.