ONE CHAMPION, ONE NATIONAL HERO: DS VIRGIN RACING FEELING BULLISH AHEAD OF BUENOS AIRES

DS Virgin Racing driver, 3-time FIA WTCC World Champion and local fan favourite Jose Maria Lopez is sole Argentinian Formula E driver
"A track that represents the best parts of Formula E" – Sam Bird

DS Virgin Racing are feeling bullish ahead of the Buenos Aires ePrix on February 18th.  Jose Maria Lopez, as the only Argentinian in the Formula E series approaches this race spurred on by knowing that he’ll have the local crowd firmly behind him. Meanwhile Driver Sam Bird has form at this track having won a thrilling contest in BA last season and now enters the season 3 Buenos Aires race fresh off the back of a 2nd place finish in the previous race in Marrakech.

After a break in the calendar punctuated by the virtual eRace in Las Vegas in early January, our drivers return to action in a country holding a special connection for each.

Jose Maria Lopez, as the only Argentinian in the series, is a firm local favourite ahead of race day. “I’m getting a lot of media asking me how I’ll perform in Buenos Aires, it being my home country. Well, I have the team, and I have the car, so I think I have as good a chance as anyone out there on race day. I’m just excited to go out and race in front of my fans!”. As part of his homecoming, Jose Maria Lopez will be taking part in a street parade between el Teatro Colon and the Legislatura de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires on the Wednesday ahead of the race.

The Buenos Aires track itself is a unique proposition. Now in it’s 3rd year with Formula E, it’s the fastest track in the series – with speeds of up to 210 km/h achievable into turn 1. Sam Bird used this to his advantage last year, clocking a time of 1.09.43 in qualifying that won him pole position. Offering a full five straights along its 2.48 km, 12 turn, counter-clockwise layout, It’s a track that represents the best of Formula E. There’s a winning combination of city centre location, short track length and plenty of overtaking opportunities. DS Virgin Racing’s Testing & Development driver Alex Lynn joins the team in Buenos Aires, lending additional expertise to the garage. Lynn joined Lopez and Bird in DS Performance’s simulator in Satory recently, where the trio underwent an intense period of sim testing to prepare for Buenos Aires.

“DS Virgin Racing really are fully charged ahead of Buenos Aires.” said Team Principal Alex Tai. “In Marrakech Sam podiumed, in a car our fantastic mechanics had rebuilt literally minutes before the race commenced. Pound for pound, Sam is one of the best and most experienced drivers in Formula E, whilst our newcomer Jose Maria Lopez offers enormous potential, and I look forward to seeing him demonstrate his capabilities in front of his home crowd.”

The Buenos Aires ePrix takes place on Saturday February 18th at 4pm local time (-3 GMT) It will be broadcast live on UK Channel 5 and locally on Fox Sports Latin America.

For more information on the DS Virgin Racing Formula E Team, please visit the website: http://www.ds-virginracing.com.