FIA rallysport nieuws

Sport newsLast year’s three-day event across the An Nafud desert, near the north-central city of Ha’il, took place in November, but the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) has taken the first slot in the 2023 calendar, with many vehicles and logistical equipment still in situ after the recent Dakar Rally.Topping a 33-FIA car entry, consisting of six T1, seven T2 and 20 T3 and T4 cars, is the leading Saudi driver Yazeed Al-Rajhi, who teams up with German co-driver Dirk von Zitzewitz in the first of three Toyota Hiluxes run by Overdrive Racing.The 2022 Saudi Baja winner lines up against the recently-crowned five-time Dakar Rally winner Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah and his Andorra-based team-mate Mathieu Baumel and a third Overdrive-run Hilux for Argentina’s Juan-Cruz Yacopini and Spaniard Daniel Oliveras.Polish veteran Krzysztof Holowczyc was the winner of the 2010 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas and the 2013 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies and provides the main competition to the three Toyotas. The Olsztyn driver teams up with Lukasz Kurzeja and wheels out an X-raid-run Mini John Cooper Works Rally Plus.Saudi drivers, Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri and Abdullah Al-Sanad, are also registered for points in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas in their respective T1 and T2 Nissans.Eight of the 10 vehicles entered in the T3 section for lightweight prototype machines are registered for the FIA World Cup and seven are Can-Ams. Fernando Alvarez is the defending FIA World Cup Bajas T3 champion and last year’s T3 winner in Ha’il: the Spaniard, who resides in Argentina, leads the way against the likes of the Saudi trio of Dania Akeel, Mashael Al-Obaidan and Saleh Al-Saif.Kuwait’s Meshari Al-Thefiri, Spain’s Santiago Navarro and Diego Martinez and Brazil’s Otavio Sousa round off the Can-Am competition, while Dutch all-rounder Kees Koolen wheels out a new G Rally Team OT3.Six of the 10 T4 entries are registered for the FIA World Cup. Last year’s Saudi Baja T4 section-winning Brazilian Cristiano Batista also won the 2022 FIA T4 title and heads the entry with Portuguese co-driver Fausto Moto.The sole South Racing Can-Am Team entrant in the category faces competition from the FN Speed Team’s young Pau Navarro, three new Polaris Pro Rs in the hands of Michele Cinotto, Jeremie Warnia and Luis Maria Henderson and Spanish privateer Ricardo Ramilo Suarez.Competitors registered for the FIA Middle East Cup for Cross-Country Bajas will not score points in the FIA World Cup and vice-versa.One of the top seeds for the regional Baja series is the Saudi driver Yasir Seaidan, who recently took part in the Dakar Rally in a Can-Am. He again teams up with Alexei Kuzmich in a T3 Race World Can-Am. Competition in the T1 category comes from the Saudi Border Guard crew of Khalid Al-Feraihi and French co-driver Sébastien Delaunay in a Nissan Patrol Y61.Six Saudi T2 drivers are registered for the FIA Middle East Baja series: half a dozen Nissans in the hands of Ahmed Al-Shegawi, Majed Al-Tunayyan, Ibrahim bin Salman, Ibrahim Al-Muhanna, Khalid Al-Hamzani and Yayha Halawi will tackle the event.Shegawi Racing’s Hamad Al-Harbi (Can-Am) is the second registered FIA Middle East Baja driver in the T3 category, while the Saudi Can-Am trio of Saeed Al-Mouri, Abdullah Al-Shegawi and Maha Al-Hameli will contest the T4 section alongside Kuwait’s Salem Al-Dhafeeri.This year’s Hail event again runs to a compact format with administration, scrutineering checks and the pre-event press conference all taking place on Wednesday (February 1).Thursday afternoon’s ceremonial start (14.30hrs) is then followed by a three-kilometre Qualifying Stage to determine the starting order for the desert selective sections over the following two days.2023 Saudi Baja-Ha’il (leading entries):200. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU)/Dirk von Zitzewitz (DEU)Toyota Hilux Overdrive*201. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (AND)Toyota Hilux Overdrive*202. Juan Cruz Yacopini (ARG)/Daniel Oliveras (ESP)Toyota Hilux Overdrive*203. Krzysztof Holowczyc (POL)/Lukasz Kurzeja (POL)Mini John Cooper Works Rally Plus*204. Khaled Al-Feraihi (SAU)/Sébastien Delaunay (FRA)                         Nissan Patrol Y61+205. Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri (SAU)/Hani Al-Shammeri (SAU)Nissan Patrol*206. Abdullah Al-Sanad (SAU)/Abdulattif Al-Sanad (SAU)Nissan Patrol (T2)*207. Ahmed Al-Shegawi (SAU)/Marc Serra (ESP)Nissan Patrol (T2)+208. Majed Al-Thunayyan (SAU)/Fahad Al-Sufyani (SAU)Nissan Patrol (T2)+209. Ibrahim bin Salman (SAU)/Mohammed Al-Dawish (SAU)Nissan Patrol (T2)+T1 unless stated *denotes registered for FIA World Cup + denotes registered for FIA Middle East Cup   Timetable of events Wednesday, February 1 Administration checks, Baja HQ, Ha’il07.00-20.00hrsScrutineering checks, Baja HQ, Ha’il08.00-22.00hrsPre-event press conference, Baja HQ, Ha’il19.00hrs  Thursday, February 2 Ceremonial start, Maghwat14.30hrsQualifying Stage SS1A (3km)16.30hrs  Friday, February 3  Leg 1 (229.59km)07.30hrs onwards  Saturday, February 4  Leg 2 (184km)07.30hrs onwardsPost-event press conference, Baja HQ, Ha’il17.30hrsPrize giving ceremony, Maghwat19.30hrs World Cup for Cross Country BajasCross-CountrySEASON 2023SportCross-Country1SportWorld Cup for Cross Country BajasCross-CountrySEASON 2023Cross-Country01Tuesday, January 31, 2023 – 10:45amTuesday, January 31, 2023 – 10:45am

Members newsDuring the visit to Paraguay, TACPy organised a press event for the Safe and Affordable Helmets project, which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Transport (MoT), the National Traffic and Road Safety Agency (ANTSV),  FIA Region IV, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). Within the framework of this programme, TACPy and ANTSV delivered more than 1700 helmets donated by the FIA across the country and information was collected to carry out a study on the “Characterisation of the Paraguayan Motorcycle Rider” for the first time. This project also resulted in the introduction of imported helmet homologation standard in line with international regulations and best practices, a first of its kind in Paraguay. The project was supported by the FIA Road Safety Grants Programme.The visit to Ecuador focused on supporting ANETA during the renewal of its three-star accreditation within the FIA Environmental Accreditation Programme. This programme aims to help the different stakeholders of the automotive and sport environment around the world to measure and improve their environmental performance. ANETA has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to environment and sustainability through continuous improvement of internal processes within the organisation as well as through numerous partnerships and agreements with national, regional and municipal authorities.During the visit, the FIA team had several meetings with the authorities and toured the Club facilities, which was a great opportunity to better understand the work being carried out on the ground.ClubsMobilityRoad SafetySustainabilityRegion IVMembers1MembersClubsMobilityRoad SafetySustainabilityRegion IV00Tuesday, January 31, 2023 – 9:56amTuesday, January 31, 2023 – 9:56am

Sport newsThe Oman Rally Team’s Abdullah Al-Rawahi and Jordanian co-driver Ata Al-Hmoud clinched victory in the Oman International Rally for the second time in three years on Saturday.After pre-event favourite Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah crashed on the opening super special stage, Al-Rawahi hit the front on the first of a dozen gravel stages in the Sultanate of Oman and stayed clear of major trouble, punctures aside, to guide his Škoda Fabia Evo to victory by the margin of 6min 35.6sec. The feat meant the Omani became one of only 15 drivers ever to win more than one round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).“It was a great feeling to win my home rally for the first time two years ago and to do it again is very special,” said Al-Rawahi. “This is a perfect start to the championship for us and I would like to thank Ata for his efforts and the team for giving me such a strong car on what was a difficult rally.”The fastest time on the final stage enabled Petr Kačirek and Petra Řiháková to see off a late challenge from Al-Attiyah for second overall and the Czech crew duly sealed the runner-up spot in their Duck Racing Škoda Fabia.Al-Attiyah and Andorra-based co-driver Mathieu Baumel won 11 of the 13 special stages, but the costly error on the first stage damaged the Volkswagen Golf’s radiator and a subsequent time penalty for a seat belt infringement meant the task was ultimately too much for the Qatari to challenge for the win.Al-Attiyah reached the finish at the Muscat Drift Arena in third overall to keep the defence of his regional title firmly on track. He may well have caught Kačirek and snatched second had he not suffered a rear right puncture and driven 17km on the shredding tyre to the finish of the final stage. With Kačirek not being registered for the MERC, Al-Attiyah earned points for being the second registered competitor.“After what happened on Thursday, I suppose I am happy enough with the result,” said Al-Attiyah. “But I am disappointed to have the puncture on the last stage when second place was achievable. That’s rallying. I drove for 17km on a rear right puncture.”Meshari Al-Thefiri and his Qatari co-driver Nasser Al-Kuwari were passed by Al-Attiyah on the afternoon’s loop of stages but the Kuwaiti managed to finish fourth overall and confirm victory in the MERC2 category in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. He had led the event outright on Thursday evening after winning the opening super special stage.Al-Attiyah’s cousin Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya teamed up with Giovanni Bernacchini to round off the top five in a Ford Fiesta R5, while the Jordanian duo of Shaker Jweihan and female co-driver Nancy Al-Majali finished sixth and second in MERC2.Kuwait’s Yousef Al-Dhefiri overhauled Jordan’s Sheikh Bader Al-Fayez to claim seventh overall and third in the showroom category.Jordanian Ihab Al-Shorafa was deprived of a finish after stopping in the final stage.  The Mitsubishi driver’s demise lifted fellow countryman Shadi Shaban into ninth place and Lebanon’s Ahmad Khaled rounded off the top 10. The Omani crew of Abdullah Al-Zubair and Taha Soomar were the last of the finishers in 11th.  Ghaith Al-Qasmi and Ahmed Salim sealed victory in the day’s round of the Oman National Championship. The Mitsubishi crew beat Faisal and Yaqdhan Al-Rashdi by 2min 15.8sec. Mutasim and Nofel Al-Balushi came home in third place.The previous day’s winners, Issa Abu Jamous and Yazan Juma, missed out on second place after shedding time in the 12th stage.  The Jordanian crew finished fourth, well clear of fifth-placed Abdullah Al-Toqi and his Austrian co-driver Ilka Minor.With the exception of Haitham Al-Zadjali, nine national entrants began the one-day round of the Oman National Championship. Salim Al-Toqi and Saif Al-Harthy fell by the wayside after the eighth stage and Mohammed Al-Mazroui retired his Yamaha on stage nine. Musab Soomar was the next retirement on SS11.Action in the regional rally series continues in Qatar on February 16th-18th.2023 Oman International Rally – positions after SS13: 1. Abdullah Al-Rawahi (OMN)/Ata Al-Hmoud (JOR)Škoda Fabia Evo 2hr 37min 30.1sec2. Petr Kačirek (CZE)/Petra Řiháková (CZE)Škoda Fabia2hr 44min 05.7sec3. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT)/Mathieu Baumel (AND)Volkswagen Polo GTI2hr 44min 38.0sec4. Meshari Al-Thefiri (KWT)/Nasser Al-Kuwari (QAT)Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X2hr 46min 45.7sec5. Nasser Khalifa Al-Atya (QAT)/Giovanni Bernacchini (ITA)Ford Fiesta R52hr 52min 41.2sec 6. Shaker Jweihan (JOR)/Nancy Al-Majali (JOR)Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X2hr 54min 07.0sec7. Yousef Al-Dhefiri (KWT)/Carlos Hanna (LEB)Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X2hr 56min 39.1sec8. Sheikh Bader Al-Fayez (JOR)/Emad Juma (JOR)Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X2hr 58min 13.8sec9. Shadi Shaban (JOR)/Samer Issa (JOR)Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X3hr 15min 17.1sec10. Ahmad Khaled (LEB)/Samer Sfeir (LEB)Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX3hr 21min 22.0sec11. Abdullah Al-Zubair (OMN)/Taha Soomar (OMN)Subaru Impreza Sti3hr 26min 23.4sec Middle East Rally ChampionshipMERCSEASON 2023SportRallies1SportMiddle East Rally ChampionshipRalliesSEASON 2023MERC01Monday, January 30, 2023 – 10:40amMonday, January 30, 2023 – 10:40am

Sport newsIn a carbon-copy of Friday’s result, TAG Heuer Porsche’s Pascal Wehrlein and Avalanche Andretti rival Jake Dennis maintained their Season 9 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship dominance with another one-two finish in today’s Diriyah E-Prix (28 January), as the German’s third career victory catapulted him to the summit of the standings.Yesterday, Wehrlein and Dennis had to fight their way through from the tail-end of the top ten; 24 hours later, they lined up alongside one another in fifth and sixth on the grid, but while that made their task easier, it was by no means a foregone conclusion.When the lights went out, it was Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans – from the dirty side of the track – who got the jump on pole-sitter Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team), the latter in only his third Formula E outing. René Rast made it two McLarens inside the top three, but already Wehrlein was on the march, with both the German and Maserati MSG Racing’s fast-starting Edoardo Mortara demoting Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing) for fourth and fifth.Dennis, conversely, lost a place as the British driver slipped to seventh ahead of compatriot Sam Bird (Jaguar TCS Racing). The two title protagonists’ divergent early fortunes would prove decisive in the final result.Fastest lap on the third tour showed that Wehrlein meant business again, and while the top three exchanged positions during the opening flurry of Attack Mode activations – Rast leapfrogging both Evans and Hughes to snatch the lead for the first time in Formula E – behind them, the Porsche driver was stalking his prey. As soon as Hughes’ Attack Mode expired, he pounced – third.Next on his strike list was Evans, who was swiftly swept aside for second, but by then, Rast – in his 25th race in the all-electric single-seater series – had established a margin of almost two-and-a-half seconds at the head of the order. It would not stay that way for long.On lap 15, Wehrlein took Attack Mode for the first time without losing any positions, and when Rast responded two laps later with his second Attack Mode, the Porsche man seized the initiative.As he focussed on repeating Friday’s result, Wehrlein confidently held sway until an accident for ABT CUPRA Formula E Team’s Nico Müller at the chicane on lap 27 threatened to throw a curve ball into the mix, bringing out the safety car and eradicating his advantage. What’s more, by this stage, it was no longer Rast closest to him, but his early-season nemesis, Dennis.Having conceded ground at the start, the Avalanche Andretti ace kept his powder dry during the opening half of the race as he sat patiently in a queue behind Evans – until, shortly after mid-distance, he decided that waiting was no longer for him. After relieving Mortara of fifth, Hughes’ second Attack Mode promoted him to fourth and then Evans and Rast were despatched in quick succession.That meant when the action was neutralised, Dennis was right in Wehrlein’s wheeltracks, with two minutes more Attack Mode allowance remaining. Not only that, but up to third was Bird, who had carved his own way through the field in similarly assertive fashion while conserving energy better than any of his adversaries. Suddenly, it appeared to be game on.Only, if that was the case, then Wehrlein had clearly not read the script. Shrugging off the pressure of having to keep an eye in his mirrors for the first time rather than looking ahead, the 28-year-old maintained his composure and even when Dennis deployed his second Attack Mode, he had enough time in hand to remain comfortably in front. As the top two once more checked out from the chasing pack, Wehrlein held firm to round off an almost perfect Saudi Arabian weekend.Behind the Porsche-powered pair, the action was hotting up. Bird’s Attack Mode activation dropped him behind Rast, and an attempt to regain the place into Turn One saw the Jaguar driver overshoot the exit. After regrouping, he set about re-launching his assault but Rast would not crack, putting up a staunch defence to deservedly secure his third career podium.Having tried every which way to prise open the door, on this occasion, Bird was obliged to settle for fourth, but worse luck befell his Jaguar team-mate, Evans. As fifth-placed Hughes found himself struggling on energy use in the closing stages, the New Zealander looked primed to take advantage, but when the McLaren began coasting out of the final corner, Evans had nowhere to go and the opportunistic Buemi was able to zip past and separate the pair in sixth position.Sacha Fenestraz celebrated his first Formula E points for Nissan in eighth, with Edoardo Mortara getting Maserati MSG Racing off the mark in ninth and NIO 333’s Dan Ticktum completing the scorers in tenth.The 2022/23 Formula E campaign continues in a fortnight’s time with round four in Hyderabad (11 February) – the championship’s maiden appearance in India.Pascal Wehrlein, No.94, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, said:”This weekend has been incredible, a double victory. Our race pace was incredible again and today we had the perfect strategy, using the ATTACK MODES at the right time and not having to use it again after the safety car – that was crucial. What can I say, just amazing for my team – all their hard work has finally paid off and I am so proud of them. This weekend is one I will never forget. I would say yesterday was a bit more exciting as I had more cars to pass. Today was not easy and I would say it was even a bit more difficult. Obviously, the others learned from yesterday, Sam Bird had quite a lot of energy in the end but still had to take his ATTACK mode – so that probably saved us a lit bit. But you could clearly see they made steps forward today and that made it a bit more difficult.”Jake Dennis, No.27, Avalanche Andretti Formula E Team, said:”You know you’re having a really good season when you’re a little bit disappointed with P2! We just didn’t have a great start, Pascal had a good one and we had a bad one – and then there was just so much work to do once I got past Buemi. But a great job by the boys, we had such an efficient powertrain again, once I cleared Buemi I could move forward quite quickly, but by that point Pascal was too far away to beat. He can have this one, but we are going to come out swinging in India and try and take the Championship lead off him. I think they [McLaren] deserve the podium, I think they had the quickest car today over one lap – it is great to see them up on the podium. The Jaguar is really fast as well – Sam [Bird] was 2% up on us – it seems like they turned their efficiency around, so don’t expect this to happen each race. We need to collect the points while we can and try build the biggest lead we can because they are definitely going to start to close the gap.”René Rast, No.58, NEOM McLaren Formula E Team, said:”I am over the moon to be honest. The team deserved it as they put so much hard work into this and we were executing so well the whole weekend, especially from where I came from in Mexico and on Thursday when we had no pace, to now being on the podium defending against Sam who had 2% more energy. It feels like a victory, and I cannot thank the boys and girls enough at NEOM McLaren, they did an awesome job and it is a lot of fun working with them. I am very happy. Before the safety car I was not about to fight him [Sam Bird] because he had much more energy, and then all of a sudden the safety car changed everything and I thought we had a chance for the podium, and I started fighting him – and it worked out in the end.” ABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipFormula EFEAd Diriyah E-PrixSEASON 2022-2023SportCircuit1SportABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipCircuitSEASON 2022-2023Formula EFEAd Diriyah E-Prix00Saturday, January 28, 2023 – 11:16pmSaturday, January 28, 2023 – 11:16pm

Sport newsPascal Wehrlein celebrated his 50th race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship with a second career triumph in Saudi Arabia this evening (27 January), as the TAG Heuer Porsche driver led another Porsche-powered one-two ahead of championship leader Jake Dennis (Avalanche Andretti).Wehrlein only began the Diriyah E-Prix from ninth on the grid, but he went immediately on the offensive. Navigating a tight Turn One and artfully avoiding the drama around him, the German gained three spots before the opening lap was complete.That elevated Wehrlein into the leading pack from the outset, behind pole-sitter Sébastien Buemi (Envision Racing), fellow front row starter Jake Hughes (NEOM McLaren Formula E Team), Jaguar TCS Racing’s Sam Bird, NIO 333’s Dan Ticktum and René Rast in the second McLaren entry.Initially, Buemi – in his 100th E-Prix – looked to have proceedings under control as he established a small margin over his pursuers, but once Bird relieved countryman Hughes of second on lap three, the chase was on. Four laps later, the Briton – with the bit between his teeth – seized the initiative at the Riyadh Street Circuit’s favoured overtaking spot of Turn 18, but all the while, Wehrlein was lurking.A lock-up from Rast promoted the Porsche ace to fifth on lap ten, which became fourth when Ticktum deployed his first Attack Mode, losing three places in the process. From there, the 28-year-old set his sights on Buemi and Hughes just ahead, enabling Bird to make good his escape.Hughes was Wehrlein’s next victim, with the pair switching positions during the opening flurry of Attack Modes, and by mid-distance, Buemi found his Envision’s mirrors full of Porsche. The Swiss star’s second Attack Mode on lap 23 released Wehrlein to set off after Bird, whose lead no longer looked quite so secure.What ensued was an absorbing cat-and-mouse duel, as Bird – knowing his rival had more remaining energy and an Attack Mode still to take – focussed on placing his Jaguar inch-perfectly so as not to offer the hard-charging Wehrlein any opportunity to pounce.The Porsche star thought he had got the job done with a feisty late dive into Turn 18 on lap 25, but he overshot the corner slightly, which enabled Bird to reclaim the lead. It would be another five laps before Wehrlein successfully made a move stick, after which, he began pulling away.If Bird’s threat was fading, then Dennis, by contrast, came on increasingly strong as the race progressed. From 11th on the grid – directly behind Wehrlein – the Briton went early with his first Attack Mode and similarly carved through the field. After latching onto and passing the two orange McLarens, the Mexico City winner set his sights on the podium, with Buemi his next target.When the Envision driver served his second Attack Mode with eight laps left to run, Dennis was through, and he fought his way past Bird not long after. He subsequently zeroed right onto the back of Wehrlein, but despite feinting a pass into the final corner, was unable to unsettle his fellow Porsche-powered competitor. Still, the runner-up spoils preserved the 27-year-old’s early-season championship lead.Bird was delighted to finish third after almost 20 races away from the podium – describing the result as a ‘mini-victory’ in his 100th E-Prix, around a circuit at which he has always excelled.Buemi wound up fourth – his best finish since the end of Season Six in his second start for Envision – with Rast ultimately upholding McLaren honours in fifth, snaring an extra point for posting fastest lap. Behind the German, Nick Cassidy (Envision) gained ground late on to make it three Jaguar-powered cars inside the top six.Double champion Jean-Éric Vergne advanced five spots from his grid position to take the chequered flag seventh for DS Penske, ahead of Hughes, who faded over the second half of the race. André Lotterer (TAG Heuer Porsche) and Jaguar TCS Racing’s Mitch Evans – who picked up a five-second penalty for contact with Rast on the first lap – completed the points-scorers.Defending champion Stoffel Vandoorne (DS Penske) could manage no better than 11th despite an assertive opening tour, with Ticktum dropping to a disappointed 14th following his early heroics. Wehrlein’s Porsche team-mate – Season Six champion António Félix da Costa – was the race’s biggest casualty, the Portuguese ace finding himself caught up in a concertina effect just after the start that cost him his front wing and prompted a short safety car intervention.The second leg of the Diriyah double-header – round three of the 2022/23 Formula E campaign – will get underway at 20:00 local time (18:00 CET) tomorrow (Saturday, 28 January).Pascal Wehrlein, No. 94, TAG Heuer Porsche Formula E Team, said:“It feels incredible. I am so proud of these guys, unbelievable – what a car I had today. I mean from P9 to P1, amazing, I am so grateful to have this team. It has been a lot of work. We always wanted to achieve these kind of results, we had some highlights in the past but definitely this year we wanted to do a big step forward. I know how hard these guys are working, I am also quite often with them and pushing with everyone, especially after the testing in Valencia we were not looking that strong so I know how many hours everyone has put in. To start this well in the season in the first and second race is amazing, like I said I am just thankful for everyone and their hard work – we keep pushing.”Jake Dennis, No. 27, Avalanche Andretti Formula E, said:”I wasn’t at all [expecting to be on the podium]. I thought it was going to be quite difficult to overtake here with the mountain section being so fast, but my god the race car we have is just unbelievable. For me and Pascal to get another 1-2 from ninth and eleventh is testament to how much effort has gone in. Full credit to Avalanche Andretti for giving me the best race car today. We closed in on Pascal at the end, I was pushing to get the move done but when you’re racing a guy with the same car it is difficult to pass. But I am so happy and we deserve this after a difficult qualifying. I had to stop him getting an eight-second lead, but yeah super pleased for everyone and another 1-2. I need to try and beat him tomorrow and beat everyone else, but nonetheless I can sleep well tonight.”Sam Bird, No. 10, Jaguar TCS Racing, said:”It feels so good to be back on the podium, I can’t tell you. It has been a rough twelve months, but Jaguar have been amazing – they have stuck by me, put their arm around me and also recently we had a very difficult Mexico to open the season. The amount of work, the amount of sleepless nights everyone in the team has had in order to get us to this point, this is a little mini victory for us. I get that Porsche will be taking the spoils – but for us and where we have come from, amazing. Congrats to everyone in the team – we keep pushing. I tried to place my car to make it difficult for Pascal, I know the grip out there is tricky, but he did a superb job. The Porsche is looking extremely decent on change of direction and minimum speed, so we have got a bit of homework to do tonight.”                                      ABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipFEFormula EAd Diriyah E-PrixSEASON 2022-2023SportCircuit1SportABB FIA Formula E World ChampionshipCircuitSEASON 2022-2023FEFormula EAd Diriyah E-Prix00Friday, January 27, 2023 – 10:05pmFriday, January 27, 2023 – 10:05pm