It’s ‘’E’ for excitement as Laureus Ambassador Lucas Di Grassi wins dramatic electric race in Beijin
September 14, 2014
Laureus Ambassador Lucas Di Grassi made the most of his luck to win the first Formula E race in Beijing, when a final corner crash between race leader Nicolas Prost and Nick Heidfeld handed the race to him.
"When I realised they were off, it was like a dream come true. I was alone and have won. I am really happy,” said Brazilian Di Grassi, after the race which took place on a track outside Beijing’s Olympic Stadium.
The one-hour races, in which drivers have to change cars halfway through, as a battery has not yet been developed to provide enough power for the full distance, features music for the spectators as the cars are so quiet.
Di Grassi, who has been a development driver for the electric cars since the concept was proposed, competed in Formula One for one year in 2010 and now also drives for Audi in the World Endurance Championship
He is an enthusiastic Laureus Ambassador and says: “I have a great life thanks to sport. The least I can give back is some help to people not as lucky as me. I started the SmarterDriving project which was to teach drivers to use less fuel when driving, to help the planet and society. This doesn’t exist now, but through Laureus I believe I can help even more.“
