Chloe Chambers, once again, topped the Formula E women’s test having topped the morning session earlier in the day. The American held off charges from behind to continue Mahindra’s testing dominance.
Early stoppage for Envision
As the session commenced it was Marta García who set the benchmark, putting her Lola Yamaha ABT top with a 1m24.76.
Yet drivers didn’t have much time to contest this as the red flags flew after just 20 minutes after Alice Powell stopped on track.
The Envision driver suffered a battery system error that forced her to stop her Envision at the side of the track between turn 4 and 5.
That issue would force the British driver out of the majority of the session, only returning with less than an hour remaining.
Chambers climbs up the order
After a short stoppage running got underway again and it was Chambers that went fastest again.
A 1m23.233 put the Mahindra driver at the front of the field, nearly a second clear of her nearest competitor Abbi Pulling down in second place.
As the clock ticked down it was Chambers who finished the first hour up top. The American managing to go a tenth faster than before with a 1m23.1.
Pulling sets incredible time
Chambers’ dominance didn’t last long but it took an incredible lap from Abbi Pulling to dislodge her.
Dipping into the 1m22s to go fastest and move ahead of Chambers.
The American quickly responded with a 1m22.767s to send her back to the front of the pack, 0.064s clear.
It was evident the two drivers were getting to grips extremely quickly with the machinery as the session progressed.
Behind them came the other Envision of Ella Lloyd, over nine tenths behind the pair who dominated the session.
Chambers clear at chequered flag
That lap time would not be beaten as Chambers crossed the line to claim top spot in the afternoon session.
Pulling remained second with the pair over seven tenths clear of third placed Bianca Bustamante.
Bustamante’s time of a 1.23.53 left her CUPRA KIRO 0.139s clear of Ella Lloyd in fourth. Behind Juju Noda rounding out the top five with a 1m23.69.
Powell returned to the track for the final half an hour of the session but could manage no faster than a 1.26.46s. That put her 3.693s off Chambers but 0.4s off Edgar in eleventh.
That concluded Formula E’s women’s test and it was clear that Chambers and Pulling were the standout performers, getting to grips and setting impressive lap times across the two three hour sessions.
Feature Image courtesy of Formula E