Nissan’s Oliver Rowland ended day 4 of Formula E’ testing on top. Taylor Barnard followed just behind in second ending his pre-season test full of optimism.
Rowland full of confidence
Throughout the session Rowland’s position at the top never seemed in doubt. As the three hour session began the British driver found himself second but fractionally behind Ticktum up top.
Just 0.011s off top spot, Rowland’s pace is undoubtably encouraging for the Nissan team after his teammate Norman Nato topped the morning session on the final day.
Nato was also continuing Nissan’s impressive form. The Frenchman found himself behind Rowland in third but just a tenth behind last seasons’ world champion.
With just half an hour gone, Nato moved up to the front of the field. Setting a 1.22 the Frenchman found himself 0.150s quicker than Ticktum behind.
Times begin to topple
Having seen his teammate briefly toppled by Mitch Evans, Rowland picked up the pace to reclaim top spot on the hour mark.
A 1.21.666 propelled the Nissan driver up to the head of the field. His teammate followed suite, Nato jumping past Evans but 0.161s shy of Rowland.
Elsewhere, Ticktum continued CUPRA KIRO’s impressive pace. The British driver, embarking on his second season with the team, jumped up to fourth with a 1.22.01 putting him 0.353s adrift.
The British drivers were the ones fastest after the second hour as Barnard jumped up from sixth to the front. A 1.21.500 put him clear of Rowland by just over a tenth.
Mahindra maintain fastest time of testing
As the clock ticked down Rowland shot back up to the time sheets again with a 1.21.498.
The Nissan driver was fractionally shy of the best time of testing, a 1.21.493 set by Mortara in his Mahindra.
Rowland found himself just 0.002s ahead of Barnard underlining the competitive nature of the grid for Season 12 this year.
As the chequered flag came out no one could beat Rowland’s time with the British driver ending testing on a high.
Barnard came in second with Mortara continuing Mahindra’s impressive pace, sitting third.
Marti the fastest rookie
Of the rookies it was undoubtably Pepe Marti who showed the most promise across all four days.
Despite finishing the final day in 11th, Marti found himself just two tenths off top spot.
With no prior Formula E experience, the CUPRA KIRO driver triumphed and beat both Eriksson and Drugovich, the later having competed in Berlin last year.
Despite this Andretti and Drugovich pulled in a herculean 586 laps between their two drivers. Both Dennis and Drugovich managing 293 each.
It was Evans though and Jaguar who accumulated the most of a single driver with 294 to his name. A phenomenal 5474 laps completed by the whole field.
Next up is the all-women’s test which will conclude the week of testing in Valencia. A month long break before the season commences in Brazil.
Feature Image courtesy of Formula E