By Carlo Platella
Everything is ready in Misano for the double Formula E E-Prix. There couldn't have been a more different scenario to replace Rome, which left the calendar prematurely after numerous accidents last season. However, it was not the riders who asked for the cancellation of the Capitoline event, which instead arouses collective nostalgia in the Misano paddock. The person who most fondly remembers the Roman track is Mitch Evans, a multiple winner with Jaguar on the streets of the capital.
Escape from the cities
“We have good memories in Rome, I won many times there. Other than that, however, it was a nice track.” Mitch Evans returns with his memory to the circuit that first hosted Formula E in Italy. The Lazio track was among the most exhilarating and technical on the calendar, with bumpy asphalt and a good mix of high and low speed sections, acting as a probative test for teams and drivers. The Evans-Jaguar pairing was the most successful on the streets of the capital, taking victory with single-seaters of all three generations. “Rome has a place in our hearts”Mitch recalls.
Rome's exit is part of a context in which Formula E is increasingly looking to racetracks, moving away not only from its origins, but also from the preferences of the drivers. “In Formula E we prefer cities”, admits Evans. “Urban circuits are in the DNA of the series and these cars were designed for that. Sometimes it's strange to ride on these big tracks, like Valencia too. We prefer the challenges of street circuits. Even the permanent ones have their difficulties, but if I had to choose I would prefer Rome.”
As the New Zealander mentions, Misano also offers its challenges: “There will be a lot of consumption management, it's in the nature of these tracks. The races will be very chaotic and difficult to manage from a strategic point of view, but they will also be exciting. It should be a good race, like in Portland last year, with a lot of position changes, perhaps a little too many. Everything is decided in the final laps”. However, these considerations were insufficient to change the Jaguar standard-bearer's mind: “Personally I prefer city tracks. It's a shame we don't run on city streets, but this is what we have.”
The “boredom” of racetracks
Mitch Evans' words find agreement with Nick Cassidy, who also deeply regrets the cancellation of the Rome stage: “The pilots loved her. It was the best track on the calendar and we are all very sad not to be there.” The New Zealander does not spare his criticism towards the drift of Formula E, increasingly attracted to permanent tracks like Misano in the logic of enhancing the potential of third generation electric single-seaters: “Street circuits are so exhilarating, they bring out the best in the rider. Here anyone can take a quick tour.” Cassidy even goes so far as to launch a provocation: “Maybe I should find out about IndyCar, he often races on street circuits.” However, those words from the New Zealander should not be taken too seriously, as he has repeatedly reiterated that his goal is to become world champion in Formula E.
#Formula #Jaguar #nostalgia #Rome #track
